Ripped Off? Corsa Cat back install?

[Tomer]

I am trying to find out if I got ripped off or not here...I have purchased the Random Tech HF Cats and Corsa 3 inch cat back system from JonB at Partsrack, and I had it installed by
a specialty shop here in Northern California. They have done some work on Vipers, but they had never installed the Corsa system.

They charged me for 4 hours labour, at $100 per hour for the install...Regardless of the price per hour, is 4 hours to install the cats and cat back system reasonable??

Furthermore, they said the kit was missing 4 of the special clamps, which I don't think it should be missing...Maybe the difference is, that they DID NOT WELD anything...THey said the
system has "swedge" fits and the special clamps are designed for this...SO I thought they would weld in the front and the back of the cats, maybe thats why they needed 4 extra clamps...

Does the collective wisdom here think that installing this system
with NO welding is OK?

thanks
Tomer
96 RT/10
PS The shop was very jazzed about the sound, they say it sounds like an INDY car....

 

[Janni]

The real question is "did they do a good job?" the time is pretty sujective. We just installed hi flow cats and swapped out the exhaust manifolds on my car and I'd have killed for it to only take 4 hours

.

A couple of things to realize -

1. 
   <LI>The stock system has to be disassembled - usually a royal PITA and time consuming.
   <LI>Its important to fit the cats properly and make some cuts, etc.
   <LI>no clamps come with the hi flow cats. We welded one connections (to the Borla muffler section) and useda clamp up front.
   <LI>Doing the cat back work takes some time in fitment and adjustment - its not a one hour job - especially with how tightly a 3" system fits around the frame.

So, I'd say the time was reasonable - esp since you had both the cats and the cat back installed (and they are not just bolt on and go...) and if they were careful with the car and did not damage the side sills, etc, then its a fair price. Some may be able to do this faster - but I doubt by much.

 

[TacDoc]

I did my 3" Borla myself, no high flow cats, took me around 4 hours. Saying the stock removal is a PITA is being gracious.

 

[Tomer]

Thanks Janni! That gives me some comfort level...Re side sills, I know this has been discussed ALOT, but I finally got a look at my insulation in side the sills, and its rivetted on both top and bottom, for the entire length of the sill...I did not count the rivets, but my guess is ~ 10 total...

Previous posts had said to remove the insulation, and spray HVT-1500 paint at least on the inside section of the sill by the cat...

Has anyone ever done that? I would think removing the rivets would be a PITA, and new rivets may not hold properly in the insulation once they have been removed (may enlarge the hold in the insulation....?)

thanks again!
Tomer
96 RT/10 (now sounds like an indy car...)

 

[Ulysses]

4 Hours is pretty reasonable. Regarding welding of the cats, it would be optimum if they were welded, but if you can clamp them and they don't leak, then clamping is fine. The important thing is are you happy with what they did? You are the customer and you dictate how they will be installed given that how you want it done is a reasonable and a doable request.

 

[Tomer]

Greg, you have too many toys (albiet some on order)...

When are you ordering the GT40, oh yah, and you better order the new SRT Dodge Ram (V-10)!

Tomer..

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Okay, I had a senior moment and somehow hit the submit before I finished the thought process. I just wanted to state that the time element is fairly common with the Random Technology cats ( my opinion is they are the best on the market) and the Corsa. Sounds like a good system and though you might have found someone to do it a little cheaper, it sounds like they took their time and were careful --- something to be said for that. I would agree that a weld and a clamp , both, is a good idea. Enjoy and sorry for the screwed up sentence before.

 

[CAP]

I did not have the high-flow cats installed - only the 3" Corsa cat-back. It took Dan Cragin less than an hour. No welds. Got the system, including installation, for $1395.

 

[Tomer]

Craig, just when I was feeling good, you brought me down!!

Congrats on your deal...I paid $1295 for my Corsa system, sans install...Sounds like you got a scream'in deal!!

Tomer..

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I took off my system under 2 hours. Was pretty easy to do. I jacked the car up on 4 stands and took off the side sills and whalla!

But I have air tools and have also taken off the side sills on my other viper quite a bit. So I've had pratice.

 

[CAP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tomer:
you brought me down!!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


But now I feel even better. (At your expense - sorry

)

Right time, right place. Dan had to move some year-end inventory.