I was wondering how much this custom exhaust system is worth - Parts and Labor. We're talking from the downpipe's flange all the way back. Downpipe has flexpipe and bung with O2 sensor.

I was quoted $880 which includes magnaflow muffler, magnaflow cat, and some cheap resonator - 3" piping all pre-ordered mandrel bends (4x 90deg + 2x 45deg) all cut and welded.

or

 

thats a normal price if its stainless
or you could buy a prebent Kteller kit.


Modified by dfoxengr at 2:46 PM 7/9/2008

 

aluminized - how much less should the aluminized cost? Is there any benefits of aluminized? thicker than SS? I can't believe they said SS will rust.

 

no benefits of aluminized over ss except cost.
should be about 50-100$ more to get ss.

some stainless will rust over time, depending on the grade of material

 

how many hours does it take to cut and weld everything up?

 

thats a variable. I would probably charge somewhere close to that for aluminized TIG. All the time is spent fabricating, which generally means custom engineering on the fly. Don't think your getting screwed anyways.

 

I have to disagree with some of this. I just did a full stainless 3" setup on a 7th gen Civ with a K20a. With all materials and labor his final was 970.00, and he provided the muffler.

I'd have to say for aluminized, with the muffler, res., and all that...that's pretty good. Now, understand though, the fitment better be good as hell...not a piece of ****. The guy paid me what he did, because 7th gens have basically no tunnel...it's low no matter how well it's tucked. He wanted tight fitment, and I gave it to him, but it costed more time.

The other thing to consider is the welding process...is this MIG'd or TIG'd. MIG is a faster process and consumes less time than TIG would.

IMO though, what you were quoted is certainly fair, it just better fit as expected.

 

yea, they want $500 more for SS. Not sure if it'll be TIG or MIG and I certainly won't be able to tell when it's done. Can you tell by looking at it?

I called up another shop in Bellflower CA (Allied Muffler) and they quoted $460 for the same setup and 1.5 hours of work.


Modified by ketchup at 11:30 AM 7/9/2008

 

the muffler shop is probably going to be crush bent

 

ahh i forgot about that. The original shop is ordering the mandrel bends so the only factor that should be in labor is less time doing it themselves.

 

yeah, mandrel bent stuff will have way more welds in it, while the crush bent will typically be all in one piece.

 

So $880 is an acceptable average?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ketchup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So $880 is an acceptable average?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ugh... just buy a Thermal 3" for that price. Assuming they are still made.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by splitime &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ugh... just buy a Thermal 3" for that price. Assuming they are still made.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

So I can just order the Thermal 3" have the shop cut and weld in a cat convert and resonator?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ketchup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I can just order the Thermal 3" have the shop cut and weld in a cat convert and resonator?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd leave the exhaust alone. It is a very nice stainless 3", I'd mod the downpipe if it is really that long. Otherwise, if there is room, just have them make a bolt in cat for it between the DP and the exhaust.

It comes without a resonator and sounds quite nice on a boosted car. They could add a resonator also, I'd try it without modding it first though.

 

http://vrsexhaust.com/TUBING_K....html

aluminized 3 inch piping kit-175 shipped
ss 3 inch piping kit-225 shipped

I'm glad I have a all around performance shop I can go to who gives me great prices on fab work.

 

I'm figuring that with a cat, muffler, resonator, and 3" mild steel piping, that's about $500-550 in materials. Add hanger stock, filler, and shop overhead and I think that's a fair price. At that rate I'm guessing they are figuring on 3-4 hours labor.
Honestly for me if it wasn't an easy setup that I did all the time I'd say that was a little low on price for a TIG welded (if that's what they're doing) 3" mandrel bend custom fit exhaust. Alot of the local honda crowd are low-ballers, which is kind of why I switched over to Subaru's when I got the STi. Now that the same thing is starting to happen in that crowd, I just want to punch myself in the face sometimes.

Anyways, ask to see some pictures of the shops work so you get an idea of what quality they typically do and if you'd be happy with it. Good luck, have fun.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by splitime &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'd leave the exhaust alone. It is a very nice stainless 3", I'd mod the downpipe if it is really that long. Otherwise, if there is room, just have them make a bolt in cat for it between the DP and the exhaust.

It comes without a resonator and sounds quite nice on a boosted car. They could add a resonator also, I'd try it without modding it first though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That may very well be my solution, I'll try it without the res. If I'm going to spend the money, might as well spend it on a nice setup like the Thermal SS.

So I could just hang everything myself? and bring it to a shop and have them make a bolt on cat and I'd be set?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ketchup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That may very well be my solution, I'll try it without the res. If I'm going to spend the money, might as well spend it on a nice setup like the Thermal SS.

So I could just hang everything myself? and bring it to a shop and have them make a bolt on cat and I'd be set?</TD></TR></TABLE> yes the thermal fits very well. just have them make the cat fit

 

Just opened up the Thermal system, looks great. Currently removing my rear sway bar to hang the muffler. Picked up the Vibrant Metal core catalytic converter also

This is definitely the way to go. Total cost will be less than what the other shop wanted and it's Stainless Steel

 

Metal core cat was a bad idea. Currently running without a cat. I'll be ordering a REAL Catalytic Converter and 18" Resonator - It's currently a little too loud for my taste. Any specific brands I should go with or will it not matter?

I still love the Thermal System tho Thanks for the help fellas