Ian local to you also I just but new exhaust on my 79 L82. Found a "test pipe" on ebay to eliminate the converter. Bought a new rear Y from Wilcox and Magnaflow mufflers

Ok, I've made a decision.  I'm going with the Corvette Central duals with Magnaflo mufflers...probably. Sarge, they quoted me $1k, that did not include headers as I have a set on there that won't fit anything but a custom bent exhaust(and they're butt ugly).  That was a ball park over the phone estimate.  It was diffacult to get any type of figure until we started talking a little and he realized: 1.I wasn't going to hold him to the quote 2. wasn't a schmutz who knows nothing about cars and what could go wrong after the job gets started.  Here's where it got pretty cool talking with him.  He said they'd mock up the complete exhaust, have me come back and try out different sets of mufflers to see which I like the sound of more.  That alone should be worth a couple hundred bucks.  I've also spoken to the mechanic who works on my parents car and does the jobs on my truck that give me the willies.  When asked about a hypothetical situation, a 1981 Corvette without cats he just gave me a blank stare and said "there's no computer to plug in".  Then I mentioned the lack of anti-smog equipment for the visual inspection he just gave me a blank stare and said "there's no computer to plug in".

 I think your making the right choice

Just an update.  I did order the dual exhaust with headers from Corvette central.  Took 3 weeks to get here as they were waiting for the a/c bracket which is back ordered.  I asked them to just send it without the bracket.  The woman I spoke to warned me, very nicely, thatI would be charged for the while kit even tho I wasn't getting the bracket.  That was just fine with me since they had already charged me 3 weeks ago. 

Finally got the exhaust installed.  A, normally, 3 or 4 hr job only took me 3 weeks or so due to my bad back.  With LOTS of help from my 16 yr old daughter the install was very smooth.