TTI headers& full exhaust install

[charlie45]

Just received a quote to install TTI headers and full 3" exhaust with X-pipe assembly for my 68 Charger. I was quoted 25 hours of labor to do the install of the aforementioned parts.

Is it just me, or does that sound like a hell of a lot of time, particularly if that shop is very experienced with Mopars???

Thx in advance for feedback...

[FLG]

I assume this car has a stock exhaust? Is it in good/clean shape?

A lot of labor would probably be due to having to deal with rusted nuts/bolts, especially the exhaust manifold bolts. Id say theres probably 6-7hrs required to remove the old manifolds, not to mention if any studs decide to snap, cleaning the old gasket material off, if your also replacing the studs thats even more work.

I think they might be padding a bit, but i dont blame them...if all this is stock parts, its not going to come off without a fight.

[charlie45]

I assume this car has a stock exhaust? Is it in good/clean shape?

A lot of labor would probably be due to having to deal with rusted nuts/bolts, especially the exhaust manifold bolts. Id say theres probably 6-7hrs required to remove the old manifolds, not to mention if any studs decide to snap, cleaning the old gasket material off, if your also replacing the studs thats even more work.

I think they might be padding a bit, but i dont blame them...if all this is stock parts, its not going to come off without a fight.

Car already has headers on there, but they are some no-names and get in the way of the steering arm. Exhaust is not OEM, so its not stuff that has been on there for 40+ years...

[DC_1]

Is this from a shop or some guy in his driveway? 25 hours seems a ridiculous unless he has no hoist or tools other than an adjustable wrench and a flat head screw driver!

[Ghoste]

I'd get another estimate.  They may be looking at the Charger and shiny new parts and smelling a good sale.

[1970Moparmann]

Is this from a shop or some guy in his driveway? 25 hours seems a ridiculous unless he has no hoist or tools other than an adjustable wrench and a flat head screw driver!

Agree.  That is a crap load of hours.  I have a guy locally that will do it for $300.  Never had an issue. 

[JB400]

The only way I see it costing so much is if he's tig welding all the seams.  It should only take about a day to do an exhaust system if that.

[Ghoste]

And as for rusty bolts on the old stuff, you KNOW they are just going to cut all the old stuff off with a torch.

[1970Moparmann]

Bottom line is 25 hours is absolutely crazy money.  25 x $40 = $1,000.00! 

Now, if the car needed a "custom" exhaust system in aluminum, then yes, I can see this much dough.  For someone to put on your TTI system and weld it, $300 - $400 I would think would be a good range. 

[charlie45]

This guy is the Mopar specialist in Germany. He has all the necessary equipment, and probably has installed more of these on Mopars than any other person in the country....

I was shocked when I got his quote of 25 hours... Especially given that the exhaust system on there right not is really even that old (i.e. removing the old parts won't be a big time issue...). You get the idea from the pictures in the link:

http://s1272.beta.photobucket.com/user/Charlief-c/media/DSC09342.jpg.html#/user/Charlief-c/media/DSC09336.jpg.html?&_suid=135498674461609211478966663191

25 hours seemed way out there, thats why I wanted to hear your opinions/experiences...

[JB400]

Have you asked why it takes so long?  He'd be able to explain himself better than we can.

[charlie45]

Have you asked why it takes so long?  He'd be able to explain himself better than we can.

Fair point. He seems like an honest and fair guy and he really seems to know what he's talking about, but I was just shocked when I received that quote from him. I haven't been able to ask him yet, but wanted to get an idea from you guys, since its a fairly common mod and I'm sure a lot of people on here have done that and have experience with it. Plus, it seems to be a fairly straightforward mod that can be estimated fairly precisely...? I probably wouldn't have said anything if it was 15-20 hours, but 25 just seemed like a hell of a lot to me... 

[Ghoste]

If he is the Mopar guy he should also know that TTI makes about the best fitting easiest to install exhaust components currently available for a muscle era Chrysler product.

[DC_1]

This guy is the Mopar specialist in Germany. He has all the necessary equipment, and probably has installed more of these on Mopars than any other person in the country....

Then even if he is welding all the seems 25 hours is way too long.

You did tell him you were supplying the pipes?....I mean if he is mandrel bending all the tubing and making a X pipe from scratch - then I could see 25 hours. The TTI headers fit pretty well so my opinion would be 4 - 6 hours to remove the old and install the new if you are using the TTI pipes and headers......if you have problems and welding all the seems maybe 8-10hrs. But that is being generous. IMO

[Charger4404spd]

25 hours to install a set of headers and pipes??
Run.... run very fast! Something isnt right there!

[Chryco Psycho]

6-7 maybe ? the hardest part will be removing the old headers , use a gas axe

[Cooter]

If he quoted 25 Hours labor, and you say he has installed more over in Germnay, then ask him why it takes that long. I know at the shop, we ALWAYS quote high, because if we quote low/exact, then run into problems and have to ask for more money, it almost ALWAYS ends up in a pissing contest between the customer and shop.


Not on the same exact thing here, but for example, had one from Ohio come in for SI the other day. We inspected it, found the muffler had a leak. Won't pass.
Priced the job out and the FIRST thing guy said and I quote: "This is racket right? I mean, I had this car at two other shops and they said it will pass. You guys are too high on exahaust work. I can patch the muffler myself for way less."....

Response: "First off, "Patching" of Converters/mufflers is prohibited. Also, if those shops said it will pass, then why didn't those shops put a sticker on it?"

[Ghoste]

What was his response to that?

[Cooter]

What was his response to that?

Same ol thing....."I only asked them to "Check it over" to saee if it would pass"....

That is illeagal as well. A shop either DOES a State Inspection, or they don't. Typical out-of-stater that thinks all SI is BS until his/her family is involved in an accident, then it's sue happy time. I even hit him with that one saying "The reason we don't allow ANY leaks in the exhaust system is for the fact, another station just happened to have a "Human" moment and missed a little leak. Customer pulls over in dead of winter, leavescar runnning at rest stop with heater running, falls asleep and dies." "Have you ever been to one of the states that have no state inspection? Holy crap, there is some junk riding on the highways because they can"

Typical response..."Well, the "Cash for Clunkers" got most of them off the road, so I don't buy that. It's just a racket"....

I once askedthe trooper here if They would just issue the State inspectors Weapons and badges, we wouldn't have this BS arguing with the ?Inspectors. He said no, and "You signed on for it, so deal with it"...

[BananaDan]

I had a shop near Trenton, NJ do a custom 3" exhaust with x-pipe and magnaflow mufflers on my car 3 years ago when she got out of the body shop.  I paid about $800 all-in, labor and materials (not stainless steel pipe, that was almost another $400).  The only thing I provided was the headers (already attached to the engine) and the original tips.

[Cooter]

Installing full length headers on my 99 Ram 2500, 4WD truck right now as we speak and I can tell you I'm in almost 7 hours just digging out old, broken, rusty bolts. Headers fit "ok", but not well. Need to be tweaked here and there. Like around the front Driveshaft, Brake lines, trans, etc.

All this takes time if you have to pay someone to do it.

[charlie45]

Alright guys, thanks for all the feedback. I"ll see what he says and keep you posted...