Exhaust pipes out the side!

[71400lb]

Okay, so currently, my dual exhaust pipes exit just behind the rear wheels of my 71 Cheyenne C/20. I'd like them to exit striaght out the back. Muffler guy says they cannot be bent straight back, from the position they're in now...that he'd have to cut them at the bend and put on new straight pipes from there. I thought they could just heat up and bend the existing pipes straight back...then I'd put the chrome tips on and be done with it.

Does this sound right? Can they be bent or do they need to be cut at the bend and put straight pipes on back?

Thanks

Note; pipes are almost new(read no rust) from the previous owner.
Muffler guy said approx $200 to do the job(including two chrome tips).

Rick
1971 Chevy Cheyenne 3/4 Ton Long Bed
400 SBC/4 bbl Quadrajet/400 Turbo
3.73 H052 3.73/Open

[Longhorn Man]

200 bucks for 30 min of labor, 4 feet of pipe, a couple hangers, and two chrome tips that are probably made in a sweat shop by 5 year old kids... man, I'm in the wrong buisness.
Does his buisness card say Come to bob's mufflers to get bent?

While he is right, you can't really bend the pipes back...they are too thin...he is also charging way too much. You can get a complete mail order set of pipes for that, or a complete custom job for a little more.

I'd check out a couple other shops.

[shuttermutt]

Re-bends are kind of a bear and prone to fail. Metal doesn't like to be bent twice at the same place. It's easier for him to just cut and graft a new piece of pipe and, frankly, that's probably they way I'd want it done, but only if it's welded and not just clamped.

The quote, however, seems high side to me. Sure, he'll have to bend over the axle, but you can have a crossover tube put in for less than $100 and the job you're talking about isn't that much more work or material. I wouldn't pay more than $125 and I'd grumble for days about that price.

On a related note, can someone explain why the cost of exhaust work has gone up so much in recent years? I hung a completely new set of duals (including mufflers) on my Chevelle 10 years ago and the job cost about $200. Now shops are charging upwards of $500-600 for the same damn job. Heck, the best quote I could get for putting duals on my truck (2-1/4 dumped at 45 degrees off parallel 8-inches before the rear wheel and I supplied the mufflers) was over $400. What the hell?!?

[toddtheodd]

You guys must be going to the wrong places. I went just under a year ago and had dual 2 1/2 pipes bent welded and hung for $125. That was including all the hangers as well.
Todd

[donkey69]

" On a related note, can someone explain why the cost of exhaust work has gone up so much in recent years?"

I bet it's the price of steel-which has gone up 300-600% since the beginning of the year! What can ya do?

[LUV2XCLR8]

My Buddy Uses Aluminized Pipe And Charges The Same As The Guys
Who Use Steel Pipe, Had It On My 67 For 5 Years And It Was Still
The Same Silver Color As The Day That He Installed It, Oh Yea,
$39.95 Per Tail Pipe (2) And $4.95 Per Hanger (4) = Like A C Note.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Oops Forgot Tips, $9.95 Ea & Up ( Chrome )
To $49.95 Ea And Up ( Stainless Steel )

[Alexis]

Metal Fatigue. it can be your best friend or your worse enemy.

[MMGOODIE]

Originally Posted by toddtheodd

You guys must be going to the wrong places. I went just under a year ago and had dual 2 1/2 pipes bent welded and hung for $125. That was including all the hangers as well.
Todd

Yep, 7 months ago my brother got my exhaust done for xmas 2.5 from manifolds to side rear for 166.00 and the muff man said for 20.00 he could do and "H" section. Check around. For that you may even try some welding shops.

[CHEVYE]

has anyone seen the meineke commercial for catback exhaust $350? what a rip!!! 4 feet of tube with a bend over the rearend and a couple of cheap muffs. i can get a header back with flowmasters for that.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Ouch, My Buddy Will Do Headers Back, With 2.5" Aluminized Exhaust,
2 Muffs, ( Raven, Magnaflow, Flows ) And 2 3" X 18" Tips For That.

[CHEVYE]

that`s what i`m saying, cost of living must be a real mother in some places, that is highway robbery.

[8door]

It's called free enterprise gentlemen.
Shop around.
Deals are made by comparing.
I can get a complete dual system, manifold to chrome tips with Flowmasters done while you wait and the shop has seats right next to your truck to watch every move the installer makes.$350

[71400lb]

Thanks for all the replies.
Yeah, I thought it sounded pretty high of a price. This was Monro Muffler brake in Raleigh NC on Atlantic Blvd.
I also asked the guy about swapping my mufflers on for 1967 Chrysler 300 for some Cherry Bomb Glass Packs...he said they would cost me about $49 each Cherry Bomb and ball park price of $130 for the entire job(my mufflers are clamped not welded in).

Guess I'll shop around.

Rick

[JoetheMobster]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Does his buisness card say Come to bob's mufflers to get bent?

LMFAO!!! Thanks for the chuckle this morning, I needed it!

[moneyguru]

Are there any good exhaust kits readily available or is it best to just have an exhaust shop custom bend a new system?

I am trying to get my 67 longstep together, it has a 350/350 with open exhaust manifolds now, I'd like duals out the back?


Thanks

[Alex Hayley]

Rick, please post on this thread if you find a good exhaust place. I am in the same boat as you. I have looked around Apex and Cary and have found $400+ for an exhaust system.

[71400lb]

No problem Alex, I will post if/when I find a good place at reasonable prices.

As I think back, I remember that I had my brake fluid changed and brakes cleaned at that Monro Muffler Brake place, and they wouldn't honor my "Monro 20% Off All Brake Service" coupon.
The guy said it didn't include changing brake fluid and/or brake cleaning, it was meant for turning rotors and raplacing pads type jobs,,,even though the coupon read "20% Off ALL Brake Service"...that was 3 years ago, it sounds like things haven't changed there, so stay away from them, as I will(Monro muffler Brake on Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh NC).

Rick