SO! A couple months ago I got a big *** crack in my exhaust manifold but obviously no big deal cause I got some pretty sweet headers off ebay for super cheap. Got em home but couldn't get the cracked manifold off cause I couldn't get any torque on the lower bolts so I took it to this guy who works at a shop during the day and works on cars for friends (super cheap) after his boss goes home and he can use the shop for free. Anyway, he swapped out the piece for like $60 and it was all good... or so i thought. A few months passed and the other day I started hearing another exhaust leak only it was coming from under my feet. I was like, 'okay, this the cat', and again i found some on ebay. However, before i could even buy them on ebay the entire cat broke off and my damn civic was louder than any muscle car in the northwest! So I took it to a shop and they quoted me $180 for a magnaflow cat (i love magnaflow, thats what my exhaust is) so i take it in and they show me that guy that did my headers didn't put in the $25 gasket that allows for the engine to move without stressing the connection between the headers and cat, so now my cat had cracked in half! Ended up costing me $250 for the cat, gasket, and a little extra piping cause it looked strained. So, I need to know more bout my car, I'm pissed... then again i did get my car replaced which is the silver lining in this crap, needless to say, i'm calling the idiot that replaced my headers.... damn... $250 down the drain, no new brake lights for me.

 

That's why you buy a Haynes or Chilton manual...and read about everything that's about to be put onto your car

 

yeah i did buy one, it's just i couldn't get those damn bolts loose... and i should've watched that guy put on the headers... not that i would've noticed him take off that flex gasket and screw me later...

 

Lessons learned.
Welcome to the game of life bro.
We have all been there and will be there again some day.
Could have been worse or cost more right?

 

DITTO

 

DITTO

 

^^^^ What he said.

 

Not that you need another "I told you so," but you could have taken than 60 you were gonna give that dude and bought the socket or wrench you needed to get the header off and done it yourself. I know it seems like a daunting task but that's what we are all on here for. If you would have just asked I would have gone outside and taken my header off for you and taken pics to show you how.

 

AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! sorry, couldnt resist!!

 

LOL, I thought negoti8tor was gonna point something like that out...never saw that coming from you:-D