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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                [Letterhead of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, P.C.]






                                  July 27, 1999



McClain Industries, Inc.
6200 Elmridge Road
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48310


         RE:      MCCLAIN INDUSTRIES, INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
                  1999 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to McClain Industries, Inc. (the "Company"), a
Michigan corporation, in connection with the registration by the Company of up
to 1,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, no par value, to be issued
and sold by the Company from time to time pursuant to the McClain Industries,
Inc. 1999 Incentive Stock Plan, as described in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (together with
all amendments thereto, the "Registration Statement"). As your counsel in
connection with this transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by the Company in connection
with the sale and issuance of the Shares.

         We do not purport to be experts on or to express any opinion in this
letter concerning any law other than the laws of the State of Michigan, and this
opinion is qualified accordingly. This opinion is limited to matters expressly
set forth in this letter, and no opinion is to be inferred or may be implied
beyond the matters expressly so stated. In rendering the opinion contained in
this letter, we have assumed without investigation that the information supplied
to us by the Company is accurate and complete.



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         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the
Shares have been duly authorized, and upon the issuance and sale thereof in the
manner referred to in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement.

                                Very truly yours,

                           JAFFE, RAITT, HEUER & WEISS
                            Professional Corporation

                      /s/ Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, P.C.