A new Gardner Exhaust System

[70 Forest Green Zee]

Reluctantly,today I replaced the original factory exhaust system on my 44,000 mile 1970 Z28 Camaro with a Gardner system. I spent way more than I wanted to, but Gardner is the only company that I could find that replicates the chrome exhaust tips with the hanger welded on exactly....so I bit the bullet and spent the money but after all is said and done, I think it was worth it! Here are some pics to document the process....

Original system was old and rusty and just plain looked like crap...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000035.jpg

Old muffler had a pretty good hole in it...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000032.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000033.jpg

old pipes after they were cut off...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000036.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000038.jpg

new pipes laying on the ground...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000039.jpg

factory wrinkle bends...old and new....
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000040.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000041.jpg

old factory weld where the head pipe meets the tail pipe

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000045.jpg

new joint on the Gardner pipes yet to be welded...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000043.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000044.jpg

new Gardner chrome tip installed in the hanger...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000046.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000047.jpg

new Gardner muffler installed...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000051.jpg

welding the head pipes to the tail pipes just like the factory did...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000050.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000048.jpg

the finished welds...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000052.jpg

and the finished system...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000053.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/rmitch120/tn_P1000054.jpg


The bottom line...the new Gardner system looks great, sounds even better, and fit like a glove! Gardner systems are a bit pricey but if you want the looks and the sound just like it came from GM back in the day, Gardner's the way to go!

[Mr70]

"I'm Eric Gardner,and I approve this message". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

Randy,
Looks great,no more rusty pipes.You did the right thing by getting a gardner exhaust system.I wish i would have back a few years ago, but i chose to get my system at D&R classic which isn't a bad system.

[kwhizz]

Randy........... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Xplantdad]

Looks great Randy! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[m22mike]

You got to love Gardner http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif
Looks great. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Mike

[MosportGreen66]

Looks awesome! Gardner is the way to go.

I would buy a bunch of the safe rust remover and go to town on those original pipes...

"I'm NJSteve, and I approve this message!"

[njsteve]

Hey, you gotta take a digital movie of it and post it so we can hear how it sounds!