How are muffler shops still in business?

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With the long lasting stainless steel exhaust systems I haven't had to replace a muffler/exhaust system in probably 20 years. Have you guys had to replace a rotted out exhaust lately or just upgraded to something different?
 
Up here there are plenty of clunkers with cheap Chinese exhausts. Combine that with emissions tests every 2 years and they are making plenty of coin up here.
 
Muffler places have to do regular stuff like brakes and repairs. If they are just doing mufflers they should be out of business.

In the old days a coffee can and wire was much cheaper than the muffler guy.
 
Easy question-

I used to own an exhaust shop.

1) Catalytic Converters.
2) The guys that want dual exhaust on their pickups.
3) The diesel truck guys that want the 5 inch exhaust.
4) Classic Cars.
5) Poor folk still driving 80s - 2000s cars.
6) Ricers

The pipe bender earned its keep, i burned up many sawzalls and miles of mig wire.


FYI my 2001 forester needs a muffler right now- its rusted thru. I am going to sell it as is though..so whomever buys it will need a muffler shop or fight the bolts with a heat wrench and have to bring out the sawzall.
 
rust
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Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
A kid turns 16 everyday.


For some it’s 16 or 26 or 36 and so forth around here … FlowMaster’s of the universe … and yes, half duals …
Our little shop would not have much overhead … one man show and pretty old building/equipment …
… had him move a pipe that was an inch from a PTU when there was plenty room to keep that heat further away …
He repaired a sway bar hanger for me too … pretty good at welding small stuff …
 
The flex pipe will corrode through sooner or later and will need to be replaced.
Exhaust systems last a lot longer these days than was the case years ago, but they will still eventually require replacement.
A good shop with a skilled pipe bender and welder can fab up a new and quiet exhaust in no time at reasonable cost for those who have the wit to find these shops.
It's a smaller market these days, but it still exists as do the shops that have the know-how to do the work.
 
I saw this super clean Accord sedan the other day,and I kid you not,it had a fartcan protruding at least 15 feet out of the back!! God I wish I could've snapped a picture of that!!
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Just look at how Midas and Meineke rebranded themselves... they're now "undercar specialists" doing brakes, shocks, maintenance, and everything else.
 
Literally everyone around here who buys a new pickup truck immediately hacks off the nice stainless steel system and has dual crush bent aluminized pipes installed with FLowmasters that will rust out within five years.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I saw this super clean Accord sedan the other day,and I kid you not,it had a fartcan protruding at least 15 feet out of the back!! God I wish I could've snapped a picture of that!!
crackmeup2.gif



[censored] yea bud bosozoku cars kick [censored]
 
There are still plenty of rigs in this area that sorely need exhaust work... and one really lame exhaust shop in a town of 10,000 people to do it.
 



This is what a Exhaust shop looks like. They are still in buisness, but they are about as rare as Radiator shops.... but they do have mandrel bending machines.
 
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One of the most honest mechanics I know in this town runs a muffler shop. Does good work and doesn't charge a lot. (I think it was a whopping $28 for him to replace a muffler with one I bought online)

Went to him one day to see if he could check if the cats were clogged. I didn't expect him to jack up the car, drill holes before and after each cat, use a borescope camera to look at the cats, and then weld the holes back up for free.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
A kid turns 16 everyday.
Yes! I remember when I was 16, I had an 89 S10 Blazer with a 4.3 in it. I took it to a muffler shop in SC that was able to use a dynamax single in, dual out muffler and run dual pipes out the back. I loved it!
 
Originally Posted By: PimTac
Muffler places have to do regular stuff like brakes and repairs. If they are just doing mufflers they should be out of business.

Yes. My "muffler" shop is the only place that I'll trust with my brakes or suspension, besides myself, or possibly the dealer. The best part is the shop is walking distance from my house, plus they can be trusted.
 
The 3 big shops here are always busy. Mostly custom upgrades,flowmasters and cats. Plus they do welding on the side. One guy I know basically retired and let's his employees run the show. He now just comes in a couple days a week to collect cash and to drop off pay checks.
 
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ZZman,

Muffler shops will also do:
Brakes, A/C repair, tune ups, shocks / struts, oil changes, cabin filter replacement, etc... to stay in business.

Last time I was at a muffler shop was to put Flowmaster mufflers on my 5.0 Mustang 25 years ago.
 
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