Looking for a knowledgeable exhaust shop in SW Colorado

[ColoradoBoy]

Looking for someone to replace the exhaust on my '91- exhaust manifold to tailpipe. Tried the local crowd, but can't find anyone to return phone calls or talk with any real sense of knowledge enough to help me. Any Mudder input to help a feller out?
Thanks in advance!

 

[red mud fj]

Having same experience with a muffler exhaust shop in Wyoming, they go cross eyed when ask to build a system for my 91 80. If it was a 68 Camaro no problem!
Interested in knowing of a Colorado shop that would work on a Landcruiser.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

Had a talk with Justin at High Country Cruisers in Pagosa Springs today... Between the positive feedback here on this site and talking to him, I'm going to set things up to get the exhaust fabricated front-to-back in their shop. I figure it's only about a 3 hour drive over there, and I have not had the chance to see that area yet. He had the option of using some of the previously used but in decent shape parts he has stockpiled, or fab up all new. I figure that this is the time to do the cat delete w/ O2 sensor work and get another few decades of use out of a capable machine!
I'll really try to remember to post up after it's done.

 

[ajax1]

Had a talk with Justin at High Country Cruisers in Pagosa Springs today... Between the positive feedback here on this site and talking to him, I'm going to set things up to get the exhaust fabricated front-to-back in their shop. I figure it's only about a 3 hour drive over there, and I have not had the chance to see that area yet. He had the option of using some of the previously used but in decent shape parts he has stockpiled, or fab up all new. I figure that this is the time to do the cat delete w/ O2 sensor work and get another few decades of use out of a capable machine!
I'll really try to remember to post up after it's done.

Remember right now there is lots of talk making westernslope or all of Colorado emissions , I would leave the cat, I hate how mine sounds with no cats. When I get around to it someday I’ll put one back in.

 

[Corbet]

I was going to say talk to Justin. Exhaust is tough down this direction. Where are you that its 3 hours to Pagosa?

 

[ColoradoBoy]

I was going to say talk to Justin. Exhaust is tough down this direction. Where are you that its 3 hours to Pagosa?

Ridgway.

 

[Corbet]

Ridgway.

No one in GJ? Nothing against Justin it just seems like there would be more resources up there? And closer.

I’ll be figuring out someone too when I need to mate a new turbo downpipe to my existing system.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

Mmmmm... Turbo... Nice!!

GJ does not interest me- My & I would like to check out Pagosa Springs, and being able to support a fellow Mudder and Cruiser enthusiast is a bonus!

 

[Corbet]

Well then that is different. Definitely check out the hot springs. Great way to spend about 4 hours. Hit up Justin for food recommends, I really like one of the food trucks on the east end of town. Plenty of great hiking to be done. Fly fishing. Golf if your into that kind of thing. If your going to have a meal in Durango I can’t say enough about the lobster burger at Eolus on Main Street downtown.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

Nice! Thx for the tips!

 

[leonard_nemoy]

I would think any exhaust shop worth their weight (owns an exhaust bender) could take care of your needs. It shouldn't be that hard to replace an exhuast on anything.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

I would think any exhaust shop worth their weight (owns an exhaust bender) could take care of your needs. It shouldn't be that hard to replace an exhuast on anything.

You would think so, right?!? Shops/Retailers over here appear to be (in my experience with this topic) either too lazy to want work being handed to them or too busy to want more... I got a lot of excuses or simply ignored phone calls. Either way, it does not help me. Having grown up in Idaho, it has been interesting to note the huge lack of customer service skills over here on the Western Slope. I don’t have time to babysit Joe-Blow at a supposed shop to get work done that I know may be a bit out of the ordinary, but am willing to pay for a quality job. As a trim carpenter & furniture maker, I understand needing to make a buck for a job to be worth my time. Getting blown off tells me not to bother with that company offering whatever service they have, & save myself the hassle & money.
(Stepping off my soapbox...)
Cheers, & happy wheeling to you all!

 

[Corbet]

You could also try calling Durango Muffler. I think now that the son has taken over they are more willing to do non-standardized exhaust work. I’m pretty sure he has a bender.

To me exhaust work has become a lost art. The days of hanging a new muffler on your car every couple years is gone. Partly because I no longer live in the rust belt of Wisconsin and partly because OEM systems have become so much better. It seems like you have to find a speed shop now days to do the kind of work most of us want. Standard shops are willing to hang off the self parts but very few want or even have the ability to bend tube.

