Homemade VS. Shop

[Bigdrumma22]

Hey, I've been wanting to get my exhaust redone on my 84 K10 which has true duals all the way back. My question is how many of you would do it yourself with parts from the local auto parts store, or take it to a shop?

[KylePBZ]

I've got a local guy that does great work and is really reasonable. I would take it to him. I'd ask around for some good ones in your area. Unless you are good at cutting/bending/welding/etc.. I would pay to have it done. My .02

[Ross]

There are so many muffler shops around San Antonio that its not worth trying to do it yourself, unless you really know how to weld well. I don't have any recommendations, but I'd take it to a good shop if it was my truck.

[chevydad]

are you keeping it duals?and how far are you going. if your dumping near the axle, do it yourself. if your going all the way out checkout this one.

http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/merc...ode=73-87UHood

[Bigdrumma22]

are you keeping it duals?and how far are you going. if your dumping near the axle, do it yourself. if your going all the way out checkout this one.

http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/merc...ode=73-87UHood

Hey, thanks for that link. I have never found a bolt on kit like I wanted until now. It even has the x-pipe! Problem though...that's for a 4X2, mine is a 4X4. I do want to go out the back, pretty much the same as that kit 45* out behind the tires. Do you think that would work or be slightly modded anyways, considering transfer case clearance?? Thanks for the replies.

[chevydad]

i'm sure somone could make it work, but if they have to move the X to far back, i don't think it helps as much.

[Cray91]

Can't justify spending that kinda money on simple welding and pipe.

All the pipe is available from napa for $10/ft or less for straight. The bends can be had for $10/ea. or you can make them yourself, I am talking mandrel bends of course.

Doesn't take much more than a wirefeed welder, Gas would be nice of course.

[Bigdrumma22]

Can't justify spending that kinda money on simple welding and pipe.

All the pipe is available from napa for $10/ft or less for straight. The bends can be had for $10/ea. or you can make them yourself, I am talking mandrel bends of course.

Doesn't take much more than a wirefeed welder, Gas would be nice of course.

That's the only reason I would want to do it myself. To SAVE money. But in the long run, having it done be a professional should last a lot longer. Napa has Mandrel bent???

[oldred95]

When I was looking at exhaust systems my original idea was to have the pipes made then I would install them myself. I'm sure gald I didn't go that route. You wouldn't think it would be that hard but there are a lot of intricate bends and if you don't have the equipment to work with pipe then you have no business making an exhaust system. I payed 288 for mine for ungodly thick walled aluminized pipe, and stainless tips. I supplied mufflers and x pipe the rest the shop did. I took it to a very reputable shop and the guy is a stickler on detail. He did a superb job, much better then I could have done and a lot faster.

[Cray91]

That's the only reason I would want to do it myself. To SAVE money. But in the long run, having it done be a professional should last a lot longer. Napa has Mandrel bent???

Napa has the straight pipe. I bought the bends elsewhere.

All it takes is a hacksaw and a welder for tools. Sure a chop saw or bandsaw would be faster, but hacksaw isn't really that much harder.

You just have to be willing to get under there. i did my own on my Civic, which is a pain b/c you have to jack it up on the 4 corners and still there isn't much room. On my truck, I can just crawl under with a creeper and go to town.

A professional shop isn't going to do anything more that will make it last longer. I weld all the joints and use only mandrel bends. Shop can't really do anything more than that. The only advantage they have is a lift, but that is just for comfort when you do it all day, like a shop would.

[Rippin'Rado]

i'd do it myself. But that is if you know how to turn a wrench. It does involve some equipment not commonly found in a personal garage such as a pipe bender/cutter. And aluminizing the exhaust after it is done...

[Cray91]

i'd do it myself. But that is if you know how to turn a wrench. It does involve some equipment not commonly found in a personal garage such as a pipe bender/cutter. And aluminizing the exhaust after it is done...

Hacksaw, welder, and but the bends and pipe aluminized already.

[CapSS92]

I'm lucky. I can go across the border to Mexico and get it done for about half the price of US shops. I've seen a guy in Juarez, Mexico do amazing things with a wire hanger and a torch. <g>

[sabbatical]

I'm lucky. I can go across the border to Mexico and get it done for about half the price of US shops. I've seen a guy in Juarez, Mexico do amazing things with a wire hanger and a torch. <g>

HAHA!! It's funny how someone who knows how to make something work from nothing always seems to be the poor guy instead of the rich guy who does half the quality for twice the price.

[Bigdrumma22]

I'm lucky. I can go across the border to Mexico and get it done for about half the price of US shops. I've seen a guy in Juarez, Mexico do amazing things with a wire hanger and a torch. <g>

Do you think someone in Del Rio (close to the border) would have a lower price than here in San Antonio?? I've got family there, so I know how to get there.

[GreaseDog]

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku crimp bent

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku mandrel bent, but will require these reducers as
Hooker uses a smaller collector.

[SoCalZ28]

Id take it to the shop. It would look much cleaner than trying to fab something from the local napa

[GreaseDog]

another good, and potentially cheap option would be to find someone in your area that deals in Goerlich exhaust. you would want to go with a 1 ton exhaust of your same vintage, as they were available with duals. you'd still have to come up with something for attaching the headers, as the Goerlich setup would be for manifolds.

[Bigdrumma22]

Yeah, I don't even know how this came up... musta been a glitch or something. It started showing up in my User CP a couple days ago saying I had replied to it, but as you can see the last reply was in 05'. Exhaust has been long done. I just ended up buying a flowtech bolt on dual kit with some flowtech ceramic long tubes. Replaced the flowtech raptors that came with it with some dynomax mufflers from advance ($40 a piece, forget what they're called) because I didn't like the sound of the raptors. Also the flowtech longtubes have surface rust on the upper tubes and down in the collectors, so I wouldn't recommend them. Just my opinion!

[GreaseDog]

does the truck sit for periods of time? that's the only time ive ever had problem with rust on the headers. and im sure the salt around here is way more corosive than anything you get in TX.