[overnightmillionaire]

Going to call up bunch of shops get some quotes.. what do you think the install costs?

Thanks

[NickPohlAandP]

At least 6 hours labor would be my guess.

[echastain88]

If you can turn a wrench, i would do the cat back install yourself. Save some money. The headers are a little bit bigger project, but nothing that cant be accomplised by the average Joe handyman.

[overnightmillionaire]

Originally Posted by NickPohlAandP At least 6 hours labor would be my guess.

Jeeze, really that long? lol

[NickPohlAandP]

If you're wanting to put headers in you either have to pick the engine up a bit, or drop the K memeber and take the engine out of the bottom. It's a tight fit, hence the cost involved in doing it. Take a look at your engine bay and you'll see what I'm talking about. You can barely see the exhaust where it hooks up to the engine.

And the best, absolute easiest way would be to just unbold the K and do it like that.

[echastain88]

Originally Posted by NickPohlAandP If you're wanting to put headers in you either have to pick the engine up a bit, or drop the K memeber and take the engine out of the bottom. It's a tight fit, hence the cost involved in doing it. Take a look at your engine bay and you'll see what I'm talking about. You can barely see the exhaust where it hooks up to the engine. And the best, absolute easiest way would be to just unbold the K and do it like that.

Thats what we did. Jack it up, ubolt K, and lower it all down. Install headers and jack it back up.
MikeFordMustang has a good detailed write up on it.
Header Install

[echastain88]

My advice, a mechanically inclined friend or 2, and save yourself lots of money you could otherwise use for more parts

[Massie02GT]

+1 on doing it yourself. If you can turn a wrench and have a floor jack with some jackstands...you're good to go.

[echastain88]

Youre going to want to make sure and get tuned if your getting Long tubes, moving the o2 sensors back is going to screw with the readings. If you dont already have a tuner then do the exhuast yourself and the money you save from the install you can get a tune and tuner. Happy Day!

[me2dumb4college]

Do a craigslist search, I've found some pretty good deals on labor from mechanics looking for side work.

[zinc-vert02]

doing your self will save you houndreds of $$

[blownstang]

$550. Around here longtubes go for $450 and catbacks $75-$100.

[mustanginky]

catback won't be expensive, headers will cost a fortune, i'd bet at least $500 for the headers.

[AdaBoNGT]

Whatever you do (if you aren't going to do it yourself) take it to someone who actually knows what they are doing/have done it before. LT headers and mid-pipe were pretty much my first mods so being new at the game and no time/work place to do it myself i took it to my local Mechanic shop my family goes to. Needless to say i got raped due to inexperience of the mech. Inspection, brakes & rotors, new ball joints, header/mid-pipe, and TB/plenum gave me a $1800 bill which was actually giving me a break considering the true labor hours. Also did not have my car for a full week+.

[TeMoney14]

If you're near me in New York I'll be glad to offer a helping hand!

[blownstang]

Originally Posted by AdaBoNGT Whatever you do (if you aren't going to do it yourself) take it to someone who actually knows what they are doing/have done it before. LT headers and mid-pipe were pretty much my first mods so being new at the game and no time/work place to do it myself i took it to my local Mechanic shop my family goes to. Needless to say i got raped due to inexperience of the mech. Inspection, brakes & rotors, new ball joints, header/mid-pipe, and TB/plenum gave me a $1800 bill which was actually giving me a break considering the true labor hours. Also did not have my car for a full week+.

Very good point! Definitley take it to a shop that has done longtubes on a 2v before. If someone does not know what they are doing you will rack up quite a bill.

[Mustang02gt]

dont be a girl, i agree with above . save your self hassle money and time and do it your self. its not that hard if anything its a learning experience to drop the k member and do head install.

to confirm nick's statement try fitting your hand and touching all four bolts from top side of the engine bay. Around here from most muffler shops shorts cost 500 install. which to me im not going to pay at or more in labor than what i am for parts/materials if i know how to do it. id much rather take the time and do the work my self cause i have the self satisfaction afterwards of i did it and not paid someone to do it for me

[Jason4.6GT]

The K-member is 8 bolts, plus the sway bar. I dropped the K and put my longtubes on and put the K back up in a day with the help of a friend. If you do it, take your time and dont try to rush it, you'll just piss yourself off. Btw, your gonna need o2 sensor extenders if the o2 sensor ports are down by the collector.

[quadracer786]

i didnt have a lot of time on my hands and couldnt do it myself for awhile so i took it to a performance shop. i got quoted 450 for my headers, so i said nvm i'll do it myself, then he said he could do it for 300, sold.

[99 blk gt]

I just had my off road x pipe installed and it cost 95$ but I hate the way it sounds with my cat back so I'm having it swapped back out to the stock one. At the same time I am having my shorty bbk headers installed for 120$ and a magnaflow cat back 2.5" all the way to 3" tips for 230$ so for 350$ I'm getting headers installed and a brand new cat back. Basiclly they buy the tips and mufflers and weld them into thier own 2.5" pipes and custom fit it to your car: I know 3 people who have gone there and the work is great. Someone who makes and bends thier own pipes will be cheaper than buying a marked up one offline.If anyone wants a off road x pipe let me know it's for sale.