Opinions on exhaust work.

[MrSony]

So, earlier today I was all excited because I was going to get my exhaust hooked up on my thunderbird and really hear that 429 scream. But, they looked at it for all of 20 minutes, with me pointing out what's wrong (family friends work at the "mom and pop" car shop. They can do pretty much anything save for major body work. They are noted for exhaust and suspension work. They quoted THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS to basically put new studs on the manifold flange to hook my two pipes back up due to the old studs rusting away and the nuts falling off. I of course passed on that. Do you guys thing I was getting ripped off? I mean sheez, it's less than 50$ in parts.

 

[oldmansmonte]

I go to one of the best shops in the northeast (Muffler Man) and they can diagnose a problem in 5 minutes. I've spent $1,200 bucks there on a full manifold back system more than once. $300 bucks to essentially reconnect flanges? Yeah that's pricey unless there is something else being left out of the story?

 

[Texas82GP]

Are the old studs already out? If not, maybe its not so bad. Those studs can be a real problem. I don't know what labor rates are where you live but around here they are close to $100/hour. If one of those studs twists off you start to look at a lot of effort to get it drlled/extracted. That being said, if they have a lift and a torch and expertise then perhaps they can get it done quicker than 2-1/2 hours (assuming $50 in parts you mentioned above).

 

[MrSony]

I go to one of the best shops in the northeast (Muffler Man) and they can diagnose a problem in 5 minutes. I've spent $1,200 bucks there on a full manifold back system more than once. $300 bucks to essentially reconnect flanges? Yeah that's pricey unless there is something else being left out of the story?

Nah, that's it. Just to replace the studs, nuts, and donut gaskets 300$ plus 20 per stud if they broke off, then their labor rate which they didn't tell me.

 

[MrSony]

I've just decided this summer just to rip the top end off, have hardened seats installed in the heads (1970 429 with D0VE-C heads), new valves if needed, valve guides checked, put on a weiand intake (maybe a cam and chain) and bigger carb and do the manifold studs myself. I've been wanting to dig into this motor for a while anyway. I just popped over there while I had some cash on hand. I'd rather have an exhaust leak and a few hundred more dollars than broke as hell and a nice sounding car. Seems backwards,, dont it?