O.K., I don't know how to tell who is good at
installing MagnaFlow mufflers in Miami,FL.
Would a nation-wide chain like Midas be a bad
choice ? Any other rec's.?

Thank You,

Rob

 

Go to www.magnaflow.com, they have a dealer/installer locator thingy on their site that will let you track down a recommended shop near you that stocks the magnaflow stuff.

Logan
99 White Lightning
69 Mercury Cougar

 

On my 01L the muffler can just be unbolted so you can save it if you ever want to put it back on. I ran straight pipes(the local muffler shop just bent them up right). Used the original tips (sounds great). The exhaust from Ford is basicaly freeflow(plus you get some back pressure from the bend in the straight pipes,...mmm...) If you want a tough sound, go for it..........

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01L,Lowered, Black,Downey SST,Straight Pipes,Chipped,Wet Okole Covers........ Toy: 91 Heritage Softtail Classic/Lowered

 

I would not take any vehicle to my local Midas shop! I took my 76 Bronco in for a ful dual exhaust 24 hours and $275 dollars later I go to pick it up, they installed 1 7/8" pipe even though I asked and was quoted 2 1/4" . the left side was clamped to hanger the right side was welded. when i got in it to leave, already pissed off I put it in gear and the brake pedal goes to the floor, seems they broke my rear hard line for my brakes. Another 24 hours and I call the say it was because the line was "old" after some friendly convincing they agreed to replace the line but that I would halve to pay $90 for the soft line that runs to the rear axle.I told them not to touch the truck and went and drove it home on front brakes only then managed to unhook the lines they say wouldn't come apart while on their lift but came undone with me on a creeper.I decide to call the 1-800 complaint line to let them know about my experience, anyway turns out the complaint line was just another line to the same shop. Needless to say i will only recomend Midas to my worst enemy, Hell I don't hate anyone that much! Sorry for the long post it just gets me going


00 Black #2242



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"What I always say, and mind you they'll be quoting me into the hereafter, is that thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work" Mark Twain

 

I agree, Midas Sux! I took my Mustang GT in for brakes and they somehow managed to put in 4 cyl brake pads. It made an awful clacking sound, so I know they didn't test it afterward. To top it off, it scored the rotors, and they wanted to charge me for new rotors because they couldn't turn the others down any more. It never did stop right after that, I'm not sure what they did to screw it up...

 

I drove into Seattle from Alabama with a bouncing F150 supercab that I bought in Seattle. Had Midas put on 4 $30 Monroe shocks. They billed me $300, to get my truck. I didn't have time to spend in court or jail and they knew it. That was 14 years ago and I do it myself with parts store pieces and clamps and screws and bailing wire before I go to them again.

------------------
Red 99

 

OK, not to cause trouble, but here's my take...
I debated for a while between Flowmaster and Ravin. I had serious doubts about Ravin as it was only distributed by Midas. I called a number of local Flowmaster dealers about info and just to talk to them to get a feel about what kind of person they were, weather they were knowledgable, etc. I also called a number of Midas dealers to feel them out also. My initial thought was there was no way I was going to let Midas touch my truck, however I had read a lot of good stuff about Ravin's on the F150 board. For the most part the Midas dealers seemed both uninformed and ignorant, none of them knowing what a Lightning was. However...the same held true of the Flowmaster dealers I spoke to.
After quite a few calls I came across a Midas dealer who sounded knowledgable and the guy also knew what a Lightning was. He informed me he carried Ravins but he could get flowmaster and install them also. He wanted to examine the truck to see it's setup and determine which would be best.
I went with the Ravin set up and had him install them. I told him to spend as much time as he needed to on it and make sure it was done right. they allowed me in the garage area and I watched the wwhole thing. They were extremly effecient and very conscious of the job. The guy also called in the owner of the shop and they were very excited about the L and what it would sound like. They told me if I didn't like it they would put the old muffler back on or try the flowmasters, no charge for changing over.
My point is, it's not Midas itself, it's the people working there. You can find good and talented people anywhere, and bad people anywhere. I found some good folk who happened to be associated with Midas. However, I had to search for them.
If you feel the folks at the Midas place you are considering are good, then go with them. If they are not good, no matter how much money you save, it's not worth it.
By the way, my Ravin's sound great and I've gotten lots of positive response.
Sorry about the long post.
k

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2000 Silver Lightning
#2372 of 4966
SnugLid
BedRug
dual Ravin Z-33 Exhaust
Valentine 1
Hyper Bright Headlamps and Foglamps
Mobil 1 Tri Synthetic and Mobil1 Filter
Mobil1 FactoryFill Plaque in Engine Bay
Matter/Antimatter Exchange Unit
Thinking about those Nitto Tires

http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293534625

 

Thanks guys for your comments.
I had performed the dealer search on the MagnaFlow site and came up with about 40 shops to choose from.

