RRC - custom vs. prefab exhaust

[cmoore207]

Time for a complete replacement of the exhaust on my '95 RRC LWB, including cats. I could spend $1000+ on a pre-fab system from AB or Magnaflow, etc., but my assumption is that it would be cheaper to get a couple of universal cats for $75 a piece, new muffler, etc. and have a shop fab up something custom. Thoughts or recommendations?

Assuming custom is the way to go, anybody recommend an exhaust specialist in the Silver Spring or greater DC area?

 

[azarmadillo]

I bought an NRP first. Fit great except for the hangers were in weird spots that didn't line up. Had to customize it.

I bought a Magnaflow Y pipe next. Fit like crap. Ended up cutting off the end piece and welding in straight pipe at the junction to the muffler. Had to customize it. And the Magnaflow cats barely lasted two years. I expected a better product that what I was provided when I bought Magnaflow.

So in my opinion, if you can go custom by a quality local shop, might as well. It's going to end up custom eventually to some degree anyway.

 

[rover4x4]

go to an exhaust shop with a mandrel bender

 

[cmoore207]

I bought a Magnaflow Y pipe next. Fit like crap. Ended up cutting off the end piece and welding in straight pipe at the junction to the muffler. Had to customize it. And the Magnaflow cats barely lasted two years. I expected a better product that what I was provided when I bought Magnaflow..

I had my eye on the Magnaflow set up, so this is good feedback. Searching the old threads, seems like folks have had good luck with the Catco cats so I'll pick up two of those and start looking for a local shop that can bend some pipes to fit.

 

[cmoore207]

Paid a visit to a local muffler shop this morning with a pair of new Catco universal cats to be welded in along the lines of the excellent write up by Marc Olivares.

Apparently the previous owner had the same idea and had welded up the new cat so close to the O2 sensor that the shop was nervous about being able to cut and make a new weld and wanted to charge me 4+ hours of labor ($480!) to drop the Y-pipe and futz with it. No thanks.

Where are you people going that you are having this job done for $50? Any recommendations in the MD/DC area?

Should I just buy a new Y-pipe? Will something like a Catco 9700 bolt on in my driveway without welding?

 

[azarmadillo]

Sounds like they just wanted cash out of your pocket. Try another place. Read your local 4x4 forums for a local exhaust shop.

 

[cmoore207]

For the sake of future dweb searchers, thought I would post the resolution.

Turned out my center muffler was also shot, so I decided to just have everything ripped out and start over again. If I had to guess from the looks of it, some previous owner had cut out at least one OEM cat and welded in a universal (which is the one that was rattling) and the cat-back system looks a lot like the one AB sells. Baffles in the center muffler were gone, so I was looking at a complete new system from the manifold back.

I found a place called Hi-Flow in Manassas, VA that was mentioned on a couple other forums. Nice guys, looks like they do good work. I feel like he gave me a honest deal on a new stainless Magnaflow set up. Out the door for $1200, which still hurts, but fair based on the other quotes I was getting.

For comparison, I also got a quote from my local shop (Independent Land Rover Specialists, in Bethesda) that wanted $1850-$2000 parts/labor to install the AB kit (including new O2 sensors). Meineke in Silver Spring wanted $2400 to do the job (not including new O2 sensors). Rayco in Silver Spring wanted $2000.

I still want to know what shops other dwebbers are going to that they are getting complete systems for $500. Or is that rounding down in the same way that I plan to tell my wife the job only cost $500?

 

[p m]

Replaced my Y-pipe and cats on the 95 SWB, using a wrecked 2003 D2 as a donor. It required welding over the bungs for smaller O2 sensors, and two 18x1.5 mm bolts to close the rear O2 sensor holes.