Hey I was just wondering, I have the ZZP Mid-Length header and DP, and I planned on installing it myself, however that fell through as all the locations I had lined up to do it in all backed out on me... and I don't have a lift or a garage with jackstands. I'm just planning at this point to pay to have a shop install it. I have only been able to find one local shop that will do it though! and they want 200 bucks!!! is that crazy or am I? I mean honestly, what's the labor involved here? I figured at the most this would be a 2 hour job, that's 100 bucks an hour.. hell for that I could prolly rent a storage unit for a day and buy jack stands... lol did anyone have a header/dp installed by a shop? and if so...who ( if it was a chain ) and how much did you pay?

 

3 ton jack = 60 dollars
2 3 ton jackstands= 30 dollars

$90 > taking it somewhere else, especially since you'll now have the jack and stands for anything else you need. $100/hour for labor is not unheard of.

 

wow, really? I guess I just thought 200 bucks for a few screws, ya know? See the only thing is i got nowhere to jack it up lol.

 

This is why my CA header has been sitting in my garage...


It is hard for 250 lbs of Steve to get under the Cobalt...

 

lolz. I have it sitting in my back seat, and it calls my name when I drive and makes me sad. lol

 

I have been DYING to put mine on...I wish I could find a shop to do it for me...

 

well so far I called the dealership ( not really even sure why I bothered lol) Mineke, Midas, a few local garages, and this is the really scary part, a few of them didn't even know what I mean when I said i had an exhaust header and a downpipe that needed to be installed.

 

Or a person to help me out...

Some people won't do it...like I PLEADED with one guy, told him I would pay him 100 bux to use a lift...told him it is the same size as a stocker but with larger primaries...still no go...pissed me off really bad

 

I just don't get what the big deal is... i mean if I wanna do something to my car, then let me do it. Hell, make me sign a waiver saying they're not liable you know?

 

i just jack the car up outside in my parking lot. you guys could do the same. i'm doing my install on friday at my parents hosue because my little brother wants to help. if he wasn't helping, I would do it out front my apartment in my parking spot. you don't really need a place to do it, just do it wherever the car is parked. guess you wouldn't want to do it in the street though

 

lol I do have a parking lot area but it's covered in ice right now. lol I dunno I may just have to fork over the cash... we'll see.

edit: and as for buying the stands and jack I have nowhere to store them lol! my apartment is teeeny tiiiny lol

 

Get some drive up ramps besides the jack and stands. It is definitely a drive way diy project. And like it was mentioned, you will still have the tools when you are done.

 

just make sure there's enough clearance to get on the ramps. i've used my fathers ramps before, and they will BARELY clear the back bumper, not a chance on the front bumper of the 2.0. didn't clear the front on my 2.2 either.

 

lol I never thought about ramps... wait.... if they don't clear the 2.2 bumper...and the 2.0 bumper..what bumper do they "barely" clear? lol

 

I had mine done at Tune Time performance in Toms River NJ. A bit of a route from Wind Gap, but another local speed/tune shop may do it for you. I must say that without a lift I would think it would be a rather large pain in the ass. I was in the garage while it was on a lift and it was a pain to get at alot of the bolts. Many extensions needed as its a bit tight. I paid 150 for the instal, but I had a Cat back bolted up as well so who knows what they may charge if youre interested. I have a lift and stands as well and to do a the header and dp etc i thought it was worth it to go that route.

 

I have jack stands...I would pay someone 100 bucks to do it for me...lol

 

i emailed / called about 10 shops on the 23rd about it lol i'm seriously amped about getting it installed

 

lol I think I'm gonna hafta pay... really didnt wanna but...I guess i will. arg...

 

i don't want to either .. however my moms bitching about it lol sooo we'll see what happens

 

Its not that easy to install a header, some of the bolts are a real bitch to get at. I used a 3/8" impact with about 5' of extension on it, so I was working back by the end of the DP, but at least that made it pretty easy. Car was on a lift in a shop, i'd say it took about 1 hour from start to finish, not sure really, I was porting the manifold that went back on so I didn't just pull and replace.

On the other hand, investing in tools is never a bad thing. If you plan on modding your car at all, you need a jack and stands. The money you can save on oil changes alone will pay for those things very quickly. And if you plan on lowering your car at all, get a low-profile jack, makes life that much easier.

 

jsut go buy some 50 dollar ramps and do it... and some wheel chocks but thats all you really need...

 

all very good points. as far as the tool thing goes though, it's nearly impossible for me to buy tools, etc. because I literally have nowhere to keep them. I would LOVE to have a nice set of tools with all the goodies I could need to work on my 'balt but that's just not a realistic thing for me right now. Couple years down the road.... get me a nice house... nice garage... mmmmm the 'balt will be sittin pretty then. lol

 

you can get a compact tool set what has all the ratchets, wrenches, etc you will need. they make sets with all the most common things you will need to work on your car. I picked up a almost 300 piece set for about 60 dollars. folds up compact, closed up it's about a foot wide by a foot long, and about 5 inches tall. it really doesn't take up much space at all.

 

true or you can get this....

and this is all youll need....

 

^^^ that's pretty much what I have crammed into a toolbox in the back of my car. lol.

edit: I don't have any deep sockets, I just realized that... will have to get some of those eventually.