Gardner Exhaust
 

While I am not telling many of you anything new, I was just in awe over how nice the Gardner system I installed on my Dad's 67 442 yesterday.

WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY! What a pleasure.

Certainly, it helps it is a 26k car that came apart with hand tools [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Tim

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

One of the Best Products of ALL [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

Though a bit pricey I still continue to buy on average about 4 sets a year from them. Been buying them exclusively for the last 12 years. Great people to deal with and custom build their systems to my specs which no one else will.

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Lay them on the ground under the car and they almost jump into place... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] A standard I wish would rub off on the rest of the repop community.
Right Ken ? Just sayin'

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anyone bought a set for a Z lately? Wondering if the muffler crimping problem was resolved before I buy mine.

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i have bought 4 in the last 18 months - and they are great. Had an issue with what we believe is a loose baffle from the red 69RS SS car we did about 18 month ago.....maybe 60 miles on the car....called eric and he stood behind his product - great people and more than happy to pay the price for a quality product and super service.

Bill - elaborate a little on your issue??

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Love my Gardner system, love the &quot;deep tone&quot; sound. Money well spent.

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I put a Gardner 69 Z28 chambered system on recently and had no issues.

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I put a Grdiner system on my LS6 several years ago &amp; it has been great.

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As mike stated, it almost falls into the car. I put it in my 67 RS/SS. It was worth every penny! Eric is great to deal with. I have never heard a bad word about the Gardners!

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I looked and the thread was on team camaro in November of 09 and the ends of the mufflers had a horrible crimp on them. Sounded like they changed suppliers. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...1016-image.jpg

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I can only speak for the 70 Chevelle system but they have made several changes over the years. Correct tail pipe hangers and part number stamped resonators. I am also able to buy their hangers in bare steel instead of zinc for a more correct look.

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bill, i have a new one doing this week - ill look it over and let you know what i see

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The rear hangers for the Chambered system were not correct when I bought the system 2 years ago.
I offered to send my original hangers to Eric when ordering so I could be assured they were correct, I was assured every part was exactly right.
After receiving the system I questioned the deviation &amp; was told it would cost an extra $50 to make them correct. to which I replied: I spent close to 2k on an exhaust system do you think I care if it costs an extra $50 or even an extra $200 to have it right?

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

Here are photos of the hanger discrepancies (missing the semi circular rubber wedge) so at least you can ask as I believe the rear hangers are the same for regular dual and Chambered.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...o/100_5412.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...o/100_5413.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k...o/100_5408.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...o/100_5394.jpg

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I am going to order a set of Gardner exhaust for my 67 L-79 Vette.

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This is the proper end crimping on NC8 pipes, the front intermediate pipes have the same crimped ends.
The deep crimpings are also seen on the center crimps.
These are 27 year old C&amp;C reproductions done from original GM pipes &amp; blue prints.
I believe the current value of such sets range in the $3,000-$4,000 area.

The Gardner pipes Do Not have the end crimpings nor the Deep 4 pronged crimps on any of there pipes.
IMO ,the Gardner Chambered exh. looks Quite generic and a low level attempt.

Another source is to look at any of your ERTL 1/18 Diecast 69 Camaros....look at the pipes.
MONOGRAM MODELS in the 80,s used GM Blueprints &amp; 3 Original NC8 CARS to scale there 1/25 scale 69 Z/28 ,YENKO, PACE CAR &amp; Baldwin-Motion models to exacting standards.

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

Bill - elaborate a little on your issue?? [/quote]

Eddie,
there's an issue with the NC8 Systems they make as well.
The accuraracy and manufacturing process.
I posted some pics for evaluation.
Tom

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man that is a nice car Tom!

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In the first pic, you notice that the rubber is not overlaped correct on the bottom.

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">man that is a nice car Tom!</div></div>

Thanks ,Sam,
years and years and its still not drivable yet.....
my brother is so involved in racing &amp; maintaining that Pro Nitrous car, he hasn't built my motor or trans yet.
I wish the damn thing would blow up, and Pat Musi is to involved to look at
it.....lol

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

[quote=Day2_69Z]This is the proper end crimping on NC8 pipes, the front intermediate pipes have the same crimped ends.
The deep crimpings are also seen on the center crimps.
These are 27 year old C&amp;C reproductions done from original GM pipes &amp; blue prints.
I believe the current value of such sets range in the $3,000-$4,000 area.

The Gardner pipes Do Not have the end crimpings nor the Deep 4 pronged crimps on any of there pipes.
IMO ,the Gardner Chambered exh. looks Quite generic and a low level attempt.

