Am I Getting Jacked? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

VALOR · 04-01-2010, 08:33 PM

Tried to get a price today on the installation of my vararam intake, kooks long-tubes and a dyno tune and he told me it would be $1140. What do you guys think? How much is everyone paying?

jeffny09 · 04-01-2010, 08:36 PM

rip off,dude install the vararam on ur own it fairly easy so i been told as for the kooks theres some diy stuff on here u can do it on ur own

d69chris · 04-01-2010, 08:44 PM

Headers are a tough install. U have to loosen the engine mount and jack the engine to get the driverside in around steering box from what I have heard.

Exhaust mod?

Install the CAI yourself.

Is that a dyno & tune?

Maybe $400 header install, $80 dyno, no idea on tune(dyno time), but you will need one.

based on $100 per hour rate

VALOR · 04-01-2010, 08:52 PM

Yeah, I have an exhaust as well which is already installed. He said it would take 8 hrs of labor for everything at an $80 hr rate. The rest if for the dyno/tune.

Jeanius · 04-01-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d69chris

Headers are a tough install. U have to loosen the engine mount and jack the engine to get the driverside in around steering box from what I have heard.

HA! yea right! "Amigo, who ever your getting your information from is taking you for a loooooong ride"

What movie?

There are DIY for Vararam and Headers on this site, you can spend a fraction of that money on some quality tools and do it yourself, its really not hard at all, I did everything by my lonely, IN THE DRIVEWAY.... no help, no moral support, you can too.

http://www.planetlsx.com/tech/How_To...0_Camaro_SS/98

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59740

VALOR · 04-01-2010, 10:53 PM

Anyone know any good shops in the san jose area? I really don't have time to install these things, but if I can't find a good price I might have to.

Jeanius · 04-01-2010, 11:00 PM

Typical Labor is $80-$100/hr, it took me about 3 hours to do so Im assuming they will charge you 3-4hrs, Not worth it IMO

I took that money and bought myself some nice craftsman tools with a tool box and a torque wrench and now ANYTIME I need to do anything I have the tools

All you need is 1 sunday afternoon

Plus if you do it yourself you can make sure its done right, no cut corners etc.

mtcwby · 04-01-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VALOR

Anyone know any good shops in the san jose area? I really don't have time to install these things, but if I can't find a good price I might have to.

See if you can find another C5 member in your area to help you out. It's really not that hard. And it will give you alot of satisfaction and teach you alot about your car.

MarylandSpeed · 04-01-2010, 11:03 PM

A dyno tune is normally $400-$600 dollars depending on how much time you want them to spend on it. Once you back that out, I don't think the install price is unreasonable. Maybe on the highend..but something I would pay for quality work. Everytime back in the day I tried to install headers on jackstands..half way through I wished I would have paid someone to do it.

VALOR · 04-01-2010, 11:09 PM

Hmmm. A lot to think about.

Jeanius · 04-01-2010, 11:15 PM

Ask ANYONE that has installed them on their own if they regret it and should have had it done

Guarantee 99.99% will say NO

VALOR · 04-01-2010, 11:20 PM

Point taken. I know I can install the intake that's easy. Maybe I'll hold off on the entire install for a few months until things slow at work and I get time. Then install everything at one time so that I can then get everything tuned all together.

SicSix6 · 04-02-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d69chris

Headers are a tough install. U have to loosen the engine mount and jack the engine to get the driverside in around steering box from what I have heard.

You don't have to do any of that. The headers go in easy as can be. Anyone with a little bit of technical skill at all will be able to install long tubes within about 3-5 hours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by d69chris

Exhaust mod?

Install the CAI yourself.

Is that a dyno & tune?

Maybe $400 header install, $80 dyno, no idea on tune(dyno time), but you will need one.

based on $100 per hour rate

$400 would be extremely expensive for a long tube install on a 5th gen camaro. It should only cost around $150-200

*mlee* · 04-02-2010, 09:50 AM

I'd say $400 Header Install... $400 tune... and CAI can't be more than 50 bucks if you really don't want to do it yourself...