Kobiashi,
Have you ever compared your Ravin's to the MagnaFlow ? Can you describe the difference from the stock mufflers ?
Send me an E-mail if you wish....rob@guardianfire.com

Thanks Again,

Robert

 

Luckily I never have to go to Midas anymore. I have quite a few friends in the same sort of industry. However, on a recent road trip in my 95' L I had a problem with my front tires rubbing for some reason. The first shop I saw was a Midas so I stopped in. After waiting 2 hours with the truck on the rack the idiot manager told me it was because I had over-size wheels and tires on it. After a 30 minute argument, I calmly took him out to the truck, opened the door, and showed him the sticker on the jam that said that the truck came with exact rolling stock that was currently on it. Instead of just shutting up, the idiot kept ranting on how it was the oversize wheels and tires. Anyway, to make a long story somewhat shorter, I left. When I got home I took it to my buddy and never had the tire rubbing problem again. NEVER and I repeat NEVER trust your car/truck to a bunch of Autozone dropouts like the people that seem to work at all Midas. OK....I feel better now and I didn't even have to light one up

 

MIDAS = Mostly ignorant dropouts abetting scamming

Mostly imbeciles damaging automotive structures

------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.

'00 SVT Lightning, silver, built 2/9/00, #133 of 4966, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, 4.10 gears, Swanson chip, Pro-M, NGK plugs, carbon drive shaft, Roadmaster suspension kit, TransGo shift kit,
13.39 @ 102.5

2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, radar, autopilot and GPS chartplotter/fishfinder.
http://www.zing.com/album/?id=429389...4647875&idx=15

gmvye@pacbell.net

[This message has been edited by alphadoggy (edited 04-11-2001).]

 

Rob-
You've got mail.
k

 

Howdy!

To Logan: Um.. no! Magnaflow's web site may have a so called "Dealer Locator" but having actually located these dealers, none of them even knew they were on Magnaflow's lists. Some of them didn't know who Magnaflow was!! They were like: "Magna..WHAT?!".

To Surfdog: Um.. no also! No Midas for me either. Why?!
1. No warranty whatsoever after install
2. Costly labor
3. Jerks (Where I went anyways) My system leaked yet they refused to fix. All it would have required is a little more welding. I had to take it somewhere else. (a mom-and-pop place who values your business where they also had jerks at the front desk but friendly & qualified people in the back) They fixed the leak on the spot after installing my new stainless steel polished tips.

Bottom line: Don't make the same mistake I did. No Midas for me!

I hope this helped. Good luck.

------------------
My ride:

Basics:
- '99 XLT F-150

Under hood and back:
- Ram air (Don't ask me how )
- AiRaid intake
- Flowmaster DF 50 Series
- 24x3.5" Stainless steel slashed tips (Yes! Full polished stainless, no cheesy chrome-plated)

Outside:
- Precision polished billet grille and plate holders
- American Racing 17x8s polished Pythons (Flushed front AND back)
- Goodyear.. something (Expensive is all I know LOL)
- Ford nerf bars
- Ford bed rails
- Ford splash guards

Inside:
- My girlfriend!

Fun stuff:
- Dual sirens Black Widow alarm system (enough decibels to go deaf in a garage )
- Custom driving lights (Just a cool blue)
- 2 High-Watt lights behind grille (for people who cut me off )
- Dual horns (For people who, again, cut me off)
- Dual wheel locks (So I won't be driving home on bricks!)
- Spare wheel lock (So I won't have to use a brick as a spare )
- Custom decals

Best of all:
- Texas A&M University aTm front plate! Gig'em Aggies!!

 

I've had my local Midas install Flows and then tear them off to install Ravins. I like the Ravins much better. I must of found a decent Midas. These guys cared about what I wanted them to do and not to do. I would take my truck there again and trust them with it.

Mike

 

I went to Midas once, and they did the worst work I've ever seen. That was the last time for that. I thought it was just that shop, but it appears to be that 99% od Midas' do suck. Maybe we should have a sign in post of everybody that will never go to midas again and then email it to their head office. I am sure it will open up their eyes a bit.

But anyway, I have found great service and quailty from a local Meineke. I am not sure if Meineke is nationwide, or just local, but the one near me does great work. The owner is always working on exhaust installs and/or at least he is always in the shop, so he makes sure that every job is done to his satisfaction. I was surprised to find a place like Meineke where I could get dependable quality at a reasonable price.

------------------
2001 Lightning, Red
Stock right now, but not for long.
"See the Light and hear the Thunder."