EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

I am thinking about putting a Gardner Chambered Exhaust System on my 69 Chevelle SS 396/350HP car.. It is an October 68 build car. Right now I have a Walker system on the car that is very quiet. The motor is a bone stock 350 horse 396 w/smog. The other issue is that the car is a convertible and I do drive it with the top down about 90% of the time...

I have recently heard a chambered system from Gardner on a friend's 69 Chevelle and I loved the sound.. I am wondering if it will be too loud with the top down on my car. It seems most of the sound is coming out from the rear exhaust tips rather than around or in front of the car..

Any feelings or thoughts if this may be too loud with a rag top?????? I love the sound but just don't want to be "blown out" of the car...

Thanks... Rich

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Probably sound pretty good Rich. NOT sure I would want to spend the money for the Gardner if I did not have to. Nice systems but a little high IMO. maybe leave it alone?

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Rich, I have a Gardners chambered system on my BB Camaro and I have also had one on my 69 BB Chevelle and IMO it would not be too loud even with your top down. If it were a small block chambered system, it would be too loud.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

I have the Gardner chambered system on my '69 BB Pace Car - sounds really great and fits like a glove. No interference at all with the convertible stiffener plate. Purrs when cruising - loud when accellerating hard - great with the top down. My car originally came with chambered system so I went with Gardner during resto - I'm very happy with it.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Rich..I had a chambered system on my 69 convert..350hp..it was a blast to drive with the top down!!..DO IT!!

I'l be bringing the COPO to Oh..you can here that one up close [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

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Thanks Al, Grady &amp; I plan on hooking up w/you on Thursday evening... We can take you to a nice local cruise inn that is about 10 minutes from the hotel or have dinner or both!! The cruise inn is at a local church parking lot and draws quite a few cars...

Rich

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

I've always loved the sound of the chambered systems but have heard they're more restrictive than a stock set-up. If you're not overly concerned with a SLIGHT performance drop, I'd GO FOR IT!


BTW, what's a little noise gonna hurt? You gettin old??? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

How much is Gardner charging for a complete Chevelle chambered exhaust system today?
Their website isn't showing prices.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Rich,

Do it! Greg and I cruise his 1969 L78 Convert with Chambered almost every year to CB! It`s the only system for a 1969 Chevelle!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...P1010007-5.jpg

Dan

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

vintage headers with Thrush header mufflers.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Thanks guys for all the input... Sam, I know you are a day 2 guy and the headers with the Thrush header mufflers would be too loud for me. I remember riding around in my buddy's 72 Plymouth Scamp w/318, headers and those mufflers hanging under the floor boards...

We could not hear the radio or hear ourselves talk. We just sat in the car together cruising around like two dopes looking for a street race... That was when I was 17-18 years old and didn't think it was too loud and thought we were cool...

I don't think the chambered system will be any more restrictive than those huge Walker mufflers that are on there now.. But like Dennis said, I have heard that these systems are not as free flowing as one would think.. Probably due to the crimp design in the pipes....

Thanks again!!

Rich

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Im running &quot;Vintage&quot; 4 bolt headers with round Thrush Header mufflers-in my SBC powered '67 firebird-No tail pipes just running under the car old school Style And It sounds mellow at idle but when you Crack it open they Bark-its a Sound that no other muffler makes...Flowmaster cackle&amp;pop-Chambered systems also &quot;Clap&quot;-I ran &quot;HUSHTHRUSH&quot; mufflers on same car &amp; they Sounded Throaty-Quiter than the Round Thrush but When you get on the car-they Make Noise-They are perfect for what you want-As the Round Versions may be TOO loud for your taste-with a Drop top-I also ran a chambered &quot;turbo tube &quot; muffler system on a BBC car &amp; it Clapped at WOT..It got aggravating to me Fast-Same sound as glasspacks but more money..

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

My vote is for the chambered exhaust system.
They have just the right sound.
My friend with the stock manifolds and smog has them on his 1970 L78 SS 396 car and they sound great even with the rear resonators installed.
Not to loud but just enough sound to here that nasty rumble.
I also have them on my 1970 LS6 SS 454 car with Headers and my neighbors hate me for it but i don't care LOL.
I heard that you can drill out that round washer that is welded on the inside of the chamber to give them a less restrictive flow but it would take a very long drill bit to reach it.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Rich, you guys were not dopes back then. Just gettin started like the rest of us did. Main thing is to have fun!

