Re: [AMC-List] getting an '87 Eagle Wagon

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

It's been about 50/50 down south. Now most shops bend their own so they 
don't have a lot of inventory and get max use out of the expensive
bending machine. Some of the chain stores like Midas and Meineke still
buy prebent pipes for popular models because it reduces time to
install, but they usually have a bender in the shop too. I've had the
best luck using individually owned stores with a bender. As Tom said,
welded joints, and usually better workmanship. If something burns out
five years later I'm not going to worry about getting a few pieces
replaced. If you are, pay the extra $100 or so and get the nationwide
warranty. That's what the extra money is for. Most people don't go in
and use it since they lose their paperwork or there isn't a shop close
by, so the corporation makes a good deal of extra money. That's why
they aren't real concerned about the few people who seem to keep their
car and live in the local area forever, and happily do the warranty
work. Even a restoration is rarely judged by the exhaust system, though 
it could be the deciding point in a close contest. 


On July 24, 2006 Tom Jennings wrote:

> On Sun, 23 Jul 2006, Wm. Neal Lewis wrote:
> 
> > As to a muffler job, Midas quoted me about $350.
> > Another national shop was in the same region. They both said the
pipes are
> > not standard and they would have to bend them on site.
> 
> This is one of those east coast/west coast things; here in CA
> pretty much no one I know messes with those pre-formed tailpipe
> parts; you just go to a muffler shop that bends the stuff up on
> the spot, all welded.  My 258 six Hornet, done last spring, cost
> under $200 (I supplied the Summit muffler). Took an hour, it's
> bigger than stock and a hell of a lot fewer bends and no flats.
> 
> When I lived in the Boston area, (left there in 1984...) muffler
> shops had dozens of those pre-bent pipes with swaged ends hanging
> all over the walls, all held together with those crappy clamps.
> If I remember right, bending tubing was not common.
> 
> Could be just old warped memory though.
> 
> The irony of all this is, with all the road salt the welded
> system would work a lot better; water wouldn't creep into the
> stupid clamed joints. ANd the clamp-together stuff would last
> a hell of a lot longer in CA, with anti-seize, you probably
> COULD take it apart later!
> 
> Except for actual restoration, why does anyone mess with those
> annoying and rare parts?


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