So he's a little high... but I'm all for mechanics making a buck... It's not totally unreasonable...

04-01-2010, 08:33 PM	#1
VALOR Drives: L99 cyber grey Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san jose Posts: 145	Am I Getting Jacked? Tried to get a price today on the installation of my vararam intake, kooks long-tubes and a dyno tune and he told me it would be $1140. What do you guys think? How much is everyone paying?

04-01-2010, 08:36 PM	#2
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	rip off,dude install the vararam on ur own it fairly easy so i been told as for the kooks theres some diy stuff on here u can do it on ur own __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

04-01-2010, 08:44 PM	#3
d69chris Florida C5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Vortech L99 IOM Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tequesta, FL Posts: 2,610 View My Garage	Headers are a tough install. U have to loosen the engine mount and jack the engine to get the driverside in around steering box from what I have heard. Exhaust mod? Install the CAI yourself. Is that a dyno & tune? Maybe $400 header install, $80 dyno, no idea on tune(dyno time), but you will need one. based on $100 per hour rate __________________ Ordered 11/08/08....Del. 08/05/2009 Loving every minute of it! Don't hate me because i'm Pretty....

04-01-2010, 11:00 PM	#7
Jeanius Drives: Blk/Blk 2018 Sierra SLT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Golden State Posts: 2,925	Typical Labor is $80-$100/hr, it took me about 3 hours to do so Im assuming they will charge you 3-4hrs, Not worth it IMO I took that money and bought myself some nice craftsman tools with a tool box and a torque wrench and now ANYTIME I need to do anything I have the tools All you need is 1 sunday afternoon Plus if you do it yourself you can make sure its done right, no cut corners etc. __________________ SOLD: 2SS LS3 M6 - MGW - Dynatech LT's HF Cats - Magnaflow Street CB - ADM Race CAI - Pedders Xa Coilovers - Pfadt Sways TRADED: 2016 2SS M6

04-01-2010, 11:15 PM	#11
Jeanius Drives: Blk/Blk 2018 Sierra SLT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Golden State Posts: 2,925	Ask ANYONE that has installed them on their own if they regret it and should have had it done Guarantee 99.99% will say NO __________________ SOLD: 2SS LS3 M6 - MGW - Dynatech LT's HF Cats - Magnaflow Street CB - ADM Race CAI - Pedders Xa Coilovers - Pfadt Sways TRADED: 2016 2SS M6

04-01-2010, 08:52 PM	#4
VALOR Drives: L99 cyber grey Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san jose Posts: 145	Yeah, I have an exhaust as well which is already installed. He said it would take 8 hrs of labor for everything at an $80 hr rate. The rest if for the dyno/tune.

04-01-2010, 10:53 PM	#6
VALOR Drives: L99 cyber grey Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san jose Posts: 145	Anyone know any good shops in the san jose area? I really don't have time to install these things, but if I can't find a good price I might have to.

04-01-2010, 11:03 PM	#9
MarylandSpeed Account Suspended Drives: 2012 ZL1 & 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,378	A dyno tune is normally $400-$600 dollars depending on how much time you want them to spend on it. Once you back that out, I don't think the install price is unreasonable. Maybe on the highend..but something I would pay for quality work. Everytime back in the day I tried to install headers on jackstands..half way through I wished I would have paid someone to do it.

04-01-2010, 11:09 PM	#10
VALOR Drives: L99 cyber grey Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san jose Posts: 145	Hmmm. A lot to think about.

04-01-2010, 11:20 PM	#12
VALOR Drives: L99 cyber grey Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san jose Posts: 145	Point taken. I know I can install the intake that's easy. Maybe I'll hold off on the entire install for a few months until things slow at work and I get time. Then install everything at one time so that I can then get everything tuned all together.

04-02-2010, 09:50 AM	#14
mlee CamaroFans.com Drives: ZLE & ZR2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 37,507 View My Garage	I'd say $400 Header Install... $400 tune... and CAI can't be more than 50 bucks if you really don't want to do it yourself... So he's a little high... but I'm all for mechanics making a buck... It's not totally unreasonable... __________________

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