Customs Exhaust Cost

I called a few shops to get a ballpark idea of what cost to weld up new exhaust on my 1950 cadillac. None of them wanted to guess without seeing it first (understandable), but I did explain that the car has an X frame, and all it is is single straight pipe through the frame and over the axle, out the back. Both shops (a local and a chain) guestimated 4-$600. Sounds really high to me to run some pipe. (I explained Id be likely bringing my own porter muffler).

Does this sound really high to you?

Im an amatuer welder and figure although I dont have a lift, maybe I should tackle this myself.

 

Don't know where you live but price is driven by cost of living.

If it helps where I am at just a pair of sneaker pipes from the muffler to the rear fender well runs about 100. So that would be about 4 feet (total) of 2.5" pipe and one bend per side.

 

Here in Seattle, I can get a set of duals made and mounted, manifold to tail pipe for around 500 out the door...With generic mufflers.

For one pipe and you supplying the muffler 400-600 hundred is way to high.

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The exhaust I did on the wagon a couple of years ago was $475 plus tax.

all custom fitted aluminumized dual exhaust and 2 #40 Flowmasters. HRP

 

They might be quoting high to cover themselves without seeing it.

 

Unless he is in San Francisco or New York where the cost of living is way high. If I am a muffler man and a buy in to a rent controlled apt is a million five I am going to have to charge a lot for putting a bunch of mufflers on a car.

 

charlotte nc

 

For single exhaust, that's high but not 'really high' for a sight-unseen quote on a no-doubt unfamiliar car. They probably added some for the profit margin on the muffler they're not selling you as well.

 

I was lucky with my 56 buick wagon. The guy who I bought the used motor and trans for my 56 buick wagon had an entire exhaust system just laying in the shed with it .Payed a $100 bucks for it all but it was tight going thru that X frame.Bruce.

 

Where do you live?? Here in Joplin Missouri that would cover a dual exhaust with expensive mufflers.

 

A friend will do my 57 from the manifold back to the rear bumper for $325 if I supply the mufflers.

 

Exhaust work probably has the largest range of prices for the same parts and the same work when you start checking than any other automotive work you get done.

I'd have to think that 75% of that cost difference is in the cost of doing business in what ever area and what shop they are working in. The shop I take my work to would probably run 400 for a complete manifold back dual setup on a fairly simple rig like my 71 GMC two wheel drive 3/4 ton. They would no doubt charge more for something like an early 50's Caddy with the X frame and having to build shorter pieces and weld them together rather than four longer pieces with mufflers in the middle.

I plan to run Porter mufflers on my 48 but figure I am going to get nicked a few bucks for the lost profit from the sale of the mufflers as it's pretty much like taking your own burger patty to the burger joint and wanting them to cook it and put it on their bun for you.

 

I spent $600 for a custom dual 2.5 aluminized pipe from convertors back to behind axle with 2 delta flow flowmasters on a long bed OT pick up here Near Chicago . my O/T 78 chevy was $400 from headers back to behind axles , I supplied mufflers , a single from end to end with you supplying the muffler should be about 300 max unless it has lots of bends

 

My Fairlane was 4.75 with the flow masters 40 motor to the bumper on the olds its 650 due to the X frame and extra work what you do tho

 

How do they say it?
"Buy once, cry once"

 

Prices are ridiculous!

 

Cry me a river for cripes sake
Go get a quote on a set of custom made, TIG welded headers and then report back to us.

 

I agree, on the 600 part.
My local muffler guy would do the work mentioned in the 375 range, because, as others have mentioned, it's an "X" frame type deal that he has to snake it through and around, as opposed to the other "quicker" jobs he turns out.

 

See if any of the iron lords recommend a shop in that area.

 

All *****ing and round about estimating aside, if you can weld and cut stuff, why couldn't you run it yourself?
I'm a cheap sum *****- I just ran the duals on my '39. cost was about $40. I got a complete takeoff exhaust system from a guy on craigslist- must've been 16-18 feet of 2 1/2 inch pipe and 2 flowmaster mufflers for $25, then a couple fittings and a bit of band saw / mig welding and Bob's your Uncle (or My uncle, as the case may be).

 

Totally. I kinda ***umed he wasn't from any of the crazy expensive cities, because he would have known that it was in the ballpark and not had to ask! I've only been to New York City once. but that place is crazy compared to little old Seattle.

Also I want to add, that I thought anywhere below 400 is reasonable, but certainly high. I paid 375 ish after tax for single exhaust with muffler last time I had one done.I think with him supplying a muffler below 350 is what I would be hoping to hear.

 

Well when I was younger we did not have a welder or torch or expanders we clamped em together and enlarged with a hammer and trailer balls. My last duals was just over 500. My last singles were about 330.

 

Just had 2" stainless run from the bottom of lake pipes, under the car to a pair of Smithy's mufflers and out the back of a 32 ford for $300 for all the pipes and installation. I bought the mufflers myself.

 

Not too far up the road, outside of Lexington, NC about 10 miles, is a little country shop we use called Roy's Tire and Muffler. If we supply the mufflers they'll run duals for about $175-$200 and they do an awesome job. Might be a little more for a "stranger".
Shop has been run by two brothers for years (and their father before them) - one did tires, the other exhaust - but the older brother that did tires recently p***ed and will be missed.

 

A good shop will use heavy duty pipe and better quality mufflers etc. will charge a little more but the exhaust will last twice as long. When I worked in a muffler shop years ago we would do a single exhaust on a typical six cylinder car for $125 $150 about $25 more than the other guys but ours were at least twice as good.

Ask around, the best shop with the best installers will probably give you the best deal. The cheap hacks are the ones who will try to chase you away or stick you with a big price.

I am not surprised they want to see the car before giving a firm quote. Also, we would install a muffler supplied by a customer if they insisted but of course, we could not guarantee it. All our systems came with a lifetime guarantee on the parts we supplied and installed.

 

I'm sure thats a huge factor, plus if its so easy, why even bother taking it to a shop?

 

Wow, I need to go kiss my exhaust guy. The most I've paid for exhaust was $250. That was on a 52 truck with split manifolds, gl***packs and out the back. On my old 64 Impala, which is an x frame, I brought the mufflers with me and had duals turned out before the rear wheels, for $150.

You just need to find an old hotrodder that is tired of working on new ****.

 

Just because it is a Cadillac is no reason to pay extra. The exhaust system itself is about the same as a 70s full size Chev Caprice with a 350 V8. In other words, the same size pipes and mufflers and about the same amount of work.

 

MY 40 COUPE WAS $700.00 BUT THE CHEVELLE WAS $500.00.

BOTH QUALITY JOBS.

 

I always quote high sight unseen. Also depends how nice you want it.


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