 

[mikedamageinc]

The problem is that custom exhausts are not a big money maker unless you are able to charge thousands which most people won't pay. It easier to bolt on a prefabbed system or weld on a muffler only. I got sick of it and started building my own which I've done for several vehicles now including the 80, and I'm about to build another out of stainless that I should have done the first time. It's not that hard, just takes patience. Get rid of all the old stuff and order a bunch of mandrel bends and start hacking and welding!

 

[SmokingRocks]

High Country Cruisers are some great guys.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

The problem is that custom exhausts are not a big money maker unless you are able to charge thousands which most people won't pay. It easier to bolt on a prefabbed system or weld on a muffler only. I got sick of it and started building my own which I've done for several vehicles now including the 80, and I'm about to build another out of stainless that I should have done the first time. It's not that hard, just takes patience. Get rid of all the old stuff and order a bunch of mandrel bends and start hacking and welding!

The thought of doing it myself was tempting- but I need a bit more practice with the welder, and not sure about investing in my own mandrels. Honestly, I have more desire to tackle it than time at this time in life. I'd love to see what you have done. Cheers!

 

[mikedamageinc]

The thought of doing it myself was tempting- but I need a bit more practice with the welder, and not sure about investing in my own mandrels. Honestly, I have more desire to tackle it than time at this time in life. I'd love to see what you have done. Cheers!

Mandrels are cheap, especially for the 2.5" for an 80. I think I spent about $150 on eBay for 6 90* and 4 45* stainless bends (more than necessary but doesn't hurt to have extra). The easy way to practice is once you start cutting prices to fit, just start welding the scrap. Watch some videos, setup according to metal thickness, and start practicing. Also can find crap around the garage, yard, etc. My first victims we're a broken basketball hoop and and old grill, and both were better off when I was done.

I'll find some pics of what I've done, it's not always pretty but it's solid and does the job!

*Edit - when I say mandrels I mean the prebent pipe pieces, not the mandrel to actually bend the pipe, those things are very expensive which is why not many shops have them.

 

[IoN6]

Hanksville Hotrods has done an 80, when time and money allows plan to hit them up for mine.

 

[ColoradoBoy]

Mandrels are cheap, especially for the 2.5" for an 80. I think I spent about $150 on eBay for 6 90* and 4 45* stainless bends (more than necessary but doesn't hurt to have extra). The easy way to practice is once you start cutting prices to fit, just start welding the scrap. Watch some videos, setup according to metal thickness, and start practicing. Also can find crap around the garage, yard, etc. My first victims we're a broken basketball hoop and and old grill, and both were better off when I was done.

I'll find some pics of what I've done, it's not always pretty but it's solid and does the job!

*Edit - when I say mandrels I mean the prebent pipe pieces, not the mandrel to actually bend the pipe, those things are very expensive which is why not many shops have them.

Mandrels are cheap, especially for the 2.5" for an 80. I think I spent about $150 on eBay for 6 90* and 4 45* stainless bends (more than necessary but doesn't hurt to have extra). The easy way to practice is once you start cutting prices to fit, just start welding the scrap. Watch some videos, setup according to metal thickness, and start practicing. Also can find crap around the garage, yard, etc. My first victims we're a broken basketball hoop and and old grill, and both were better off when I was done.

I'll find some pics of what I've done, it's not always pretty but it's solid and does the job!

*Edit - when I say mandrels I mean the prebent pipe pieces, not the mandrel to actually bend the pipe, those things are very expensive which is why not many shops have them.

Got it. I'm sure you are correct about being able to DIY, but right now the rig is my wife's DD... Can't keep it off of the road for too long.
I think that I will attempt to fab my own rear bumper for my 4Runner and possibly some sliders for the Cruiser. Having a drafting background, I can get everything mocked up, drawn up in CAD, and plasma cut. Ugly welds can be ground down and redone if necessary. I figure that would be a way to get some good practice with the new wire feed welder that I have not had the chance to play with much!
Cheers!

 

[mikedamageinc]

Here my Yukon I just finished up. Speed Engineering headers JetHot coated, welded in V band clamps and Flowmaster cats which were extremely tight. This is why I do my own work, nobody short of a full custom high end shop would even attempt squeezing in something like this. Tied into factory system, then mufflers welded in to factory 3.5" single pipe.