Hey guys. After I find a way to smog my car I'm completely re doing my exhaust. I'm trying to decide between the bbks and pypes. If I get the bbk I can run the shorty bbk x and be fine but do I have to run the pypes mid with their lts or whats compatible? Id rather not run the pypes because I want an x pipe. Also with the pypes being stainless sounds better than the chrome coating on the bbks.
After that I'm getting 2 spintech 333s put on routed to the sides.
Does this sound like a good combo? I'm guessing its gonna be loud but I hope tolerable.

 

none of the above, on a budget i'd suggest macs. dunno about pypes fitment but bbk stuff is just crap in general.

you do realize your going to have to take the longtubes off everytime you have to re-check your car right? and its not a 20 minute job to do it.

 

I heard that any header was a pita to put on 4.6s but if bbks are worse than I'll skip them.
I'll look into them and see what I can find.
I'm not worried about it. I have access to a lift too. I've never had anything with lts before and always wanted them.

 

I think Mac longtubes are the best "affordable" ones on the market...I heard the BBK ones have a dent in one of the primaries for clearance which the mac's don't have/need.

I've also heard that you don't need to remove the MAC longtubes when you pull the tranny because it fits wider apart??

 

Sounds like macs are the way to go then. What mid pipe should I run with them?

The only bad thing I've heard on macs is that they rust fast but I'm not planning on keeping them on the car for life.

 

^ both.

BBK "flattens" atleast one of the tubes for steering shaft clearance. other companies were able to design around it (some require some modification but the fact BBK dented their tubes is a turn off to some people). BBK are narrower than MACS so yes atleast one BBK header has to come off to remove the tranny and i dont even know if they will fit an auto tranny. trannys can USUALLY come off with macs (5 speeds atleast) but again i dont know if a auto can be pulled off with them (auto trannys are wider...just incase your wondering why).


just making sure you knew you'd be pulling the longtubes off to smog your car every year. its not hard but its not a picnic either to put longtubes on this car. easiest way is to drop the k member. if you google search theres a pretty good how-to, the website is like fnsweet.com or something. as far as midpipe, anything as long as it fits with mac headers. i havent installed it yet im still running an H but when i swap out my headers (since mine cracked) in a few weeks i have a lethal performance OR x pipe they say fits mac headers, i have no idea about the fitment quality of it yet though. as far as rust, they are all gonna rust about the same. ceramic coated headers wont rust as fast as just stainless steel or chrome coated headers.

 

Sorry to steal your thread, but are long tubes smog legal?

 

in cali if it doesnt have a CARB number, it is not legal...

 

I guess I'll go with the macs then. from what you say they sound like their the best all around(as far as budget headers go). I'll either buy something compatible with mac or have one custom made which would probably be even cheaper.
Thanks guys sounds like its gonna be a decent set up when its finished

BTW NO long tube header is California smog legal. I don't think mid lengths are legal either. only certain shortys.

 

Mac L/T's here