Exhaust system ripoff, errr... quotes

[shuttermutt]

Alright, I'm a native Oklatexan that transplanted to (of all places) Caribou, Maine. I picked up a great 68 CST LWB with a 327, TH400, 3.73 posi, factory air and power steering a few weeks ago at an auction. Usual suspects for rust. Hey, I am only the second owner, though.

So, I call around to the different muffler shops in the area and ask what it would cost to hang a set of duals on the old girl. Nothing fancy. Just a new set of pipes and mufflers. The best quote?

$500.00!!!

When I put the new 2-1/2 pipes with crossover and turn-down tips on my Chevelle it only cost a little under $250! Now, I don't have a problem paying that much, but $500?!?! These guys must be smokin' the expensive stuff!

[Tx Firefighter]

I'm filing that under yet another reason to stay in Texas.

I get 2 1/2 inch dual aluminized systems done for 175, no problem. That's me supplying the mufflers though.

If I was you, I'd pack up and head home.

[Blue Beard]

In the past few years they have gone up alot.........

But depending on what you want a stock job will still run around $250 where I live......

Start changing sizes and prices go up for speciality items.........

[Huck]

Order a set of duals from LMC or JC Whitneys. they come with your choice of loud glasspacks or quieter turbo mufflers with choice of rear exhaust or side exhaust similar to factory. Under $200. Install takes about an hour or two depending. I have had a set on my truck for a while with no problems. Install can be a bit of a challenge as the parts are not numbered or identified which makes it a bit of a puzzle but they do eventually fit and work.

[72shadetree]

they run around $200 here or $300 with flowmaster.they must be smoking something up north

[Tuck]

I purchased the LMC (puzzle) kit and couldnt be happier. I got the kit with the stock manifolds and turbo mufflers.

Still a little loud for my tastes. I must be getting old.

The box said heartbeat exaust systems, I think JC whitney sells the same kit without muflers, The LMC kit came complete with hangers and mufflers of you choice.

[racedvl]

I had done yesterday. . . . . .

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=75451

[shuttermutt]

Originally posted by Tx Firefighter
I'm filing that under yet another reason to stay in Texas.

I get 2 1/2 inch dual aluminized systems done for 175, no problem. That's me supplying the mufflers though.

If I was you, I'd pack up and head home.

Believe me, I'd love to. It's too f*$king cold up here, a lot of the people aren't nearly as nice as they'd like you to believe, it's hard to find parts and competent service, and it's just not TEXAS!

I'm considering having my old man have a set fitted to his 1970 and ship it to me. I'm still in total shock at the nerve of a shop to ask that kind of money for a relatively simple job.

[my new 72]

Around here for a custom bent exhaust it cost $600. And yes, since they do not have a template for the bends to go by, it is considered a custom exhaust. $500 is a good deal.

[chevy_fatman]

I was quoted the same here in PA ($500) to get a new exhaust system put on my longbed, and that was me providing the mufflers, $700 if they put their $hitty cheap mufflers, can you say rape?

I walked away of course.

[shuttermutt]

Yeah, I don't consider $500+ to hang duals a good deal on any planet. There's just not that much in time and materials to justify that kind of outrageous price. To me, the scale is something like this...

< $200: Either you're doing the work or you know somebody.
$201-$250: If they're decent mufflers, it's a good deal.
$251-$300: Those had better be Flowmasters.
$301-$400: Sure, if I'm having plenty of custom work done.
> $401: What? Are the gold plated or something? Get real!

Yeah, I know... everybody's cousin has a custom with a $2000 exhaust. That or your uncle had his done for $20 and a bottle of Jim Beam. But for the average Joe looking for decent quality parts and installation, I don't think I'm that far off one way or the other.

[cdowns]

i'm another one who got the LMC kit like they said once you figure out what goes where it's a good fitting sounding system 21/2 years 40K miles and no problems with it

[cableguy0]

you could always solve your problem the way i did weld about 30 inches of pipe to the collecters weld flowmasters to the end of the pipe and end it right there. mine dumps just behind the cab it aint the most quite thing in the world but i aint looking for quiet i want horsepower. ask 70c10 hes been in the truck

[CPNE]

Originally posted by Tx Firefighter
I'm filing that under yet another reason to stay in Texas.