In response to many inquiries about the C&amp;C System and the availability of it, I'd like to update this, that the System has been sold. I sold it to a true car guy north of the border for a Truly fantastic car worthy of this Chambered system. It sold for north of $4,000.
Being I have a high end Day 2 Car nearing completion I am now in the market for a top notch Day 2 Exhaust system........ anybody have something or ideas ? I have saved the Cyclone System listed on E bay, any thoughts are invited
Thanks,
Tom

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

buy my day 2 header muffliers

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Header mufflers only ?
I'm looking for a complete exhaust system, headers back.

I found 2 different systems .
seeing what else is available.
Thanks

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I have the headers but they have a few dings

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I have an NOS set of STAHLS ready to go on. and a set of vintage long tube, long collector square flanged Appliance spaghetti pipes as a back up.

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

I bought 3 sets all at once from Gardner back in 2011, and had the following issues:

1. 66 Chevelle 396 long tailpipe hangers were an extra charge, represented to be &quot;exact&quot; copies of originals, but were not even in the remote ballpark of being correct. They look nothing at all like originals.

2. 66 Chevelle 396 long tailpipes were bent wrong at the axle hoop, resulting in them hitting the trunk floor at the back. I had to take them to a muffler shop and pay to tweak to fit.

3. Mufflers for the 66 and 67 Chevelle 396 were supposed to be just like originals, but are not shaped like originals on either end. Originals are convex (puff out) on the ends. Gardner's are flat as a pancake on the ends.

4. When I ordered I specifically said the exhaust head pipes needed to be made longer on the back end so that I could cut them and the muffler in-flow pipes, so they could be welded just like the originals (which have a very short muffler in-flow pipe only about 1/2 inch long, and the headpipes go up inside the muffler). He said they would make them several inches longer so I could do that. When they arrived all the head pipes were cut the same as any other Gardner system, which is substantially too short to permit cutting the muffler in-pipe off to put the weld at the correct location. I called and complained but was told that they did not like to make them to be welded!!! I said that was something he should have told me when I ordered, rather than telling me it would be done and then simply not doing it.

5. The muffler-to-tailpipe U-bolts are larger diameter than the factory bolts. I also complained about that, and was told they deliberately do that becuase the larger bolts are stronger and hold up better. I thought I was supposed to get an accurate reproduction of the factory hardware, not what some else decided would be &quot;better.&quot;

So needless to say I came away feeling a bit frustrated with having spent that much money only to still have something that DOES NOT look completely like the factory system. Perhaps there have been some improvements by now ...

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Day2_69Z</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">man that is a nice car Tom!</div></div>

Thanks ,Sam,
years and years and its still not drivable yet.....
my brother is so involved in racing &amp; maintaining that Pro Nitrous car, he hasn't built my motor or trans yet.
I wish the damn thing would blow up, and Pat Musi is to involved to look at
it.....lol </div></div>

Muncies and small blocks are easy... DIY! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

I agree with Sam - your car is really looking good.

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Jeff,
I think the problem might have been that they were given a set to copy that was already a replacement or inaccurate set. In other words, they got fooled into copying something that was not correct in the first place. They bought a set of resonator tailpipes from me at Carlisle and they were VERY cautious about checking the original stamped part numbers and other details. I had to ASSURE them that they were NOS. There was no doubt in my mind that they were &quot;trying&quot; to do the right thing. That's just my experience.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Gardner Exhaust
 

Jeff, the issues you point out is valuable feedback. I would expect those issues to be researched and those improvements to be incorporated into their reproduction systems once validated. I had a similar issue with strap type clamps being used on over the axle hangers for early camaro chambered systems. Initially I felt I was met with skeptism when discussing this issue with them, but in the end they did reproduce the strap clamps.

It's hobbyist like you that help clarify and uncover the intimate details of how these car were really built and not someone interpretation. Personally if I'm buying the best reproduction part available I would hope the manufacturer would listen and learn from new uncovered details. Thats how producers of reproduction parts differentiate themselves from their competition. I know Gardner has done this in the past, and I do like their product.

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Decided to install a set of Garner chambered exaust on my 1970 L78 chevelle ss
The trips to the corner grocery store will never be the same.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...ont20view1.jpg

PJ

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: P.J.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Decided to install a set of Garner chambered exaust on my 1970 L78 chevelle ss
The trips to the corner grocery store will never be the same.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...ont20view1.jpg

PJ </div></div>

Your SS look familiar...have you had it at PSMCDR?

I like those Ontario Plates.

Ryan

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Picking up 2 systems from them tomorrow and ordering 2 more . Great guys to work with and by far the best in the industry ... KP

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Ryan
yes I was there a few years ago it was the first time to show the car. Won Trophy
PJ