Getting Custom Exhaust Built but...

[BoredOutaMyMind]

Ok, i have a feeling i already know the answer to this but.. heres the story - I go up to a local muffler shop and ask to get an estimate on getting an exhaust built for my 98 GST, he asks what size and says do you want a 2.5inch? I told him i was looking for a 3inch. Well he looks under my car and says he might have some trouble fitting a 3inch pipe over the axle. I explained to him that some aftermarket catbacks have the piping going under it instead. He says he can probably do that.. Anyways i wasnt too worried about that and asked for an estimate. He says ~130 bucks for a catback 3inch exhaust, ~100 bucks for downpipe (with 3inch magnaflow cat, 60bucks, included in estimate, he said it was illegal to give me the car without a cat on it, but im hoping to get a test pipe made there and say i use it at the track or something, so i can switch it out when i get home) I was really retarded and forgot to ask if the piping was mandrel bent, and im guessing its most likely not. I might have the prices a little off but the total estimate including 3inch cat was 230bucks. Now do you all think this is cheap even for a press bent exhaust? Or was he just estimating low so he could price it up when he makes it and charge me more? How much do you think it would cost based on current estimate to get the piping mandrel bent? I understand every shop is different but im just looking for a rough idea. Btw i was planning to use the muffler i have on my car (some ebay special "Greddy" muffler that came with the car) I would really want to avoid press bent exhaust. Sorry for the long post

 

[freak4jesus_bt]

From what I understand, there are very FEW shops in the US who make mandrel piping. That prices sounds about right for press bent. The exhaust shop I talked to told me from my down pipe back would be $120, plus the cost of the catalytic converter, which would run around $100 buck for a high flow model. Good luck man.

 

[trebornash]

Yep everything sounds right to me.There's not that many bends in our exhaust system so the press bent part will hardly differ from a mandrel.Especially 3". Normally charge around $40 bucks to install your own muff.$45 for a test pipe.TRUE not that many exhaust shops have a $250000 mandrel bender if any @ all.Good price quote

 

[BoredOutaMyMind]

damn... i was excited too ... Anyway i can buy 3" mandrel bent piping where the exhaust bends and then give it to the exhaust shop and have them make the straight pieces/flanges ? so basically all im paying for is the cat and the straight pipes (maybe muffler swap too) ... would seem like the logical thing to do, anyone have an idea of what mandrel bends i have to buy? JCWhitney comes to mind, i just dont have enough time to look atm. BTW the "high flow cat" (3inch) was 60 bucks, think i should just buy the cheapest crappiest 3inch cat they have then make my own test pipe? i have access to a welder (on base theres an auto hobby shop that has a fee per hour of welding usage) would i be able to weld good enough to make the test pipe, or even the whole exhaust all together? What would you do? Which seems like the cheapest option, bringing mandrel bends to the shop, or building my own exhaust (please keep in mind ive never used a welder, but i think my dad has, atleast on repairs). Thanks for all the replies, they are helpful in my decisions DSM Tuners rocks

 

[trebornash]

Save time and money,go have it done for the price quoted. There is nothing wrong w/ ordering mandrel bends from J.C. If you go that route you might as well do it all yourself.

 

[RamenPride]

There's not that many bends in our exhaust system so the press bent part will hardly differ from a mandrel.

that's true if you have AWD. from looking at the vehicle profile it looks like they have FWD though, which has a lot more bends.

 

[sweet97]

Check out www.kteller.com forgood prices. Best I've seen.

 

[kicker91laser]

Look on ebay for the high flow cat and mandrel bends, I have found 3" magnaflow cats for $60, or you can get cheaper ones for around $40. There are some shops that sell mandrel bends, or you can have them make any bend you want. That is the cheapest route I have found.