I just called my local Exhaust Pros and the guy quoted me $100 for tubing and $250 for a magna-flo muffler that I want ($350 Total). I can get the same muffler from a store of eBay for 157 shipped. So he quoted me $100(piping) + $40 to hang the muffler. Sounds like a great deal - full cat-back and all for $300+change. Anybody see anything wrong?

Ok - so here is my question - I've read in the past about custom exhaust and people always said to only get mandrel bent exhaust and not crush bent, something to do with flow. The guy at the shop said that no exhaust shop has that machine/capability - is this something very expensive? Is it really gonna matter that much? - I have a TIP so I'll never be modded to much.

 

what kind of piping? stainless? alum? etc in the long run paying a bit more for stainless would payoff, as for crush vs. mandrel, should not be an issue if you are not going huge

 

Mandrel bends are best for flow. Crush bends restrict flow.. It actually decreases the piping diameter where the bend is. Mandrel bends retain the piping diameter even where the bends are made. Lots of muffler shops have mandrel bending machines. I would take his quote to a place who can do mandrel bends.

 

i think it is near impossible to find shops with mandrel bending in house. The cheapest bender that can do large diameter exhaust is around 100 grand. Ask them about sectioning from existing mandrel bends. I would not get the crush bends. I dont wanna sound like a snob but i will never recommend something i wouldnt do myself. another 300 bucks and you could buy the very very very nice blue flame cat back, or a borla. the price he is giving you isnt that great if he is using crush bends. i am also pretty sure this isnt high quality metal and all the welding will be mig as opposed to tig. a properly built exhaust will outlast the car.

 

Well, this should still be better than stock I assume. I have a 98 with 150k on it not sure if I want to put more $ into something, just so the next owner still has a great exhaust. Just looking to free up some restriction. This is why I'm doing an exhaust.

 

just take your quote and check around other shops to see if someone can atleast match that price with mandrel, there has got to be another muffler shop in your area

 

when i did mine I bought maderin bent tubing kit from jegs 2.5" cut to fit and tack weiled everything in-place, took it all down and made some realy realy nice weilds.. cost 475 for parts and took about 8 hours to get everything perfect..

 

If your not gonna keep the car, then do what you are planning.

If you are keeping the car, Buy an aftermarket cat-back system.

Its more $$, but it is mandrel bent stainless steel all the way back, and you will never have to replace the exhaust ever again. It will outlast the car (from the cat-back anyway).