shop CAN'T weld 304 stainless???!!!
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Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Salem, NH
Car: 1999 Chevy Cavalier
Engine: 2.2
Transmission: 5 speed
Axle/Gears: it's part of the transmission
shop CAN'T weld 304 stainless???!!!
let me start this post off by saying BORLA sucks!!! because so many 3rdgen owners have been shamed into buying thier pitiful $500 15888 '82-'92 cat back system, which only decreased the value of our cars by it's ugliness.
I made one more attempt at bringing my car to a muffler shop,asking nothing more than to get mid-eivil and do whatever it took to get the borla cat back and intermediat pipe strait from the cat and hanging up halfway respectable.
they claim they can't weld it because it's "coated" and too thin!? I've watched someone weld stainless steel exaust,it didn't look all that hard. I know borla's mandrel bends suck,but "coated" "thin metal" that splater all over the place and burn holes through it? I think these guys just don't know how to weld.
they also told me that exausts fits different on every car,and a custom system needs to be built on the car,an after market system never fits right. WTF?! doesn't anyone know how to do anything anymore?
I made one more attempt at bringing my car to a muffler shop,asking nothing more than to get mid-eivil and do whatever it took to get the borla cat back and intermediat pipe strait from the cat and hanging up halfway respectable.
they claim they can't weld it because it's "coated" and too thin!? I've watched someone weld stainless steel exaust,it didn't look all that hard. I know borla's mandrel bends suck,but "coated" "thin metal" that splater all over the place and burn holes through it? I think these guys just don't know how to weld.
they also told me that exausts fits different on every car,and a custom system needs to be built on the car,an after market system never fits right. WTF?! doesn't anyone know how to do anything anymore?
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,298
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From: Salem, NH
Car: 1999 Chevy Cavalier
Engine: 2.2
Transmission: 5 speed
Axle/Gears: it's part of the transmission
at this point I don't care, I just want it air tight,not hitting the floor and rear axle. I can fix it my self, but, the joints will move again if they aren't welded. the rear tips are a little crooked if you look for it,but otherwise unnoticable.I can always have a shop cut the tips off and weld new ones on anyways. I like the plates because it's like having 4 diferent exaust systems. I can't bring myself to scrap a $500 exaust system,at least it really is stainless,it hasn't rusted at all,even if you wipe off the residue in side the pipes,the surface is good as new. no corosion. that's another thing these guys tried telling me, "it lasts for a little while....then it just falls apart,it's made out off junk metal" ummmmm....somehow I just don't see that happening,thats the only thing Borla is honest about,that 304 stainless stuff really is indestructable!
thanks, I'll have too make some phone calls,maybee there's a factory authorized shop around here?
thanks, I'll have too make some phone calls,maybee there's a factory authorized shop around here?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Tucson, AZ
Car: 1991 Z-28
Engine: Can you say stroke?!?!
Transmission: 700-r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
What you need to do is contact a good "quality" muffler shop. What I think you have going on is that they are afraid that they will burn through the pipes. I doubt it but it still reasonable. Most of those guys don't know how to "really" weld anyways. I found out through experience, and friends, that most of the chain shops just suck to begin with. I'm not saying that they all suck, just most of them. LOL.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,298
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From: Salem, NH
Car: 1999 Chevy Cavalier
Engine: 2.2
Transmission: 5 speed
Axle/Gears: it's part of the transmission
I asked a few people before I brought my car there,I had no idea they were novices at the trade.
I know for a fact that stainless steel welds good,I watch people weld all day long here in the shipyards. it's the regular steel that looks like it sucks to weld.
I'm thinking of taking matters into my own hands and showing these clowns how it's done.
I'll be more than happy to get mid eivil under there, as long as one of the Navy auto hobby shops around here has the cutting/welding materials I need.
I'll start by cutting out the hidious intermediate section from behind the cat,make the stock hangers for the rear section,straiten out the rest of the sytem,it shouldn't be that hard.
some people are just lame
I know for a fact that stainless steel welds good,I watch people weld all day long here in the shipyards. it's the regular steel that looks like it sucks to weld.
I'm thinking of taking matters into my own hands and showing these clowns how it's done.
I'll be more than happy to get mid eivil under there, as long as one of the Navy auto hobby shops around here has the cutting/welding materials I need.
I'll start by cutting out the hidious intermediate section from behind the cat,make the stock hangers for the rear section,straiten out the rest of the sytem,it shouldn't be that hard.
some people are just lame
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,187
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From: E.B.F. TN
Car: Tree Huggers
Engine: Do Not
Transmission: Appreciate Me.
Mild steel is easier to weld than stainless and requires more heat. Unless you are experienced at working with SS, you can blow through thin pieces. Find a shop that works on diesel trucks, or find a real welding shop, you should have better luck there.
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"Education is the art of making man ethical.
-George Hegel
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"Education is the art of making man ethical.
-George Hegel
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 868
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From: Randleman,NC,USA
Car: 91 Camaro RS Convertible
Engine: 385ci LT1 cnc ported heads big cam
Transmission: 4L60E automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Zexel posi 7.5" rear
I agree with red devil. I work at a chemical plant and we have welders here that weld stainless pipes all the time. They recommend that you take it too a real welding shop not to a muffler shop.
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