johnsc400

I just got two universal mufflers and need to get them welded on. Whats about the average price to get this done from a welding shop so I don't get ripped off?

Also anyone know any good shops in San Diego California? thanks

ChronoJ1

iTrader: (2)

Around 100 bucks for new 2.5" pipes beyond the two cats and welding them to the mufflers.

SC4Hundred

It should be about $20-30 without the new pipes.
I just done that for my other car and the shop charged me $20, I thought it was a bit much.

hiyabrad

$20 sounds really cheap. I just had two magnaflows installed - just replaced the factory mufflers, for $60.

Shops (at least in CA) will not do anything in front of the one center CAT in the middle of the exhaust system. They will repipe from behind that CAT if you want.

I installed the two Magnaflows on Friday. I have to tell you that it made almost NO sound difference whatsoever. So today I had the two resonators removed and it sounds pretty nice now!!!!

carnal_c30

look for American Muffler

its near Pann Auto around Miramar rd or something

I've heard good reviews of the place but personally I cant heap them with praise

they told me they couldnt take out my 02 sensor so I'd have to buy a new one

so I did... but I also took the car to another shop and they did it with no problem (other shop was Exhaust Works in Belmont CA)

Keith13b

iTrader: (3)

In Orlando, Magnaflos installed are 100$ ea. and that includes the muffler. Installing a customer muffler is 20-30$ each. Replacing more pipe will be a little extra, but not much.

pcmw

hiyabrad,

That isn't true. lex400sc has no rear sections, as well as several other california members. I think your one experience with one shop has led you to make a gross generalization.

MW

Lvangundy

hiyabrad -

The center piece is not a catalytic converter. It is a resonator. there are only 2 cats on the SC400/LS400 cars. I think all other Lexus fall under the same idea.

In fact - I have all the mufflers still in my trunk (not saving any weight am i? hah) and I'll take some pics to compare.

I had all 3 of my resonators removed on my LS and kept the stock cats and rear mufflers. Here's a pic. The mid pipe is 3" and the rest is 2 3/4" ( or 2 1/2" forgot..)

hiyabrad

Wow, is that true about the middle resonator? It sure looks exactly like a CAT and the muffler shop told me it was a CAT.

So if that is true, than I can run an x-pipe behind the two cats and then run straight pipe back to my Magnaflows.

Does anyone know of a good shop in the San Fernando Valley, West LA or LA area that knows what they are talking about?

hiyabrad

Sorry to burst your bubble guys, but the SC400 (and I am sure the LS400) has three Cats. Two mains off the headers and one secondary behind the Y. I just got the repair manuals for my '96 and that what is says.

The posted pic has the secondary removed behind the Y.

The question is, will that car pass CA smog check?

808state

from pete's homepage:
http://planetsoarer.com/cats/cats.htm

they call our exhaust system TWC(at least for the 97)... if i'm not mistaken, it stands for, three way cat...

Keith13b

iTrader: (3)

I can't speak for later models or Ca models, but on a 92, it has 2 cats and 3 resonators. I also have the workshop manual to confirm.

This is obvious by the location of the O2 sensors. If its a cat, it will have an O2 sensor after it.

Upon opening mine up, it was a straight through design, just like a front muffler/resonator. Again, this is for a Non CA 92 model.



Keith

hiyabrad

Does anyone know a good muffler shop in the Los Angeles area?

V8RWDHP

The owners manual for my 96' also calls it a three way cat system and points to the two obvious cats and the so-called resonator.

Bean

iTrader: (1)

that middle resonator IS a cat

the cats coming off the headers are precats; made for startup emissions testing

as for adding 2.5" dual pipe to the main cat, here you're looking at ~$120...

don't waste your damn money and just have them weld the mufflers up; replace all of the pipe with bigger pipe... else its pointless; you won't make any power increases; just sound changes