Today I got the day off and had the car in to change the exhaust.
Incredible the Walker muffler (although the quality is not the same as OEM judging just base on how neat the welds were on the OEM alone) were exact fit, no bending no fiddling exactly right. Now the guy who installed the exhaust did looked like he relay knows what is doing. It was highly recommended, the guy took his time didn’t rush it (and it did not charged for the time) just worked carefully. I was impressed, he let me sit on a stool in the shop and it was better than watching a movie. The guy was working like he was seeing 5 seconds in the future, always making the right moves. I was impressed when he took my mufflers and put them on a foam mat (such a care!). And best of all did not started with the “well is a Cadillac so…”
At some point once he installed the mufflers he took some stairs and went up behind the car (the car was up on the car jack) and he checked the alignment of the mufflers, who will do that? Definitely not the quick muffler shop, coincidentally that shop is a specialized in hot rood jobs (I have seen some nice ’50s and ’60s car over there).
Any way the mufflers were piece of cake and came up perfectly straight. Then the catalytic converter was to be done. Well over there he had to fix the mess the previous shop made (hence I had to change the converter). He restored the piece of pipe in front of the silencer. I was impressed how from one single measurement put the pipe in the machine and after that was sliding perfectly snug into the converter (you can tell he does exhausts and exhaust only for a living for over 25 years). He cut the welds they made (not shaking the exhaust one bit unlike the other shop) then fitted the new pipe and welded matching perfectly the factory smooth welds. After that it was just a matter of sliding one pipe into the other, basically the exhaust is restored, as it was the day it came from factory.
I can not believe how straight the pipes came up; no bending, no forcing hangers, is just PERFECT. Obviously there is no rattle or such and the best part, the car is SILENT like new!
The right muffler is now new
Both mufflers are now new
Then I had to pay…the guy actually asked me $103 for over 2 h of his time (really, really skilful), the pipe and the OEM flange Cat gasket. So he worked 2 h (straight) but charged only 1, obviously I gave the guy $20 extra (it was deserving it).
When I started the car (inside the shop) the ONLY thing I could hear was the clutch on the A/C Compressor cycling on/off. Under the car is nothing, like the engine is off, in the back you can kind of hear close to the exhaust tips more pulsing air than engine noise. Outside the car (but inside the shop) 5 feet from the car with the hood closed there is no engine noise at all.
Inside the car driving alone (depending on the engine load) you can sometimes hear some engine noise (but is much higher pitch than before) coming from the fire wall nothing under the car or in the back, is just PERFECT!
Of course I did a short WOT and in these condition I was able to listen the guy on the radio (the volume was very low – less than normal speech), now I hear the tire noise. So the engine noise came down at least to half, is only thro the firewall and from inside has a higher pitch. I really like it, is like a Cadillac should be.
So if you are living around Toronto I would absolutely recommend you this guy, even if you have to travel 100 miles (that’s how good and honest this guy is).
I am not sure I am allowed to post on the forum his contact details but should you need it PM me!
