Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Performance Mods Install Price?

Just got an estimate -

AEM CAI
HS Header
AEM pulley
TRD Springs
TRD exhaust



$542.72

or

Does that include the price of the parts or is it just for the install alone.
I would think just the install alone.

wow... i dont know if thats good or bad... i woulda done it all myself.


damn... $542 can go a long way.

You can do the CAI and the exhaust yourself. It shouldn't take you more than an hour.
If I can do them anyone can.

These guys quoted me 80 something bucks for just a CAI install.

if you are not froogle and have the money - go for it... there are somethings that you could do yourself, but honestly, if you just want it to be done and are not really into learning more about your car - then pay someone else to do it.

Allot of tuners like doing their own labor because of the sense of accomplishment and the fact that they can say, "I built that" or "i customized it myself"... but then there are others who just "want" and don't care about how how it is "got" or what was needed to create it.

My point is, if you know what you are doing or are at least willing to learn and the project is all mechanical know-how (rather than bodyshop skills/talents) then do it yourself... if you don't care, then pay someone else who already knows & is confident about the install (or learning the install).

...

either way - its your car and you choose the setup all on your own

I'm sure I can do it, however I have no tools for the installs - I'm gonna check around some more...

You only need a few basic tools. Borrow some from a friend or neighbor. If you have no friends , just rent them from a local auto parts store. It's dirt cheap.

I've heard that headers are a bitch to install...Which is why I was going to buy them, but didn't...Anyone have any advice on this?

I would have to say sorry man. I get more of a satisfaction ( to put wf) out of doing my own modding. However I don't run or own a shop so unfortunately I can't do everything myself. I do have a garage good thing for me so what I can do and am certain I can do I do myself. If you add up all the money you save by doing work yourself that could amount to another mod.

u should be able to put on cai , exhaust, and springs...shouldnt be that hard...look up some install guides see if you can do it

I'll read up on it...maybe it'll change my mind

dude i would have helped you install that stuff if you lived closer

I believe there are a quite a few people on this board out in the philly area. Check out the regional forums...I'm sure someone would be happy to help you with the install. Make it a meet and meet everyone while you all install parts on everyones car (if they have stuff to install).

Just a suggestion.

Dan

good idea bro...I'll check it out

I think those are good prices.

hey it's like a celica upgrading orgy

I agree, you can do the intake and exhaust yourself. I did mine and believe me I am NO mechanic. Just takes a couple wrenches for the intake and a wrench, screwdriver and a can of WD-40 for the exhaust. I'm going to try my springs one of these days. I'd pay for the header install, and maybe the pulley.

To help out, picture my avitar saying... You paid HOW MUCH for those installs?????? LOL

Rob

i had my TSRM exhaust installed for $60
my injen short ram for $50

toyota service would have charged me 2 hours of labor to install the TRD exhaust.. which here in NY would be like $200
its always good to go to mechanic or performance shop for cheaper prices.. but make sure they are qualified.. get a referral from a friend

CAI, Exhaust, Springs, are all fairly easy to do if you have the right tools, id say springs would require a bit more work if you didn't have the right tools especially a lift, headers are a pain to install the stock nuts on the stud that connects the heads to the block really suck because the got about 1mm of actually socket rest is rounded, i bot some new ones at toyota which were better because the whole nut was socketed anyway one striped and i ended up cutting it off with a blow torch but needless to say it was a bitch, easiest way to get the old headers out without a lift or droping the cradle is to take the valve cover off its got a rubber gasket so its reuseable and you dont need to buy another one. thats the easiest way to get it off. everything else is pretty self explanitory as far as the guides you'll find and stuff, anyway thats just my .02 on the HS headers install. Hope this info is useful, btw a set of tools isn't a bad idea to invest in especially for doing work yourself or simple maintence on your car etc. Good luck with the install of your parts. Also the aem pulley i think requires a air rachet or impact because we weren't able to do it in the garage, we gotta take it to a shop were we rent a bay with a lift and tools ya im pretty lucky.

do the intake and exhaust yourself

i know it may look like its hard,i got my intake installeed by a mechanic but when i was takeing it off i realized its really easy to install, isnt much to it


exhaust only has a few bolts and hangers, shouldnt take a beginner more than half an hour (just use commen sense)

you might even be able to install the pulley yourself too


headers would take too long, some shops here would probably charge like $300 for the header install alone

thanks for the insight guys. I guess I'll do intake and exhaust myself after my boards are over. Others will have to be done in a shop - unless I rent spring compressors

I'm assuming the Injen and AEM cai installs are virtually identical? (couldn't find AEM install)

also, what did everyone use to elevate the car? I don't trust the stock jack, however I have no other options available to me

you can get a nice floor jack from sears for about $30
...that floor jack can be used for many other things too... like rotating your tires and even an oil change or two

yeah floor jacks are great.


basically if i were you and had no experience with the car i would (and did) install the intake and exhaust.


springs are basic, you just need to do it four times and thats what takes the time.
pully is a bit harder unless you have air tools

the header is the hardest because its such a tight fit.

everything on my car i have installed myself. however i do have acess to all the nessisary tools ( or ones that will at least get the job done) the hardest of the installs that i have done was the headers. the only reason for that is because the space you have to work in is very limited (and i stripped a bolt ) i dont think that you should pay a mechanic to do something that you could do just as good if not better. plus is the funnest part about owning a car like this

looks like I'll be headin' out to Sears then

- while I'm there, you guys have any suggestions for a good set of tools for these installs? (cai, exhaust)
(something of good quality that will be comprehensive - I'd rather spend more and get something better)

get a nice rachet set... make sure its metric

also if you dont have screwdriveres get some of them

and a pair of pliers and a wrench should make you good to go.

nice, thanks a lot bro

the best tool I ever bought was a set of mechanics gloves...

OMG, yes. I don't know how many times I've cut my hands on something or had so much nasty grease and dirt that it wouldn't all wash off. Great suggestion

good call

dude, the exhaust is a complete bolt on

maybe you should try to do the CAI yourself

you might get into the car stuff even more and then have confidence to do the springs yourself

I'll be getting the tools in a few days - then will post pics of the project after I put on the cai and exhaust and the mechs do header, springs, and pulley