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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Anyone else finding it getting harder and harder to get custom exhaust work done these days?
Quite a few past reputable places have ceased custom work, and instead have gone to mass produced off the shelf products, and now do installs only. If you want any slight customisation, they don't want to know about it. Of the few places that actually still do custom work, they are charging an arm and a leg! Whats the deal? Recently asked a shop to weld a small muffler onto a delete pipe, which I provided. We decided to use a 2nd hand muffler as that was the only size that would fit in the location. $400! WTF. Not only that, when I asked if they could make some additional slight alterations, the blokes in his shop started complaining about the dificulty. The manager (who use to be fabricator) pulled me into his office for a chat and said "You and I know its not a difficult job, but if I argue with those blokes, they will walk".....apparently shops can't find people to do the work either. How hard is it to stick a welder onto a metal and press the trigger? ![]()
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#2 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,028
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Sharp Exhausts in Sunbury still does custom work and is reasonably priced still, although he loves putting big *** stickers on your rear windscreen
![]() The light vehicle automotive repair industry is toasted, it's lost a lot of its skills base. They'd be prioritising high margin work, they make more money on selling things off the shelf and doing basic fitment work than doing custom work where it's labour intensive with price sensitive customers. |
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#3 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Quote:
If I remember correctly, the shop that did the last job for me said he has to pay his workers $2k a week. That's not bad mullah.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#4 | ||
BANNED
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,886
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Exhaust Bros in Geelong will, and have, done anything you require....while you wait.
In my case they TIG welded two custom turbo dump pipes while I drank their free coffee.
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Please press the "Like" button if you enjoy my posts. (It's the red triangle with exclamation mark on the left) |
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#5 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 346
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I had a similar situation maybe 2 years back, asked around a couple of locals, either not interested or I wouldn't trust them to do the work to an acceptable standard. Spoke with the Valiant workshop and they suggested Yarra Valley Exhaust. I've got a Hemi 6, with a 6 into 2 system with mufflers just before the rear diff, under the passenger seat the exhaust dropped way low and always scrapped.
Went into Yarra Valley Exhaust, old bloke behind the counter, explained what I wanted (lift the exhaust ~2inches), $150. Dropped it off overnight, picked it up and he showed me what he'd done, cut the exhaust off at the secondary's, bolt together flanges, nice tight system under the floor and replaced pipes all the way to the mufflers, painted block, great job. Went to pay, pulled out some notes "paying cash, make it $120", couldnt be happier. Regarding welders, I work for a large fabrication company, getting welders is tough, even getting unskilled people to train is tough, we ended up moving to Australia welders from our Thailand sites, just couldnt get people. Last I head was 16 or so people we had bought over.
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The Silver Bullet - BJ74 Where the actions at Ontrack 4wd Club https://www.facebook.com/ontrack4wdclub |
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#6 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Quote:
As a comparison, a few weeks ago I was ringing around to get a price on just to swap the rear section of my v8 exhaust over. I have the parts (including bolts and gaskets), no fabrication needed, I just needed someone with a hoist to get the rear section out and in....its too tight and tricky job on the BAs to do on stands. The cheapest quote I got was $170!
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() Last edited by T3rminator; 06-06-2023 at 11:11 AM. |
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#7 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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The price you pay for labour these days.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#8 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 346
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Labour rate at 4x4 workshop over the road is $150 an hour, nothing special, just a normal workshop working on GQ,GU Patrols.
Was at the radiator shop last week too, similar, old bloke running it, ~4 years ago did my Valiant radiator, aussie made copper 3 row core, $300 out the door. Now, $500-$600 JUST FOR THE CORE!
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The Silver Bullet - BJ74 Where the actions at Ontrack 4wd Club https://www.facebook.com/ontrack4wdclub |
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#9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ballarat
Posts: 2,123
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Yeah its pretty nuts. Local shop to me wanted 4-5k for a pretty simple system for my bronco. I did want 316 1.6mm though i suppose but thats still crazy money.
I bought a hoist and did it myself, better than they ever could have and got a free hoist. Materials (if you had to pay for them) wouldve been maybe $500. ![]() Honestly did think about going into it though, its easy work (im a tig welder). I have come to the realisation that given enough time I / anyone willing can always do better than any trade or specialists apart from aircraft pilots and brain surgeons, and i think i could work a scalpel pretty decent. Last edited by Jack91; 06-06-2023 at 02:09 PM. |
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#10 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,684
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Quote:
![]() Businesses want to make easy money. Doing a custom exhaust isn't easy. Selling an off the shelf one for 100% mark up and then charging fitting is very easy. I'm very thankful for my mate who has made my last 3 custom exhausts, without him, it would have been off the shelf that don't make less power.
