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View Full Version : Shop Review Pt 2


mike2002
06-11-2005, 08:47 PM
if you read the "shop review pt 1" you'll see how bad my exhaust got hacked, no one wanted to fix it, it hung low, didn't follow the stock channels anymore, to much was cut off the stock pipe so a new piece was put in all cockeyed.

i went to quality auto care, on concord exchange street, about 2 or 3 blocks north of the 494/concord intersection (south st paul) a fyi, this is a older shop, so its nothing like your mainstream mienekee/midas. but came highly recommended by a kid from school

this was my first time going there, the owner/main tech there comes out as i get out of my car to greet me and asks what he can do, i tell him whats up and craws under my car and takes a look, and asks who did it. i told him it was the wonderful muffler man and he laughed and said he use to work there when he was a kid, and the owners a complete jerk, fixed alot of his stuff. he then introduces himself and shows me all these cars in the shop, older camaro, 30's coupe, and he just starts bs'ing about the cars, the lt1 they put in the camaro (like a 70's camaro). really cool guy

when they bring my car in there, im waiting in the lobby. a couple comes in and there trailer blew a hub/bearing and they were on the way out of town. he knew this guy a little, but not really. anyways, its saturday and the part would take untill next week. believe it or not, he let the guy borrow his own personal trailer. i couldn't believe it. then as im leaving, a kid comes in with a flat tire on his way to work. 1st day at work. well the kid drove on the flat, so the tire was ruined. the lady at the desk (owners wife) kept offering him a ride if he needed it!

but anyways, i got the stock exhaust put on. it muffler is on perfect, sits closer to the car than it did stock. same with the resonator. i took a look at it, and its perfect. he had to add some small sections of pipe in 2 spots. but the welds look fantastic, its all strait, pushed up close to the car, and no leaks. couldn't have been better. i was very suprised, since 2 shops told me it coudn't be fixed. they charged me $80 which i thought was very resonable, they had to basically replace 2 mufflers and do a little reconstructive surgery on my exhaust, and they did a A+ job



so in short, this is the only place im bringing my car. every other shop ive been to screwed me over in some way. its owned by a very nice older couple, about 50. the guy tim is cool and will bs with anyone. and his wife is very nice and courteous to customers

highly recommended.

Str33tRacer
09-28-2005, 04:36 PM
wow thats great, u can tell that its a real small shop and the ppl are nice just by the natural friends feeling that u get from the guy right when he meets you. my buddies dad own AutoMax muffler brake shock and alingment shop on rice street, i would highly recomend them as well!

pawzbear
09-28-2005, 08:38 PM
yeh, we give customers rides, will deliver their cars if they are unable to pick up, and let them borrow our personal vehicles. Like my chevy!! arrggh... and also this older little ford car.. Not our nice cars, lol.
And we fix other shop's mistakes all the time. sometimes they just give in knowing they cant handle a job and send it down to us =-P
Great customer relations and reliability is key. Our business has been around since the mid 70's cuz of it.
We even have customers that moved out of state bring all their major repairs to us still!! =)

alerored04
09-29-2005, 11:36 AM
do you think he would custom fab a s.5 catback for me, if i cant find anyone i trust here in grand forks to do it i might have to swing down to see him.

eag182
09-29-2005, 11:43 AM
skajglfkjgfg

Str33tRacer
10-01-2005, 01:14 PM
Idk, i would have to ask my buddy to talk to him, Whats the part your looking to install?

alerored04
10-01-2005, 01:17 PM
i thought i said, i was wondering if he had a mandrel bender and could fab and install an exhaust for me.

Str33tRacer
10-02-2005, 08:24 PM
iight, a custom cat back, ill see what he can do

mike2002
10-04-2005, 03:14 PM
alot of shops dont do SS, its hard to bend, and extrememly expensive. this shop on concord might be able to, but i know they dont have a mandrel bender. they are extremely expensive.

if your looking for mandrel bent stainless steel, kits are your best option (SLP or id prefer borla if you can find one) problem is, 2.5" mandrel, despite what some people say, is to big for a 170hp car. say bye to torque (loss in exhaust velocity) unless your doing major mods (forced induction)

i doubt a shop would do mandrel 2.5" if they had it, its VERY tricky to get the exhaust over the rear suspension, and they dont want to waste money trying to fit a pipe that tight. most wont even try to pressure bend a 2.5" around that. 2.25" is what they all say they'll do, but thats all thats needed anyways