Exhaust Shop

[slimdog55]

I have all my components for my exhaust system:

Flowmaster 80 Series
SLP Over-Axle Pipe
5 Feet SS Pipe
2 Dual Outlet Tips
Hi-Flow Cat
(2) U-J Mandrel Bends (From MP Racing)

All 2.5 inch piping.

So I went to a local Meineke today to get an estimate. They looked at me like I was stupid. They told me I had the wrong muffler, they said it's for a Camaro. I know it's for a Camaro, but I've seen them on a Grand Am. (Here at GAOC.) They said there's no way that muffler is going to work. LOL. I've seen it!!!

They looked at the over-axle pipe and didn't know what it was. I told them it was a pipe that went over the axle. :???: Then they replied with "Your cars exhaust isn't an over-axle design."

They said they could weld on my muffler and tips. That's it. My U-J bends, cat converter, SLP over-axle pipe, 5 feet of SS pipe would not be used.

That's when I said "OK, I'm out of there."

Now for you all that have a majority of what I'm going to have installed: Can you post a picture of your Flowmaster 80 with the SLP over-axle pipe, so I can show the next exhaust shop that I go to? I don't want them to play dumb with me. I know it can be done.

I already have TJ04GASE's 2 pictures of his exhaust with the Flowmaster 80. I just need a coupe more to prove that it CAN be done. Thank you!

[Ryan625]

wow...what a bunch of dumbasses. I bet none of them even do exhaust systems there though. I was at midas to see how much they'd charge me and none of the guys their were hired to put exhausts on. They even told me that they didnt know what would be done. First they tried to convince me that my pipe was good even though i told them i wanted 2.5" then they were like well i guess we could just hang the muffler and tips for $100. I left knowing i wasn't getting them to do my exhaust. Today i went to family owned shop and they knew exactly what i wanted and the guy was helping me get what i need. Turns out its more complicated for a shop to weld or clamp the single bends to straight sections of pipe cause they have to put it up find where they need to cut, put the bend on then take it down and put the next segment on. They use pressure bends so he told me to find the whole pipe if i could and im working a deal now with someone on the forums.

Don't waste your money with idiots like midas, minakee, or any other place like that. Go to a local auto body shop since you already have the pipe and everything you need. They'll just charge you labor which will probably be about 2.5-3 hours. Just curious how much did all that cost you?

[slimdog55]

Yeah, I'm probably going to go to a small shop that only does exhaust or something. I'm going to visit a bunch of places Saturday. Everything cost around $600, which is a shit load. (I bought everything online, so a chunk of it was shipping and handling charges.:()

[Blackhawk]

Ouch on the cost, I paid $400 for everything including install, and only the pipe was bought locally. Tell the shop to use the same path as the stock piping, it's the only way to go. The oulets for the tips on the muffler will go closer to the front of the car than the inlet with the SLP pipe, and it will be angled. Kelly has a thread showing this angle.

[99GrandAMSE]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88922

Even though my specific pictures are not there, I just had this done last Wednesday and it certainly can be done, it isn't a straight forward installation but it is easily done :)

[slimdog55]

So I went to another exhaust shop today, and they said $300 for everything put on. I was like yeahhh....no. I now have a friend who might be able to do it. We shall see on Monday.

[99GrandAMSE]

... I had everything installed (already bought the muffler) for $180 :)

[Blackhawk]

$300 to cut pipe and weld it? Holy shit

[thespaz18]

That's just f'ing great... I have a Cherry Bomb Camaro style muffler and dual tips as well. I was hoping on going to my local Meineke and having them provide all the piping (bending, installing and whatnot) and installing a full cat-back system. I guess that idea is blown. Should I start looking for the piping online and then search for an exhaust-specific shop?

[Blackhawk]

Check with the Meineke, just because his shop is employed by idiots doesn't mean yours is. Franchises are really judged on a case-by-case basis.

[jack sparrow]

how much did it cost you for all those exaust componets..

[slimdog55]

how much did it cost you for all those exaust componets..

Too much. I ended up not using the 5 ft. stainless steel pipe and the MP Racing mandrel bends. I'm in the process of trying to return the mandrel bends to MP Racing and getting a custom tuned PCM instead.

I just had the exhaust shop use their piping. I believe this is what Blackhawk did. I believe this is the best route to go. (With the shop's custom bent pipes.) Well, now I know what best for my next car!

[grandam2006]

were you going to make a custom downpipe and catback exhaust? I saw that you were replacing the cat. What type are you replacing it with?

[slimdog55]

were you going to make a custom downpipe and catback exhaust? I saw that you were replacing the cat. What type are you replacing it with?

I did get the cat replaced. I replaced it with a Magnaflow 2.5 inch in/out cat. I think the part number was 53006.

No, I did get a custom downpipe made. I still have the stock one.

[Blackhawk]

Yeah Slim, I just had the shop order a 10 foot length of stainless steel, cost $75 for that full length so it was cheaper than buying from Mark.