Meineke or SHO source?

[htheduck]

Folks,

Just wanted input from the peanut gallery on my stock 94 atx exhaust situation:

-OE equipment at 141k miles: new york, partially garaged, weekend driving
-symptoms are: large leak in one catalytic converter
-holes in/around the muffler straps/hangers

I'm debating on the most cost effective/quickest repair:
-I like the shosource items: Catco Y pipe: $349, catback exhaust: $475
+bring all these components to some dude in NYC to install

OR

Walk into local Meineke and ask for an estimate: their price is probably for lifetime components/labor; but I question the ability for them to get the cats and/or the flex piping...etc.

At this point in time, I'm no longer interested in performance gains for my SHO, I want a reliable, quiet weekend/vacation car is my plan for the SHO.

Thanks and advance for any input.

 

[HotRodKid]

Walk into local Meineke and ask for an estimate: their price is probably for lifetime muffler replacement, and when I come in for said replacement they will just want to sell me all new pipes because they are "to rusty" or "cant be taken apart and reused"

Fixed that sentence for ya. Typical muffler shop status quo.

 

[SHO Continental]

Here's the dynomax catback at Jegs for ~325 shipped. Looks like they also have a $75 mail in rebate.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17400/10002/-1

 

[htheduck]

Meineke has no parts

Thanks for the quick responses: first off, I got the answer from Meineke...THEY LIST NO PARTS FOR THE SHO.

I will research further, the Jegs package sounds like a good deal. Does it come with all mounting hardware, etc.?

I also like the SHOsource package: http://shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_43_54&products_id=215

Anyone with experience with either kit? I guess I will need to purchase the catco cats from shosource as well...

 

[5280SHO]

Thanks for the quick responses: first off, I got the answer from Meineke...THEY LIST NO PARTS FOR THE SHO.

I will research further, the Jegs package sounds like a good deal. Does it come with all mounting hardware, etc.?

I also like the SHOsource package: http://shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_43_54&products_id=215

Anyone with experience with either kit? I guess I will need to purchase the catco cats from shosource as well...

IMO...go to a reputable exhaust shop that isn't meineke.

Luckily here in Denver "Bud's" muffler shop does custom everything......Dual exhaust on a sho was quoted to me for $300 bucks w/labor and parts.

These are mig welds....anyone can do them.

I think paying anything more than $350 for a system that isn't stainless steel is crazy IMO.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Yea they probally do... they just don't wanna tell you what that Y pipe lists for on their computers. I went to a "Fair Muffler and Brake" shop once, because they are all independantly owned, and when I called, they said they had a guy who could gas weld, which is all I wanted then to fix a little hole in my Y.

He said the same crap... it was too bad.. which it wasn't.. I ended up doing it later at a friends place.. but the pipe they had listed, had the same PN as the ones on Rockauto, or any of the big box stores... but his price with install for the Y was just under a grand. I couldn't stop laughing when I told him to pull my car out of his garage...

You'll be happy with the SHO source one... If you can get the studs loose on yours, its nothing you couldnt do in a few hours.

 

[SHO Continental]

Sorry, I linked to the MTX catback, it's actually this one: http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17399/10002/-1

I have the Dynomax on my '93 ATX, installed it myself. It comes in sections and uses all the stock hanger locations. Clamps together using supplied clamps. You probably need to saw your exhaust off to remove it in sections also.

The photo of the dynomax on shosource is actually the one on my '93. And it's backwards..



The only thing is it doesn't come with the flex pipe. So if you order the Y pipe and catback you'll still need to get the flex pipe somewhere else. I needed a new cat back and flex when one of the stock clamps caught on a driveway and ripped it apart and smashed it back into the gas tank.

 

[platoribs]

The dynomax kit looks OK and it is OK but it won't last very long and is no performance enhancer, in a few spots (like the rear split) its bad. The mufflers with this kit will last ~2 years at best (in the midwest)!

I bought the SHOSOURCE cat-back kit and like it a lot, I would strongly recomend it. If you can find the Performance Plus designed equal length style its best otherwise just get the catco/magnaflow/carsound stainless cat y-pipe and call it a day.

