LT headers installation in Chicagoland area?

[06redgt]

I paid Brenspeed to install my Kooks LT's, and yea it sucks that it costs so much but I'd do it again. Everything went as expected and I'm happy with the results.

If the car wasn't my daily I might have thought more about doing it myself knowing it can sit if I have issues. Couldn't afford to have it down since it's all I drive.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

I didn't say I could do it in 3-4 hours. It would likely take me 3-4 days. But I have used the search feature here and I read a long thread on LT header installation where several members here have claimed that they installed headers on an s197 in 4-6 hours. That's in thier garage, on jack stands and with hand tools.

Either every one of them lied or with experience comes quicker installation times. I'm going with the latter. Add a lift, air tools and lots of experience and it's very reasonable to think that under those conditions the install is completed in 4 hours of actual time.

But as someone pointed out they are likely not charging for actual time it takes but rather whatever it says in the book that it should take. Well and good but $650 is still kind of steep for less than half a days work. But that's why I'm exploring other options.

And for the record it doesn't have to be done at a shop. If someone here or on craigslist has some experience with S197 headers and wants to make $400 cash + food + beer for one days work or less then I'm ok with that too.

I guess you need to determine how much your time is worth. Is it worth a weekend or more of your time to do it yourself rather than pay whatever it costs.

Call other shops, see what they charge, and then make your call.

 

[irishpwr46]

its not just the time thats an issue, its the difficulty of the install. ill do 8 hours swapping out my suspension before ill do 6 hours doing longtubes

 

[darrens07gt]

its not just the time thats an issue, its the difficulty of the install. ill do 8 hours swapping out my suspension before ill do 6 hours doing longtubes

I know I cringed a little when I researched this install and saw people jacking up thier motors by the oil pan with a phone book

I'll probably just roll up my sleeves and tackle this job myself. I have two teenage boys who don't mind shedding a little blood that can help