I have the Mac cat-back system...well i did, but now i just have it cut off behind the muffler. First of all, on pre-98 explorers, the pipes are connected with a type of flange/plate thing (similar to headers), and on 98-01 explorers, the pipes are not. You will see what i'm talking about if you look at pictures on explorer express, which is where i ordered mine from a few years ago. Second, i remember one of the pipes had some 'ears' where you connect the pipes with some supplied hardware. The other pipe just kinda slipped over the existing pipe.
Storlied, i hate to do this to you, knowing that it took a lot of time and questioning for you to decide on the Mac system, but i wouldn't recommend it. And no offense, but i have the idea you are very picky about how things should be, and i just don't think you will be 100% satisfied with what you get. The way in which the pipes attach to the cat section of the exhaust seemed like it could have been better designed. The hardware was also a little weird to deal with, i still think i might not have received all of the necessary hardware to install it.
Then there are the hangers. The hangers on the stock exhaust have little ball things that keep them secure in the rubber pieces. On the Mac exhaust, there is nothing like that, so the hangers can easily slip out of the rubber, which is what happened on my truck. Every once in a while i would need to check and make sure the rear most hanger was still hanging on. Finally i drilled a little hole in two of the hangers, then slipped on a washer and put a pin through the holes.
A little story, the hardware supplied in the kit for connecting the tailpipe section and the muffler section didn't go together easily. One day i was a couple of hours from home walking back to my car in a parking lot, and i noticed the tailpipe was hanging down unusually low. Well i get under the car and come to find out both nuts on the two bolts are gone, the bolts are loose in their holes, and the tailpipe was hanging on by just the one hanger. So luckily i noticed and i was able to twist the tailpipe section out between the shock and leaf spring (a tight fit), and i had to drive home with it off. It sounded pretty cool, but it still was frustrating.
As far as performance goes, i noticed no gain in power or fuel economy. As far as sound goes, it was advertised on explorer express as having an 'unrelenting mustang sound' or something like that. Well that's definitely the case. On the freeway there is a lot of droning. Outside it sounds great, but inside the noise could almost make you deaf.
And finally, this is not a huge deal, it might be to you, but all of the pictures online i saw were of the whole system painted silver, but mine was black. Just thought i'd warn you. And the chrome tailpipe turned a little gold after a while.
If i were you i would get my choice of mufflers, then get an exhaust shop bend you up the rest of the system, and you can get it to come out the side if you want. The Mac system comes straight out the back corner. Hope that helps you out a little.
