exhaust pricing and parts

[sciguy007]

just called a few local shops and the lowest price i could get quoted was 250 plus labor, and the damn thing isnt even mandrel bent. the a-hole told me that it was a waste of money to mandrel bend it, and that my KKM intake is bad for performance. another shop said 275 for labor, 2.25" mandrel bent piping, and some muffler ive never heard of but the guy i was talking to swears by it. and i can bring it back and have them switch the muffler to a flowmaster or something if i dont like it. so two things. is 275 reasonable? and is a K&N drop in or FIPK better then my KKM? thanks.

 

[JoeC5]

Yes, that price is way too high. Just go to summit and order there flowmaster cat-back exhaust for the 91-94 explorer. It only costs about $170. My mechanic said the same thing about the kkm to me. As soon as I can find a stock airbox my KKM will be up for sale.

 

[TheMattDaddy]

Why would the KKM be bad for performance?

 

[jimbo74]

it isnt bad at all... mechanics hate it b/c they cant sell you any paper ones.... at retail prices those paper replacements are $15 bones... that is lunch for 2 days.....

joec5.... ill buy your kkm for $35 and ship you my factory airbox?

 

[fixer]

sure you can bring the mystery muffler back and have them change it, if you eat the cost of the first muffler and the labor the first time and pay for the new muffler and more labor.... sheesh!

they probably swear by it because that's what they stock, and what they have a good markup on.

i spent about $80 for my Flowmaster 40 Series Deltaflow, and $90 to have it installed with a new, shorter tailpipe... coulda shopped around a little more and saved a few more $$, but i got impatient and wanted it done.. i'm usually more patient and thrifty.

 

[Bob (nuclearman)]

Why is a KKM bad?

Some mechanics feel any gauze type air filter is bad because the gauze filter media inherently allows fine particulates to enter the engine. Thereby reducing the life of an engine.

Test this yourself if you wish utilizing a shop vac.
Cover the end of the hose with several layers of a white cloth, then attach the gauze filter (regardless of brand) tightly with duct tape. Run the vacuum for fifteen - thirty minutes.
Examine the filter cloth. Notice the discoloration and fine grit on and in the cloth.
Those particulates are entering the engine.

Perform the test again with a factory filter and box.
Notice the difference?

The above tests were repeated three separate times using differing filter media to contain debri while I was
bored at work.
Yes, one of our X's has a KKM. It had >150K on it before
modifications began though.
It becomes a personal choice.

 

[leenjen]

bob, you are right. K&N even says the same thing about small particles, but they also say that it filters better when it is dirty. if you constantly clean and oil your filter, you allow more dirt to enter.

 

[cnapierala]

Have there been any tests performed to see the actual resaults as far as debris entering the engine and the affects to it length of life?

 

[Sethro]

sciguy,

What kind of muffler do they want to sell you. I went to a local shop today. They want to sell me a Goerlich Xcelerator that they claim is just like a flowmaster which they also carry. He quoted me at 150 for single and 225 for dual exhaust...

 

[sciguy007]

its some allied exhaust. allied systems or something.