Fair Price ??? - Muffler shop RANT !
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,248
Likes: 4
From: Lancaster PA
Fair Price ??? - Muffler shop RANT !
I had a 1980 Corvette with hooker headers. No Y-pipes to the cat , no catalytic converter and no Y-pipe back to the mufflers. I took it to a muffler shop and had them run two pipes on each side from my headers to my mufflers. (True duals ) It took them about an hour. Bill was $300 Should I complain ? Was I ripped off ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
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I had a 1980 Corvette with hooker headers. No Y-pipes to the cat , no catalytic converter and no Y-pipe back to the mufflers. I took it to a muffler shop and had them run two pipes on each side from my headers to my mufflers. (True duals ) It took them about an hour. Bill was $300 Should I complain ? Was I ripped off ?
are you happy with the work & sound ?
THEN ENJOY YOUR CAR & DON'T LOOK BACK !!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
I had a full custom exaust installed on my '80 with 2.5' pipe and flowmasters. This shop does a very good job with the system completly welded with no clamps and round stock hangers with teflon bushings to the frame. This job was not cheap and I would think your deal was OK if you got a good job.
Exhaust work is never inexspensive. Don't take time into consideration; this is what they do and they are quick. My full system took 4 hours. It would have taken me all day if I had evervthing and was lucky.
Hope it performs and sounds great
Exhaust work is never inexspensive. Don't take time into consideration; this is what they do and they are quick. My full system took 4 hours. It would have taken me all day if I had evervthing and was lucky.
Hope it performs and sounds great
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
The fact that they did it at all suprises me due to you did not have cats put back on it. Most exhaust shops will NOT put exhaust on without replacing the cats SO when you find one that will do it you will pay accordingly.
I have found that if I pull the plate off teh car and trailer it to the exhaust shop and tell them that it is a race car they usually will do it and not charge as much due to they technically are not doing anything illegal because it is a "race car" and not plated.
I agree with the others, if you are happy and they did a nice job then you did not pay too much.
I have found that if I pull the plate off teh car and trailer it to the exhaust shop and tell them that it is a race car they usually will do it and not charge as much due to they technically are not doing anything illegal because it is a "race car" and not plated.
I agree with the others, if you are happy and they did a nice job then you did not pay too much.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
That sounds about right for 2.5 pipe & labor you didn't get ripped off. I took a 72 442 to a shop & used my mufflers (flowmasters) and paid $300 & I get a discount from them. FYI a complete exhaust system from headers to exhaust tips for a 2.5 system w/two performance mufflers runs $600. up to $800. The shop I go to the guy is so goods he signs his name on the system like a work of art. I agree w/the other members if the shop did a nice job, looks good, sounds good and your happy w/the system you got what you paid for. Any cheaper you would have had to do the work yourself. G/L post pic's
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
That's why I always ask for estimate . . . no surprises. I paid $200 for my setup which was exactly like yours. I would have paid $300 just to get rid of the old rusty pipes.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
I had a 1980 Corvette with hooker headers. No Y-pipes to the cat , no catalytic converter and no Y-pipe back to the mufflers. I took it to a muffler shop and had them run two pipes on each side from my headers to my mufflers. (True duals ) It took them about an hour. Bill was $300 Should I complain ? Was I ripped off ?
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
In Cali, it is a $2500.00 fine for any shop to install non-compliance exhaust on car that requires smog testing...my 78 was illegal for years..and passed....(two cats,duals...) But no shop would touch it or install new pipes with two cats...finally had to bite the bullet and go back to "Y" with single hi-flow cat..
The old system...
The old system...
Last edited by rihwoods; Nov 7, 2007 at 10:22 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster South Carolina
I just had my 81 done, headers already on it, he removed complete stock system, ran true duals, installed flowmasters that I supplied. All welded. One of the nicest exhaust jobs I have seen. Total price was $110. Anybody in NC/SC, I have his number!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I ran into the "legal" issues with a local shop when I wanted my 3 inch set of pipes made. The shop insisted on putting a converter back on,and in the stock location,in order to comply with the law. I insisted with 540 hp,that the system had three inch pipes.
We compromised with a three inch system,high flow 3inch cat,all in the stock location. Took him a week to bend,weld and hang it. Cost $600.
Lasted less than six months before the cat was blowing chunks,so I pulled the system,gutted the shell,and re installed.
We compromised with a three inch system,high flow 3inch cat,all in the stock location. Took him a week to bend,weld and hang it. Cost $600.
Lasted less than six months before the cat was blowing chunks,so I pulled the system,gutted the shell,and re installed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
I ran into the "legal" issues with a local shop when I wanted my 3 inch set of pipes made. The shop insisted on putting a converter back on,and in the stock location,in order to comply with the law. I insisted with 540 hp,that the system had three inch pipes.
We compromised with a three inch system,high flow 3inch cat,all in the stock location. Took him a week to bend,weld and hang it. Cost $600.
Lasted less than six months before the cat was blowing chunks,so I pulled the system,gutted the shell,and re installed.
We compromised with a three inch system,high flow 3inch cat,all in the stock location. Took him a week to bend,weld and hang it. Cost $600.
Lasted less than six months before the cat was blowing chunks,so I pulled the system,gutted the shell,and re installed.
You should have taken it back and told him that you wnated it fixed under Warrenty due to HE insisted that you put them on. Then when he rais H--L about it you could have told him I TOLD YOU SO!
With that kind of HP im sure that it did not look stock (or sound stock) you should have pulled the plates and trailered it. Put some numbers on the windows for effect and told him it was a race car. By law if it is a "off road" vehicle they do not have to put converters on it and will not get in trouble. i do believe this is also true with farm plated vehicles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I never thought of that.Next time I tweak the pipes I'll know what to do.
At the time I had regular plates,and yes it did sound like a race car. I've since swapped to antique tags,due to newer inpection requirements.In Pa. all emission equipment originally installed on a specific year car,must be present.(Doesn't have to work,but must be "visually present".With the antique tag,it is supposed to remain stock,but there's no required inspection.(You don't ask,...I won't tell.)
This is a special edition "antique",only one ever made.
At the time I had regular plates,and yes it did sound like a race car. I've since swapped to antique tags,due to newer inpection requirements.In Pa. all emission equipment originally installed on a specific year car,must be present.(Doesn't have to work,but must be "visually present".With the antique tag,it is supposed to remain stock,but there's no required inspection.(You don't ask,...I won't tell.)
This is a special edition "antique",only one ever made.
Last edited by The Money Pit; Nov 7, 2007 at 05:00 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
I never thought of that.Next time I tweak the pipes I'll know what to do.
At the time I had regular plates,and yes it did sound like a race car. I've since swapped to antique tags,due to newer inpection requirements.In Pa. all emission equipment originally installed on a specific year car,must be present.(Doesn't have to work,but must be "visually present".With the antique tag,it is supposed to remain stock,but there's no required inspection.(You don't ask,...I won't tell.)
This is a special edition "antique",only one ever made.
At the time I had regular plates,and yes it did sound like a race car. I've since swapped to antique tags,due to newer inpection requirements.In Pa. all emission equipment originally installed on a specific year car,must be present.(Doesn't have to work,but must be "visually present".With the antique tag,it is supposed to remain stock,but there's no required inspection.(You don't ask,...I won't tell.)
This is a special edition "antique",only one ever made.
