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Hi everyone, what's a fair price to have OE style mufflers installed/welded on a C3 (76) in the Houston, Tx area? I'm just checking because I had guy quote $150 for both. Based on past experiences that seems way high just to weld them and bolt them down. Thanks.
Hi everyone, what's a fair price to have OE style mufflers installed/welded on a C3 (76) in the Houston, Tx area? I'm just checking because I had guy quote $150 for both. Based on past experiences that seems way high just to weld them and bolt them down. Thanks.
I do business in the Houston area in the collision industry and frankly taking into consideration mechanical/frame labor rates, wire/gas that sounds pretty fair or at least in the neighborhood $75 per side
The time to do intake paperwork, put it on a lift, remove the old mufflers, prep joints, dry fit, adjust, weld, remove the car from the lift, return the car to the lot, run the paperwork, and close out the tab. All of that is time spent on your car. $150 seems quite reasonable to me.
Easy, just install them yourself. Shouldn't need welding if they are the correct fit mufflers.
But seriously, I understand that we all aren't capable of everything.
And consider that prices have gone up in 15 years.
That guy has overhead just to keep the doors open.
He's not making 150 bucks. Only a small fraction of that. And he has a family to feed.
Easy, just install them yourself. Shouldn't need welding if they are the correct fit mufflers.
But seriously, I understand that we all aren't capable of everything.
And consider that prices have gone up in 15 years.
That guy has overhead just to keep the doors open.
He's not making 150 bucks. Only a small fraction of that. And he has a family to feed.
Thanks for the feedback. I was just checking just to gauge if it was a fair price. I am a DYIer so I have definitely thought about doing it myself. It just looks like getting the old ones off will be a PIA. I have certainly had my fair share of those. LOL
hgoodwiniii
In that case I'd do it myself. Just to get some practice welding in.
My mufflers came from corvette central and fit like a dream even just bolted together. Once I had the exhaust "pass under" the tranny crossmember I figured I'd just weld them on. Glad I did. BUT really, they fit about perfect just clamped on.
Originally Posted by hgoodwiniii
Thanks for the feedback. I was just checking just to gauge if it was a fair price. I am a DYIer so I have definitely thought about doing it myself. It just looks like getting the old ones off will be a PIA. I have certainly had my fair share of those. LOL
hgoodwiniii
In that case I'd do it myself. Just to get some practice welding in.
My mufflers came from corvette central and fit like a dream even just bolted together. Once I had the exhaust "pass under" the tranny crossmember I figured I'd just weld them on. Glad I did. BUT really, they fit about perfect just clamped on.
Hi carriljc, mine are coming from Zip-Corvette. Sounds like you changed your whole exhaust? I'm only changing mufflers and mine are welded on where they connect to the tailpipes. Not sure how I can get those off without a torch? Thanks.
hgoodwiniii
I actually bought the whole 2.5" exhaust Corvette Central parts including the mufflers (with 65-65 2.5 fullsize downpipes to fit my 2.5" smoothie ramhorns). I'd had a "fabricated" exhaust on there with one or another set of headers for 30+ years prior......so I was pleasantly surprised that it all bolted together and fit so wonderfully.
I then put in a 200-4R and made my exhaust "pass under" the tranny crossmember.....so I ended up tweaking that well fitting exhaust ...just some cutting and welding to patch it back together. Fits pretty dang good and I can drop it out pretty dang quick.
You can use a cutting wheel, plasma cutter, or torch (as you mentioned) to cut the old mufflers off.
Here are how mine looked after I tweaked them and welded them all back together into 1 piece.
Originally Posted by hgoodwiniii
Hi carriljc, mine are coming from Zip-Corvette. Sounds like you changed your whole exhaust? I'm only changing mufflers and mine are welded on where they connect to the tailpipes. Not sure how I can get those off without a torch? Thanks.
hgoodwiniii
I actually bought the whole 2.5" exhaust Corvette Central parts including the mufflers (with 65-65 2.5 fullsize downpipes to fit my 2.5" smoothie ramhorns). I'd had a "fabricated" exhaust on there with one or another set of headers for 30+ years prior......so I was pleasantly surprised that it all bolted together and fit so wonderfully.
I then put in a 200-4R and made my exhaust "pass under" the tranny crossmember.....so I ended up tweaking that well fitting exhaust ...just some cutting and welding to patch it back together. Fits pretty dang good and I can drop it out pretty dang quick.
You can use a cutting wheel, plasma cutter, or torch (as you mentioned) to cut the old mufflers off.
Here are how mine looked after I tweaked them and welded them all back together into 1 piece.
Very nice! I like what you did. I'll think on it. That cutting wheel sounds like doable and the plasma cutter sound like a ton of fun. I can image what my neighbors will think of more weird noises coming from over here LOL.
Angle grinder with a cut off disc works great. Sawsall works great.
welding the whole exhaust system has serious drawbacks. I would never do that.
exhaust clamps come apart.
Next time you need to drop your tank, or work on your clutch you'll be glad your exhaust isn't welded.
Angle grinder with a cut off disc works great. Sawsall works great.
welding the whole exhaust system has serious drawbacks. I would never do that.
exhaust clamps come apart.
Next time you need to drop your tank, or work on your clutch you'll be glad your exhaust isn't welded.
Yea, we'll see. Thanks for the feedback. My exhaust is pretty much welded up to the headers right now and passing through the transmission crossmember. I had the tank out for EFI install a few months ago and there wasn't any real problem with the exhaust. You are right, it could have been easier, but it wasn't bad. If I do the mufflers myself, my biggest thing is getting the old mufflers off. If I can do that, I can just clamp the new one's down and if no leak, no exhaust shop.
Yeah. I would not have welded it together if I had not fabricated the tranny crossmember to allow the exhaust to "pass under".... now the exhaust falls off like a dream....
Originally Posted by 4-vettes
Angle grinder with a cut off disc works great. Sawsall works great.
welding the whole exhaust system has serious drawbacks. I would never do that.
exhaust clamps come apart.
Next time you need to drop your tank, or work on your clutch you'll be glad your exhaust isn't welded.
General Motors fabricated my frame. The trans crossmember is a welded in part of the frame.
And although I do understand some people do cut it up and weld in flanges to allow removal. Just something I don't wish to do.
Never had a problem with my exhaust clamped together. Generally it is how it's done.
76 Muffler Install
