Eastern Members - Long Island NY- Where to get SFCs installed, before I shoot myself..

Alright.. I've had my weld-in tubular UMI SFCs sitting in my garage for 2 weeks now trying to get someone to install them. I contacted two reputable speed shops in the area; one wanted $175 and the other wanted between $200 and $250. From the research I've done on here, it seems that the suspension sponsors themselves are saying anything over $150 is way too much to install these and that $150 is even expensive. I'd also like to give the guy a tip if he does a good job but that ain't happening if I'm paying over $150 to get two pieces of metal welded onto the bottom of my car. Anyone know any good/reasonable places to get these installed in Suffolk/Nassau? I would prefer not to take them to some hole in the wall exhaust shop but if that's what has to be done for a reasonable price I'll do it. THANK YOU!

Sounds about right. Figure bringing the car in,putting on lift,Un do LCA's, line up subframes,take off and gring painted areas,put back up,weld, bolt back up LCA's and take car off the lift.

Most shops get $90/hr labor plus supplies. Some more when bringing in parts.

Where on LI? I usually go to the Meineke in Lindenhurst for work - I used to be chill with the owner but its been years since I was there, don't think he's still works there.

I had them cut off my old exhaust tips and weld on new corsa clones, I think that was only 90ish. Not sure the level of work needed for your job.

If you want to drive up to CT I will help you put them on the car. Bring a 6 pack to split while doing it.

Keep in mind you may have to go back to that shop in the future for other work-tips are a good way to start a good relationship-lunch, even just coffee can leave a nice impression. ;)

If you want to drive up to CT I will help you put them on the car. Bring a 6 pack to split while doing it.

Ah, I'd be all over that brother if I wasn't so busy. I run a Mopar parts website (traitor I know) by day and take classes at night Mon-Fri. My plan to get these installed is to drop them off at a shop before work and hopefully pick the car up when I get off at 5. Thank you though

Keep in mind you may have to go back to that shop in the future for other work-tips are a good way to start a good relationship-lunch, even just coffee can leave a nice impression. ;)

Exactly. I tip everywhere I can for this very reason. I've been on both sides at one time or another so I know how useful it can be. When I was getting tips at my old job it made me glad to see the customer because I knew if I did a good job and worked my ass off he/she would take care of me; unlike some places you go where employees see you and look like they wanna puke and couldn't care less


Any other suggestions in the Nassau/Suffolk area? Someone suggested Meineke (sp?).. not sure if I would trust them to do a SFC install?

If you want to drive up to CT I will help you put them on the car. Bring a 6 pack to split while doing it.

I friend with a mig is a friend indeed. :chug:

A friend of mine has a place in Lindenhurst - Mike's GM Village. He has a custom exhaust guy (Vinny) that does great work. He welded in my bolt in subframes on my '88 GTA. Not sure what he would charge or if Vinny is still there (I moved to NJ about a year and a half ago). Mike is an enthusiast, collector, racer and all around great guy. I don't think he does much wrenching himself any more - but his shop is the only place I let touch my cars other than me. If interested PM me and you can drop my name to Mike.

I would say that you should do a bit more 'research' and figure out how to do it yourself.


If you're unwilling to pay shop labor prices, you should just go buy yourself a 100$ harbor frieght welder, grinder, and shield and you can do it all yourself for less than 150$ :nod:


If you don't feel like doing that, don't do mods to your car you can't do yourself, or can't afford without making yourself broke.

I would say that you should do a bit more 'research' and figure out how to do it yourself.


If you're unwilling to pay shop labor prices, you should just go buy yourself a 100$ harbor frieght welder, grinder, and shield and you can do it all yourself for less than 150$ :nod:


If you don't feel like doing that, don't do mods to your car you can't do yourself, or can't afford without making yourself broke.


I've done all the research. The sponsor I bought the SFCs from literally said anything over $150 to install them is too much. I would have to be a bumbling idiot to pay someone more than that. That's like paying $300 for a part when the list price is $250. I'm just a smart shopper and I won't be taken for a ride. I'm in the auto business and I promise you that 99% of the money that is made in this industry is money that is taken from people that don't know any better and I won't be that guy. It almost might as well be drug money I've seen people get fleeced so bad. I guess being business and $$ savvy is a New York thing

A&O performance, there gettin ready to open a nice shop around port jeff station, and what's great they will open shop afternoons weekday and all day weeknds..... Angel does some official welding and awsome fabrication!email him thru li1895@optonline.net

I'm not sure if I understand but it sounds like you don't want meineke to do the work but you don't want to pay the prices quoted by your local performance shops to do the work either. You're also referencing companies that aren't local to you for labor rates, but how can you compare the cost of doing business on long island to off the island? Clearly you've found by calling around that the local going rate is higher than other places. Here's an interesting link to compare cost of living and doing business, compare long island (hint: it's at the bottom) to the locations of the other places that gave you prices
http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/bestcities_sort/index.php?sortby=cost&sortorder=ASC

You also say you're $$$ savvy but what value do you put on your time, and in that sense how much have you spent, calling and asking around about these prices to save $25-50?

It's nice that you say you'll give a tip and tips are always greatly appreciated but what good is the tip if you're only willing to pay less than the going rate?

I'm not trying to be a dick here but we deal with this all the time, especially with people trying to compare rates on long island to other places in the country, you just can't. You seem to have this attitude like shops are out to screw you and I doubt that's the issue, especially when you're talking about $25-50 over what you think you should pay. The prices are what they are for this region so my advice is to find a shop you're comfortable with, pay the price and start a relationship with them, or drive to another state where you can get the labor done for less. A good customer is likely to get a break after they become a repeat customer than someone who comes in for the first time saying how someone on the internet from another part of the country is saying the shop is screwing them on prices.