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Sam we did some stupid, dangerous and crazy $hit back then street racing... That's what I meant by being dopey... But I guess we all did and learned from it....

Rich

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

There are so many other options.....
I think the Gardner is a solid option for the factory correct nut and bolt kind of guy that takes his or her car to nationally judged events. But for me personally I like to have a correct car but with a nice musclecar sound. Maybe have a custom system made with some nice aftermarket mufflers. You can of course install all new factory hangers etc… Or you can order a nice system from someone like Magnaflow that is not too loud at all. I run an aggressive exhaust on my cars just because its fun for me when I am out driving [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]
Good luck!!

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr. Chevy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sam we did some stupid, dangerous and crazy $hit back then street racing... That's what I meant by being dopey... But I guess we all did and learned from it....

Rich </div></div>I hear you Rich. If that was the case I was the dopiest!! Blew 2 motors in my 69 SS nova in 4 years. Clutches, bellhousings you name it. But the worst is where and how much we used to street race! Crazy!

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I vote for chamberd with the factory rolled tips that your car probably came with. Dustin

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Do it - - Chambered System - - Do it. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Love mine, and I drive my car.

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Hello, what be recomended for a 66 Nova SS with a 327 (L79) built with stock exhaust manifolds. Thanks, Larry.

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What kind of sound you looking for ? Manifolds arent loud like headers-If you are doing a &quot;Day2&quot; type theme -Glass packs where the Norm- The Red ones usually made by Cherry Bomb-or Corvair Turbo Mufflers--If you can find them THRUSH made a few different versions of mufflers-the older Red ,white &amp;blue one's are highly sought after now-but Back then they where available for CHEAP-they had Round versions that Usually get confused for a glasspack-but they are not-they will have a nice Deep tone at idle with your 327 &amp; bark when you get on the Throttle-they wont be as loud as a FLOWMASTER but your Car will sound different-Meanacing especailly when you goose it-OR if you want a Quiet ride-HUSH THRUSH if you are staying DaY2 ISH or some nice Magnaflows if you are contempary-Then there's always FLOWMASTER'S-they have the Market Locked-Because Everyone runs them-they sound good on anything but can be coookie cutter ish-

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much is Gardner charging for a complete Chevelle chambered exhaust system today?
Their website isn't showing prices. </div></div>

Rick, their basic chambered systems go for $1,275.00. I spoke to them on the phone and I was very impressed with their customer service. They currently have about a 5-6 week backlog for the system to be made... They seem like a very good group of guys and company!!

Rich

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Stand up crew Rich. My 70 Nova has one of their systems.

Re: EXHAUST IDEAS/OPINIONS
 

Well, I installed the Gardner system on my 69 Chevelle yesterday at a friend's local shop. My friend and I did the install. The system fit &quot;like a glove&quot; and sounds AWESOME!! The chambered kit comes with all of the hangers, brackets, clamps, and donut gaskets.. We needed nothing.

My friend has been working on cars a long time and he stated this was the EASIEST and NICEST exhaust system he has ever installed.. The packaging was A1 as well.. Tom Gardner telephoned me the day the packaged was shipped and encouraged me to call him should anything be wrong..

They are a stand up professional business in my opinion!! The system is not cheap but you indeed get what you pay for!!

I even installed the correct GM rolled lip chrome exhaust tips thanks to Grady..... My car is an October of 68 build...

Here are some pictures of the install before and after....

Rich

My buddy taking off the old system...

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture5229.jpg

The system complete, excuse some of the undercoating on the differential..

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture5233.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture5240.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture5241.jpg

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Very nice Rich! Love the sound of chambered!!!

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Looks great! And it will stay looking great too! Bought my system YEARS ago and still looks great even after all of the miles I've put in the car.

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Glad to see you went with the Chambered Exhaust.
Nice looking car and Exhaust.
Great sound as i have them on my 70 Chevelle !!
Enjoy