I've called around 2 places and they charges 100+
How much should it cost? Should I make it a DYI project? What tools might I need?

 

It doesnt take very long to install an exhaust system. Charging over $100 doesnt seem right to me. When my friends got their exhausts installed they were charged between $50-75 CDN.

 

That's around 60-65 bucks, which should be the rate to go on. The Acura dealership is quoting me $125 to do it. One good thing about it is that I would have a loaner car to drive to work instead of being stuck w/o a car. $125 is alot of money though.

 

It shouldnt take more than 1 hour to have an exhaust swapped out.

 

25 dollars for me to install the CT exhaust

 

I know, it's hard to get any pricing below $100 it seems.

 

its actually pretty easy if you have decent floor jacks you can do it your self, its all bolts and hangers

 

I don't have any jack beside the one that came with the car.

 

I just got a ridiculous bid for $235 and the guy said it's a 3 hour job. WTF.

Mean while another called me back saying that it'd be $85. It's getting lower but still.

 

get a list of 6 places...when i was calling around for a quote on crank pulley install, some places said 375 cuz its around a 5 hour job, some said like 250, some 200...i finally found a place that did it in 2.5 hours for 100 bux.

catback install, if its bolt on, shouldnt be more than 100 bux, exhaust is just lift the car and work, lot of free space, nothing that should be a pain except maybe the hangers.

 

I'm definitely contemplating a DIY project for tonight. I'm sure that I will need a rachet set, which I do have access to. What else? Anyone?

 

Most stores charge for about an hour's worth of work. Maybe about $50-$60.

 

45 minutes with a buddy of mine and it was all done. The only issue I ran into was that 2 of the nuts on the bolts off of the cat were pretty rusted and tougher than sh** to get off. All I did was put the rear end up on ramps and we were good to go.

 

Paid $20 bucks to install my Apexi. Shop around.

 

I'm in everett.. buy me lunch and I'll help you out with the install? I did it on my LEXUS IS300

 

The potentially expensive part of the install is not hanging the new system, it's getting the old one off. If you run into bolts that are rusted solid, your only option is to cut them or torch them off.

 

You should never have to torch or cut anything on the old exhaust on the TL. After you get the nuts off the bolts that are on the cat, all you have to do is unhook the exhaust hangers and the whole thing drops down. The exhaust doesn't bolt into the cat, the cat bolts in to the exhaust if you know what I mean. So unless you are looking for a bigger problem than you really want there is no need to cut anything. That is what WD40 and other products are for. I don't know the exact name but I used a stipped nut remover when I rounded off the edges on the nut, that was it.

 

The bolts and nuts on my '99 were rusted solid. Soaking with penetrating oil and a 600 lb ft impact wrench would not budge them. They had to be cut off with a torch.

 

mine on my old car were like that had to grid them off but it worked just fine after that

 

I had the same problem used the air ratchet, air gun, nothing would work, and then we accidentally rounded the nut. We used that stripped nut remover along with something similar to WD-40, wasn't it though, let it sit for 10 minutes grabbed a breaker bar went at it and it broke, whatever this chemical was it sure broke that rust loose, I was amazed

 

You're the same guy who said, "You should never have to torch or cut anything on the old exhaust on the TL."

Using a breaker bar to break the bolt or a torch to cut it off accomplish the same thing, except a torch doesn't take nearly as long. BTW, what's removing the rust have to do with anything? The idea behind penetrating oil or removing the rust is so that the nut unscrews from the bolt.

 

Easy chief, I forgot one word, it should've said, "let it sit for 10 minutes grabbed a breaker bar went at it and it broke loose" Meaning that it broke the nut loose so that I could get the nut off, not actually breaking the nut.

Does that work better for you?

And not in the little over 10 years I have worked on different cars, I have never had to torch a bolt or nut, not even on a 78 Malibu when I was 16, am I just lucky, maybe, but I have always found a way without have to resort to cutting or torching.

 

Saying what you actually meant is always better.

I'm happy for you, however your experience is not universal.

Exactly what would you do when penetrating oil and a 600 lb foot impact wrench would not remove the bolt?

 

What would I do, a.) I would be very surprised, since I have worked on some very messed up rusted nuts and bolts before and then b.) I would start bitching because I don't have a torch.

 

yeah i find the bitching can loosen it up,, but i like the old butane torch or if you cant get one and can be careful with yuorself ,,,let the car run for a bit to heat up,,, sometiomes its just enought to do the trick.. also a sawzall with a metal blade is always a good tool to add to yuor collection for this kind of stuff... cuts through alot.... borrow a neighbors sawzall, any kind of electric blade like that should make quick work of it

 

bout an hour job roughly 75-100 bucks is a norm. i tried myself and the stupid nuts were so tight i couldnt get em off. eventually i stripped the shit out of it and then decided it would be smart to cut it out with a drill. none of that worked and wound pf paying 75 bucks at a muffler shop for them to cut the bolt out. had i went to them in the beginning i wouls have saved 4 hours.

 

you are one lucky guy then. i work at a muffler shop and while on the majority of the cars that come in we do not have to torch or cut any bolts/nuts off...there is usually about one a week that needs some special attention. we have had better luck with the 60's mustangs than with some of the newer cars out there...it all depends on where they have been. Ever worked on a car from Vermont? Then you will understand why there is a need to cut a flange or bolt off.

Shop charge shouldnt be more than an hour...so just depends on your local labor rate and how desparate some places are for work.

 

^^^ I totally understand that there may be times where it is necessary, but I just haven't run into that yet Vermont cars, I definitely understand that, I am from Wisconsin and get all that snow and salt on the roads, it does wonders to the underside of cars!!!

 

Just install the Apexi WSII exhaust and it only takes 40 minutes or so. Cost $70 at local shop (Super Autobac).

 

If you are in CA, especially OC, you paid a bit too much. Go to any asian tuner shops and the max you'll pay is 20 bucks due to competition.

 

yeah, I know asian tunner shops have much better price than big shop such as Super
Autobac or dealers. I just post the price of the installation charge at that shop. I got a good deal when I bought the Apexi exhaust from Super Autobac for $603 included tax and installation which the installation is practically free since the price of the exhaust alone is $559.99.