Exhaust

[88Racing]

Originally Posted by bamagrad00

That is great info!! Thanks so much. I have researched these 2 and had narrowed it down before your answers. What would you suggest?: buy the muffler and let the muffler shop put the pipes in or buy the whole cat back and install myself. It does not look very hard and have access to a welder if needed for the tips.

Yes you can buy just the muffler and have an exhaust shop do the piping.
Try to find exhaust shops that use mandrel benders.
The other thing is I don't know if its a big deal or not but your stock exhaust is stainless steel. If you do go with a shop they are going to probably install aluminized tubing which will only last 2-5 years depending on where you live.
Going to a shop with a muffler and tips already bought you can save youself some money over the price of a kit.

Now my friend runs an exhaust shop and charges $75 to install exhaust kits.

I did my truck with 2 different kits, didn't like the sound of the first kit and yes they are pretty easy to do by yourself but you need some skills and sometimes the kits need tweeking or hangers added/relocated.

I would just go start getting prices at 2 or 3 shops and keep in mind what the kits cost.
Just remember both the kits I gave you links to are full stainless steel kits with mandrel bends.

[JWBFX4]

From what I have seen in the past is usually cheaper to have an exhaust shop do it rather than buying a kit. I generally buy the muffler and take it to them unless they want to do a price match. And on the plus side you have everything welded in, instead of clamped.

Down here I really have no need for stainless since we never see salt in the winters...but if you do see salt in the winter then stainless is what you want.

[bamagrad00]

Went with the magnaflow kit. I got it from autoanything for 435 with the discounts they gave me. That was the best price. I am going to try and install myself and then tack the tips on. Thanks again for all the advice.

[Power Hungry]

Good deal! You won't be disappointed. The kit is pretty easy to install with the hardest part being fitting the pipe around the axle. You'll want to lift the rear end a bit to get more clearance between the bed and axle. Also, make sure you use jack stands to hold the truck up. Safety first!

Take pics. We could use a good thread on exhaust installation.