I'm filing your avatar as the #1 reason not to go to Texas (or pick up the soap for that matter):p J/K

I'm not defending the shop(s) practices but there are several factors that my come into play here:

1. Supply and demand. Simple fact rural New England does not have a plethora of muffler shops. It's simply easier for a shop to do a new vehicle versus a 35 year old vehicle and they can make more $$$ doing so. They may have been pricing you to "go away".

2. Rust factor. Yes vehicle rust here much more so than in TX. A simple job is not so simple and more time-consuming when you have to deal with rust. I hope they looked at your vehicle before quoting but if not they may have assumed the worst-case. And a 35 year old Maine truck is not easy to work on.

3. Accent factor. Ya'll want to fix my truck? Try Ayah, you can fix my truck, if ah can get theyah from he-ah.

And, if you think it's cold now...

The vendor kits may be your best bet.

[shuttermutt]

Anybody care to throw up a link to the LMC kit?

[CPNE]

Try the link for LMC found here .

You may want to check out Wes at classic heartbeat too. I think he's got a kit as well. He's a boardmember here too.

[chevy_fatman]

You have to order a catalog which is free and well illustraded

[>X<]

i bought 2 flowmasters and a crossover pipe and the local Midas welded it up, through crossmember, added turndowns, and supplied all pipe for $200

[shuttermutt]

Midas wants "between $450 and 500" here.

[>X<]

damn that sucks.

another midas that is a little further awayfrom me bends me pipe for5-10 bucks. so when i weld up a custom exhaust system for someone and need a piece of pipe that needs a weird bend or spread i just take it there, 5 bucks to the guy in the shop, and i'm set

[Fred T]

I had mine done by a local shop, Dynomax Turbo mufflers, lifetime warranty for $375. They sell kits, too. http://www.american-muffler.com

Whey in the heck would anyone move from Texas to Caribou? Y'all in the Air Force? Dad spent a winter up there working for Boeing heading up the rebuilding of a B-52, the day he got on the plane to head back at Christmas it was 55 below ambient air temp.

[lukecp]

Damn....that is high! A little over 2 years ago i paid $250 for a 2-1/2" dual alluminized system and 2 Flowmaster Delta Flow 40 Series muffles...the muffs were by far the most expensive of part of the system (@$75 ea.). The system ends above my rear axle...but i am very happy with it.

I agree with these guys...buy the LMC kit. I think JC Whitney sells exhaust kits too....but they have kind of a bad reputation for selling cheap junk.....

[PrimeredThunder]

I paid $450 to have an Aluminized 2.5" Dual system with Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers and Chrome Tail Pipes for my 72' done. Was the cheapest i could find.

[dons72]

Shutter, wow you might as well check out the prices in Canada. I was up there at Loring a couple of years ago and that place is cold. Although the best snowmobile trails I have ever ridden are in maine. Farther downeast there are some really good muffler shops, but that would be quite a drive for you.

[shuttermutt]

Originally posted by dons72
Shutter, wow you might as well check out the prices in Canada. I was up there at Loring a couple of years ago and that place is cold. Although the best snowmobile trails I have ever ridden are in maine. Farther downeast there are some really good muffler shops, but that would be quite a drive for you.

Yeah, I just ordered an LMC catalog. Obviously, I can't bear to pay $500 for exhaust when the whole damn truck only cost me $1,100. I can think of a whole lot of better things to do with that money (see: "Troubleshooting the new (to me) truck..." thread).

Heh, I actually live in the old married officer housing on the (now defunct) Loring AFB. You're right, too. The weather here can be pretty wacky. For example:

Average High in Jan: 19°F
Average Low in Jan: 0°F

Average High in July: 76°F
Average Low in July: 55°F

Record Low: -41°F (set in Feb 1955)
Record High: 96°F (set in May 1977)

Last winter we routinely saw sub-zero temperatues all winter and we had snow drifts taller than some buildings. At one point, the snow completely covered my wife's Ford F-150 in one night and my BMW had nearly 3 feet of snow on top.

Needless to say, I'll be investing in a block heater and battery blanket in the near future. Hey, that leads me to another question, but I'll post that on a new thread.