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Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made |
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#11 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,692
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Quote:
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#12 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,850
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Give it a decade and people will be whining about the cost of having custom made cryo copper cables fitted to their nineteen year old Teslas. “I mean, how hard is it to operate a crimper?”
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#13 | ||
#neuteredlyfe
![]() ![]() Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 10,527
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I do get why businesses are moving away from custom work. Some of the stuff that you may need to do custom work is; welder, pipe bender, metal cutter etc. These tools are very expensive but are still probably the cheapest bit. Then you have to consider; having a larger workshop for the extra room for the tools, ensuring that your staff are adequately trained, PPE and WHS. Then there is the maintenance of the tooling, for example, purchase of consumables (welder gas, blades etc). On top of that, the administration of the tooling; purchasing, taxation etc.
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#14 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,850
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There’s also a lot of lost motion; I’ve been using the place recommended by Wiz a bit and the knowledgeable people are consistently called to respond to inquiries that require experienced discussion, not counter staff looking up a catalogue or estimating book.
…Plus the all-too-frequent expectation of near immediate service! |
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#15 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Quote:
![]() Having said that, he mentioned that there has been so many enquiries recently, they are thinking of starting up custom jobs again. The little job I gave to some random on FB market place has turned out pretty darn good. THe kid has done a very good job, albeit simple, was just to make a link (H) pipe. Clean cuts and the weld seems good. Said he does it as a hobby, and uses his mate's workshop. There are more and more of these guys advertising now.
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#16 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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Quote:
Lets face it old cars or anything custom is going to take up so much more time chasing stuff which is their time better spent bolting stock stuff together and getting it out the door. Then there's the matter of space, no busy shop wants something not being worked on taking up real estate while they are knocking back easy money jobs.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#17 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Maryborough VIC Votes for: Coalition
Posts: 450
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Quote:
Add in that here in Victoria the state government is anti small business...and will stay in power forever because the opposition is pathetic.
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1996 XH Falcon GLi manual - Dynamic White 1998 EL Falcon Futura auto - Dynamic White 2023 SKODA Octavia RS - Moon White 1997 BMW E36 318i manual - Alpine White |
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#18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Quote:
![]() On the staff front, will the "big" immigration see changes in the industry?
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#19 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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Don't know where all the "big" immigration is going to live ? In the big business factories I guess, like India and China.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Quote:
But more likely, they will buy your houses and pay you handsomely. Then that problem becomes yours ![]()
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#21 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 378
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Try Carnegie Muffler & Brakes, they were going to fabricate adapter pipes btw my CES split dump and SS exhaust. They actually quoted the same price as off the shelf adapter pipes but needed the car for a day to measure up correctly.
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-Bionic BF2 XR6T 350+rwkw@17psi,Pulsar 3582, Leather,premo sound-now with Aerpro + JVC KW-M785BW. Plazmaman IC + hot & cold side, Walbro fuel pump, Turbo side intake, CES 3.5 split + Ultrex SS exhaust, deka 60 injectors, earls turbo oil feed. DBA T3 & Akebono ProACT all round, Whiteline sway bars,nolathane bushes, Koni reds,Kings springs,nolathane camber kit,whiteline bump stops. Built tailshaft + billet cv, ZF + PWR exchanger + braided lines, Superpro diff bushes. |
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#22 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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What, living in factories ?
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,891
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Was said in jest... Kind of. But yeh they have to work in farms if they want more than 12 months.. Farms... Factories... What's the difference.
There have been reports of people being forced to sleep in barns, hey if you wanna stay, don't complain
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. ![]() |
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#24 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,028
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Quote:
Rent on a commercial premises costs an arm and a leg too these days, plus even if you're in an industrial estate you end up in fights and arguments with flogs like gyms moving into the area then complaining about loud customer cars or you parking customers cars in the street ![]() You'll see a lot of services advertising on Facebook communities working out of home, I used the services of a metal fab guy to tig weld some brackets to go on Yarra Trams E class tram, dropped the stuff off to his house in Fawkner and the guy did a MINT job, way better than our usual metal fab contractor. Everyone complaining about lack of staff but I'm competing against 50-100 applicants on apprenticeship positions at the moment, so there's lots of people keen on work, just probably not working at an exhaust shop. |
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#25 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,028
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Quote:
They came in on working holiday visas, did the time on farms out regional to get the visa extension then found an employer willing to sponsor them on skilled migration visas to stay in Australia. |
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#26 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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Quote:
__________________
heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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