 

[Racer X]

Howard, the Dynomax system will last you 2 or 3 years, if even that. It sounds nice, but it rusts out way too fast.

I'd get the SHOSource kit, and get it installed down here. Either the guy I messaged you about on LI, or one of the shops at Willets Point in Queens can install it for you.

Chris, I wasn't aware that Performance Plus made an ATX Y-pipe?

 

[HotRodKid]

These are mig welds....anyone can do them.

:laugh_ti:

 

[Bob Gervais]

Howard, the Dynomax system will last you 2 or 3 years, if even that. It sounds nice, but it rusts out way too fast.

I'd get the SHOSource kit, and get it installed down here. Either the guy I messaged you about on LI, or one of the shops at Willets Point in Queens can install it for you.

Chris, I wasn't aware that Performance Plus made an ATX Y-pipe?

This. The Dynomax system is a pile of crap if you live in a rust belt area.

IMO, you'll be much happier with the SHOSource stainless steel system, and will most likely never have to worry about replacing exhaust again.

 

[lowc]

yea the dynomax is shit i have to patch it atleast once every two months, cause im being to cheap to buy the sho source setup

 

[SHO Continental]

Sometimes I forget about the whole rust issue.

Mmmm California. :sun:

 

[Bob Gervais]

Sometimes I forget about the whole rust issue.

Mmmm California. :sun:

Meh, it's gonna fall off of the continent soon anyway, what with all that Japanese radiation and whatnot.

 

[lowc]

Meh, it's gonna fall off of the continent soon anyway, what with all that Japanese radiation and whatnot.

maybe we will get lucky and it will more the rust belt else where

 

[SHOCH]

Shosource is the way, or come to Chicago, go to Iggys Custom "No **** to Tuff" on Montrose.

 

[RonPorter]

Shosource is the way, or come to Chicago, go to Iggys Custom "No **** to Tuff" on Montrose.

Tom, I had to look it up!!

No **** Too Tuff on Montrose is actually also recommended by the Legacy GT guys!!

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/mendrel-bending-exhaust-shops-chicago-areai-7345.html

 

[sperold]

You pay a bit more for the Shosource equal length y-pipe, but it has the added advantage of you being able to install it yourself. It comes in pieces and the cats are loose in the shipping box, but each down pipe is easy to install when you only have that one pipe in your hands. They supply muffler clamps to clench it together when you are done, but it fits so well you don't absolutely need them.
If I did it again, I would buy the catless equal y-pipe from shosource ($120.00 less) and buy the cats myself and get the model with HM at the end of the part number on the box (they come from Magnaflow). If you have emission testing, these babies pack more heavy metals and you stand a better chance of passing in years to come.
I used a regular Walker SHO system for the rest of the exhaust system and it has stood up extremely well.... I got the stainless mufflers as well, and they worked out fine.
Treat yourself to the equal y-pipe; and the money you save on the install more than pays for themselves.

 

[RAYJAY]

i got my catco y pipe for my atx from summit racing 4294 i think is the part number for catco y pipe


jeff

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Sorry, I linked to the MTX catback, it's actually this one: http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17399/10002/-1

I have the Dynomax on my '93 ATX, installed it myself. It comes in sections and uses all the stock hanger locations. Clamps together using supplied clamps. You probably need to saw your exhaust off to remove it in sections also.

The photo of the dynomax on shosource is actually the one on my '93. And it's backwards..


The only thing is it doesn't come with the flex pipe. So if you order the Y pipe and catback you'll still need to get the flex pipe somewhere else. I needed a new cat back and flex when one of the stock clamps caught on a driveway and ripped it apart and smashed it back into the gas tank.

Thanks for letting him know we sell SHO parts.

We do have a replacement flex pipe here: Flex Pipe

We also are valid for the Dynomax rebate as well.

We do offer both the Walker and Catco y-pipes for the ATX.

I do like the SHO Source Catback we offer as it is full stainless and it will last you a long time. It is also full 2.5" system with about the largest resonator we could fit. Also you can customize the sound with different mufflers.