need some work done..where to go???
 

Hi guys,
I've owned a car in NJ for just about a month and lived here for about 2 years. SO i'm still not very familiar about where to take my car to get a few basic things done. ( I live in Jersey City).

1. Need to replace my catalytic converter. I"ve got the part, but they're asking $150 to change it--which i think is ridiculous for replacing a part with 5accessible bolts.

2. Need tires. I'm able to find good tires, but most places want to charge about $30/per tire for installation. Thats 120 bucks for just installating and balancing, and add the cost of tires on top of that...i'm looking at a good $550-650 for all 4 tires.

Is this the norm up here?? I'm from texas, and i've never heard of anyone charging to install tires if you buy from them (atleast down south). OR am I just looking at the wrong places??

--S

benigno's tire exchange at 60 jewell street in garfield NJ. i got my tires there and they installed them no cost. its a little old school type place :) 973 546 4518

Theres a Bobs Tires on Goffle Road here in Hawthorne probably a half hour from Jersey City that charges $20/tire to mount & balance. They usually can do them within an hour and I just pick them up in my truck.

As far as a Cat goes any Mieneke should be able to do a cat. The mieneke here in Hawthorne is very F-Body friendly and does installs pretty cheap if they aren't to busy and its simple. They welded my cut-out for $40 bucks its practically the same as doing a cat on an LT1 F-Body.

hey..i called benigno's tire exchange, its awesome. Free installation, and $90/tire. They're H rated. I used to have Z rated ones on my old car. How good are H-rated tires?? how do they hold up around 90-110 mph??

If you are buying tires from them, most places charge for balancing & valves & disposal, but not actual mounting. If you carry them in, all bets are off.

I would think many muffler places would do it cheaper, especially if you catch them on a slow day. Is it really bolt in or is there welding involved.

From a construction viewpoint, an h rated tires is not as good as a z rated tire in terms of carcass construction and compounding. Are h rated tires fine for cars? Sure. But know what is left on the table. Some tires places may not downgrade form OE rating for liability reasons.

yea they rock, i got my riken rapotor 275/40/17zr there for 105 each installed. my whole family goes there and i introduced them to my friends lol

What tires are they selling you at $90 each? What size as well?

- Justin

+1. Got my tires from there. That place may look a little shabby but it's well worth it.

Justin,
i'm getting 245/50/16s H rated ones.

Kumho ECSTA KU25

i got a set of 245/55 16 for sale 300 bux bfg traction ta brand new

I went to Meineke and it was only $60 to weld in my high flow cat on my old 95 Trans Am:nod:

spend the money bud! getting really good sticky tires is the 1st thing you should do to your car. dont skimp on the only part that actually touches the road!!

my reccomendation is some BF Goodrich g-Force TA KDW

ive had these tires in 16inch and 17inch varients and they are THE BEST tire i have had on the car in wet and dry traction. plus they are Z rated and have a very nice tread design. next set of tires for me will be Nitto's since the camaro isnt my DD anymore :)

Jaded>> I thought a lot about getting really good tires, but honestly, I don't see the immideate need. I barely drive my car--almost never more than once a week--and that too..just around the neighborhood. Not to mention, winter is almost here, and i plan to keep this baby all stock. So...for right now, i just am gonna go for any decent tires. I've had Kumho's on my last car, and they were awesome.

i have kumho's on the z28, pretty good tire

gotcha, well i have a set of 4 g-Force TA KDWs that im looking to sell. they will fit your car as they are the tires i had on my Z before i upgraded to 17' wheels. they are basically new with about 8k on them. never raced or beaten to hell or anything. if your interested, let me know and we can work something out if you want

well i might be able to weld your cat and mount and balance your tires after hours at a shop. ill have to ask my friend and check back with you.

ah...finally got around finishing everything up. got my tires replaced with the Kumhos--feels and drives so much better. I can actually take corners with confidence now. Also replaced by cat. Developed a small exhaust leak--which actually makes my car sound meaner--so I don't mind. I'm not sure if its just psychological, but i can feel a power difference with the new exhaust. Anyways, feel so much better. I got challenged for a race by a stock '06 Jetta GTI. I know i'll hand him his *** on a platter, but i'm not sure how much i can beat him by. We're thinking of going to the Island Dragway sometime in the next coupla' weeks. I'm guessing I'd pull low 14s (mine is completely stock), and he will probably pull high 15s.

Don't embarass him like that LOL

Bro - if its only 5 bolts for the cat - why don't you get a jack and some PB blaster, spray the bolts down and a few hours later swap it yourself and save the $$$.

Of course, use jack stands too. Someone local should be able to help you out there....