As I sit here waiting for my shaker to arrive at my doorstep I have question for some of you guys who have put it on. How long does it normally take to have it installed in the car? The reason I ask is because I am afraid of cutting the hood like many people out there, so I called a body shop to ask how much it would cost to install. I was told that it could take up to 6 hours and the shop charges $75 dollars an hour. Is that a ripoff? I just think 6 hours might be excessive. Considering how much the shaker cost me and another 450 will be way too much I think. What are some of your thoughts?

 

6 hours is crazy talk . Since a template is included, getting enough guts to do the first cut takes the longest. I figure it took me just over an hour to do everything. That included removing my CAI, installing the shaker, noticing the shaker was not centered so I had to remove it again and realign it. If they said 2 hours, understandable but not 6 unless they are repainting your hood. Take a look at my blog. I took pics of the installation process.

 

I agree, two hours sounds reasonable. I did mine in two parts as I did it late at night. I cut the hole the first night and then installed the shaker the next day. If it took two hours I would be surprised. And that includes checking the template a few times and sitting there for a few minutes with saw in hand next to my uncut hood whith my hand trembling thinking... do I really want to do this???

As soon as you get over your nerves, it is a very easy project. Doing it yourself gives you a much better feeling of pride then paying someone else to do it. Plus it is great to see someone else's expression when you say you made the cut yourself.

 

it only took me about 45 minutes to do the down and dirty stuff, but i would say to give them 2 hours so they have time to do it all right....

6 hours is a ripoff

 

Do yo have to repaint the cut edges?

 

Well, the edges are covered with a bezel. But I think they should still be painted mostly for protection. I had a tube of body color paint so I just ran a quick coat around the edges. I was not too worried about looks of that edge since the bezels is over top of it.

 

Ok. With a bezel it will look clean. Still you should paint it thouroughly to avoid corrosion.

 

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Man up and make the cut! LOL
seriously, it takes a bit, but its not hard. Install the templet, check you measurments and check em again. You can do it, not 6 hours. Hoods aluminum, so no rust, but seal the edges anyway.

 

you are not required to paint the edges.... since the hood is aluminum it shouldnt corrode....

i didnt paint mine and it was fine after 1 year when i pulled it off to paint my flat black...

 

Paint or seal the edges.
Aluminum does corrode, turns into a white powder. There has been problems with the Mustang hoods corroding from the factory.
Rust is steel corrosion.

 

And that white powder is a PAIN in the ****. My bikes engine is aluminum, and it is not fun to clean up

 

Was just about to post this. Exactly.

 

Thanks for the excellent pics Robert. Your ride is looking better all the time.

 

how do you start the cut? like, how do you get that saw going? drill first?

 

Yes, the optimum is to drill a pilot hole right next to the line, then start cutting. But some will drill the hole a little inside the line, and then edge up to it and go on.

Some might even go so far as to cut inside the line, then whittle away at the material with a grinder or file.

All kinds of ways... but with the bezel? Just cut it, it won't matter terribly much how neat it is, you're going to fix that.

 

It probably took me around two hours to install mine ... it's actually really simple.