Thread: Exhaust Cost

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I charge $120 hour for welding up stainless systems and I think we are probably losing money on it--I have to figure in the costs of much more than my time---stainless rod, argon gas for the torch and to feed inside to purge the tube, plugs and pieces for the purge system, bandsaw blades that are between $50-60, sanding belts, some material thats not part of the tube and bends, etc, etc

I see many jobs that were done low buck that the owner was never happy with, some that rattle and bang, some that are in the way of something else( brakes, fuel lines,oil filters, etc

On a side note---I have discovered that the late model Mustang(up to 04) muffler and tail pipe will fit up over an axle, around a coilover and line up down the frame rail clearing a fuel tank on 32-34 fords--you got to shorten the tip but works fine and there are many cat back packages that will give you muffs and pipes--good hanger system also

Jerry

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

I charge $120 hour for welding up stainless systems and I think we are probably losing money on it--I have to figure in the costs of much more than my time---stainless rod, argon gas for the torch and to feed inside to purge the tube, plugs and pieces for the purge system, bandsaw blades that are between $50-60, sanding belts, some material thats not part of the tube and bends, etc, etc

I see many jobs that were done low buck that the owner was never happy with, some that rattle and bang, some that are in the way of something else( brakes, fuel lines,oil filters, etc

On a side note---I have discovered that the late model Mustang(up to 04) muffler and tail pipe will fit up over an axle, around a coilover and line up down the frame rail clearing a fuel tank on 32-34 fords--you got to shorten the tip but works fine and there are many cat back packages that will give you muffs and pipes--good hanger system also

Jerry

Jerry,
Please don't take this the wrong way but you are way too expensive for my wallet and many of the others here. I do understand that you are in business NOT to lose money and applaud that fact. I just cannot afford that kind of cash outlay for my hobby car exhaust system.

What you are talking about is basically a thousand to 1500 dollar system:

Figuring(guesstimated) 4-6 hours of fab time, is ~$450-700
A pair of small dimensioned SS Flowmaster Hushpowers is $320 (Summit)
Header connectors ~$100 pair(Burns SS)
U and J bends, 4ea 2.25/2.5 at ~$60 each(Burns SS)
Straight pipe at ~$35-40 per foot(Burns SS) (I used all 10 feet of my steel pipe)

Taking this to the low side, it is ~$1500 plus clamps and hangers - probably another ~$100 - 150 for SS.

How many aluminized steel systems can I Build for that, 3-4?? Mine has plenty of clearance everywhere, though I did elect to pass under the diff housing as I have a Model A as well but with a '32 style gas tank - so is real tight.

Using a Mustang cat back system gets you into crush type, cottugated bends - not what you really want on a 'performance car' like a street rod.

Dave

All the cat backs we have used have been mandrel bent--no convol bends--if someone wants that they can go across the street

The reason I do my own stuff is that I don't like what others do---we see lots of it here
The Mustang system I used was off my sons 04 mustang and I used it on my wifes 33---and its stainless

I find that most non ss systems are junk after a couple of years

As far as the perishable tools are concerned---bandsaw blades are ripped up pretty bad cutting thinwall tube, grinder/ belt sander discs /belts are $$$ argon is going up with all the hazmat/safty stuff, 308 rod----

Places like Burns charge $10 per inch of stainless weld on collectors/megaphones---A 3 inch tube is almost 10 inches around($100)

Jerry

Itold shopping around will be on the list for sure . I can see SS is really way out there .


Ireland home done is good and the time spent im sure you did a fantastic job . If we did this everyday it would be faster.

Jerry your right as for being in business you have to figure in cost to do it . Like IC2 has mentioned though that type and cost of exhaust is not in this budget at all.

Ireland and Dave---

The Model A is a simple car for the exhaust--altho under the rear axle and a 32 type gas tank will be real tight
There is hardly any welding in your pictured setup so you wouldn't be at an 120 rate. You are only probably at about 3 hours with what you've done and even in SS you would only maybe double the material cost.

Dave --check around to see if you can find a Mustang take off--it will be simple to mount, is SS and will go over the axle and line up under the rear frame rail--only part to custom work would be manifold/header to muffler
the Mustang mufflers even have heat shields on them

Jerry

In all fairness he has to see it. He wouldn't have given you a quote on your truck without seeing it either. Anyone that WILL give qoutes on unseen vehicles watch out for cause they're gonna get ya with the additional stuff explaining they were ballparking without seeing it.