I just bought a Magnaflow catalytic converter and an eBay universal muffler as well. I just went to Meineke and this random exhaust shop, and they both asked for $250 to install the cat and the muffler. My cat and muffler don't come with any of the hangers or flanges needed to keep it in place. Nor do I have any of the new piping needed. Does it really cost this much to do such a simple job? The only reason I'm not doing it is because I don't have any of the hangers/flanges, and I don't know how to weld pipes together (for the muffler). One of my cousins had his header and catback system done for $125 at a car junkyard. That's my next destination. I'm just looking for estimates.

 

Well just getting a header and a cat back installed is about $130 @ Midas. So think of the time it takes to bend the pipes, then weld hangers on there. It seems about right for the price.

 

You mean $130 sounds about right, right? Not the $250 of course.

 

No I mean the $250. Because with your installation, they have to weld custom hangers plus charge you abou $10 a piece for those, and same for your muffler. Then they have to take the time to bend and weld the piping together. So all of the labor which is near $40-50ish an hour plus the parts will add to about that.

And does your high flow cat have a hole in the correct place for the o2 sensor? I am assuming its like the 5th gens that has a sensor right at the back of the cat. But, check out the junkyard. No sense in paying more when you can have it for less.

 

Wow very interesting, and yeah my cat does have the hole in the correct place. I wonder how the hell my cousin got that deal then. Yeah I guess I'll just go to the junkyard and find the lowest price, and do it no matter what lol.

 

Do you think I'd be better off not installing the new cat and just weld on the new muffler onto my old exhaust piping? Is that possible even if the old exhaust piping is made from different material than my new muffler?

 

I would just say to go ahead and install both. I am assuming you bought both for a slight performance increase. But the hi flow cat isnt really going to give you any gains if the piping is the same. I would say wait awhile longer and save up some money for the install. Or sell the muffler and get a OBX or ebay cat back for about $250

 

Yeah, just drop the $250.

Cars....it's all about the money and blood...

 

I just got my entire catback done from the junkyard. They installed my magnaflow cat, got rid of my resonator and old muffler, put on an new straight pipe (2.25") (stock was 2.0"), and put on my new exhaust as well. They provided all the hangers and flanges necessary, all for $100. Gotta love the junkyard.

 

Jeesh! Talk about a deal! Good job finding it and saving money! There is a SALVAGE yard about 15 miles away and if you call it a junkyard the guy gets really mad, tells you its a salvage yard, and either becomes a butt or just tells you to leave!