Exhaust - DIY or just go to shop

[Exile]

Looking for input.

My resonator is blown out. The flange for it that meets up to the DP is also ate up and leaking.... not reusable.
I already bought a 28" Thrush glasspack. Should I screw around getting a few connectors/adaptors and try to clamp it with some stainless band clamps? I would have to get a flange welded onto a connector to meet up with the DP. I know this won't be a quick job, I'm no mechanic aha. Car will probably be laid up for a whole weekend...which is fine long as I can get it done and save some $$. Cost: three SS clamps= ~$36 various connector/adapters= ~$20 couple sawzall blades= $12 weld new flange= $25 maybe GP= $24

Total cost = ~$117
+ satisfaction of doing it myself?? After putting down all the numbers, shop looks much better lol.

OR

Just take it to a shop and have a new GP welded (or clamped) in. Very well regarded shop quoted $180. Won't use my $24 glasspack of course, so I'd have to return that.
Another shop closer to the city quoted $120.


Suggestions or opinions ?

[idrivejunk]

If you value your own time at all, avoid frustration and go to a muffler shop. Just my opinion. Bring your Thrush with, they may be OK with using that.

[dsmuts]

I just got my res replaced for $30

[Exile]

Yea....the frustration avoidance might really be worth the extra $80 to me. Is using connectors and band clamps even a good idea? If it lasts two years i'll be happy.

[Exile]

I just got my res replaced for $30

wow, did they just straight pipe it ?

[Scottydoggs]

buy a glass pack. then go have it welded in. you'll be ahead of the game when your not aggravated, and it dont leak when the shop is done. if you have a U bend still, have them cut that out, then install a o2 bung and put a pipe there as well.

stock pipes are not quite round, so clamps never seem to seal well.

[dsmuts]

Yeah just strAight pipe. Glasspack would have been another $20 and I'm super cheap

[Exile]

If I can find a shop willing to weld it in, already have a glasspack.
Shop I was at today to get a front alignment said Thrush GPs don't last long at all... again if it lasts two years ill be happy. Should i be returning this thing anyways? They probably just want to push their own parts.

Almost certainly going to go with having a shop do the work. Didn't know the stock pipe would be oblong... sounds aggravating already.

[REDCRAPGP]

Find another shop.. And a exhaust shop isn't the only shop that can weld that in.. Just about any shop can.

[Scottydoggs]

i got a 2 year old thrush gp in my car, its just fine, its still red too. exhaust sounds the same as day one.

[Exile]

Well ITS DONE!!!!!
Ended up going to a Merlin's 200k across the street from where I work. Was going to be $60 but they said the flange on my original DP wasn't going to seal with the new flange they have to put a new one on along with the GP flange.
I have had a 3" ZZP DP sitting in a box for months so I just had them install that. Don't have to fight that battle now. They welded a flange to an extension that goes to the glasspack then clamped, then a clamped on reducer to the Y pipe. I believe they welded the reducer to the Y pipe. Told them to do it this way so the GP can be swapped out.
Ended up being $180. Done and gone, dont even care. No rolling around on the cold garage floor dealing with those totally rusty worn out components cussing and pissed.

SOOO satisfied, finally I can hear myself think and my music and the road...!!

[Frosty]

Whatever you do dont straight pipe it... these engines sound like garbage as it is.

[Exile]

Whatever you do dont straight pipe it... these engines sound like garbage as it is.

Yea I won't... I know. Its almost too quiet now, looking forward to the GP breaking in a bit. Gonna scrounge for some Borla Pro mufflers too, might be awhile before I find those tho.

[Scottydoggs]

exhaust systems dont "break in" really. my glass packs been on for 2 years or more, its still sounds the same. "quiet"

[Frosty]

Im running full zzp 3" exhaust with the zzp mufflers and resonator. Yea it was expensive. But ill be damned if I don't actually get frickin complemented on how good it sounds by frickin everyone. I honestly got mad the first time someone complemented me on it thinking the guy was being a smart ass because I know how godawful terrible our cars sound.