Need to replace cat conv & manifolds
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Need to replace cat conv & manifolds
I have '97 F-150 XLT LAR (115K mi) and was quoted $3000 by Ford dealership to replace cat conv & manifolds. Is this reasonable? Any recommendations? Body & interior in great shape, never stressed transmission, so would like to keep for many years to come.
thanks, Mike
thanks, Mike
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Your better off with aftermarket exhaust, you could get some shorty headers and magnaflow cats for alot less than what Ford wants to charge you.
BTW...what could possibly be wrong with your stock manifolds? Sounds to me there ripping you off.
BTW...what could possibly be wrong with your stock manifolds? Sounds to me there ripping you off.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: charlotte nc
That dealer is one of the reasons our american car makers are going out of business. Go order what you need from autozone and put it on yourself(several hours of basic mechanic work) or pay someone to do it.you will save most of that 3000.........gezzzzz
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: BC, Canada
Welcome to the forum MTP1Q 
Stock manifolds can warp or pit bad enough that they can't be resurfaced.
Replacing them if there are broken studs can be a lot of work. Paying to have work like this done can be expensive if there is a lot of time involved and not everyone has the tools or ability or desire to do the work themselves. Dealers aren't always more expensive than other shops either but to find out you'd have to get quotes from others.
Genuine Ford manifolds and converters are very expensive. Ford sets the price but some dealers will mark it up more. We have a couple sponsors on our site that give discounts to members here such as http://campaigns.ford-trucks.net/cam...s&bannerid=156
Stock manifolds can warp or pit bad enough that they can't be resurfaced.
Replacing them if there are broken studs can be a lot of work. Paying to have work like this done can be expensive if there is a lot of time involved and not everyone has the tools or ability or desire to do the work themselves. Dealers aren't always more expensive than other shops either but to find out you'd have to get quotes from others.
Genuine Ford manifolds and converters are very expensive. Ford sets the price but some dealers will mark it up more. We have a couple sponsors on our site that give discounts to members here such as http://campaigns.ford-trucks.net/cam...s&bannerid=156
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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Magnaflow high-flow cats are about $60 each.
You can get them off of E-Bay...I think I bought mine from a guy called "perforamncepeddler" on E-Bay.
The pre-cats (first ones off the manifold) aren't really needed IMHO...you'll pass the sniffer without them. And you won't throw a code.
Depending on where you live...if there's a visual smog test, then just gut the pre-cats. Otherwise just have a shop replace them with sections of exhaust tubing.
Factory-style manifolds are pretty cheap.
I really have to think that a competent exhaust shop can do the above for less than $1000. Most of the cost will be labor for the manifolds, assuming they are bad. I'd have a comepetent exhaust shop give you a second opinion on them.
You can get them off of E-Bay...I think I bought mine from a guy called "perforamncepeddler" on E-Bay.
The pre-cats (first ones off the manifold) aren't really needed IMHO...you'll pass the sniffer without them. And you won't throw a code.
Depending on where you live...if there's a visual smog test, then just gut the pre-cats. Otherwise just have a shop replace them with sections of exhaust tubing.
Factory-style manifolds are pretty cheap.
I really have to think that a competent exhaust shop can do the above for less than $1000. Most of the cost will be labor for the manifolds, assuming they are bad. I'd have a comepetent exhaust shop give you a second opinion on them.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
Don't know if these will work on a 97, but they are about 1/2 of the price that you were quoted
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
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