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#1
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Gardner exhaust system review
Have been restoring my 68 RA II GTO manual trans vert for a while now. For the most part it can be considered a finished project but they are never really finished are they?
In my case, I was never pleased with the fit and function of the exhaust system I bought from Ames so I decided to order a system from Gardner along with their concourse kit. It basically has all the correct clamps and hangars etc. Paying for the system hurt a bit. I mean, how much sense does it make to spend $1400 on an exhaust system? (including freight). Well...... The Gardner kit is excellent fit and workmanship. I am still amazed how perfect it fit and how easy it went together. The head pipes have the top section flattened at the crossmember like I presume the original pipes were. It just looks and sounds correct. I would spend the money again. If any of you are restoring a GTO and Gardner makes a kit then I would recommend you find a way to work it into your budget. I usually dont endorse products but this system is impressive. Maybe there are other options out there that are just as good but I am not aware of any. |
#2
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X2, plus you get a nice Gardner glass as a bonus, lol. Highly recommended them. If you have a ‘72 buy the tips from them. If you don’t have originals they won’t fit, I know and they will warn you.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#3
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I have the Gardner system as well. I forgot all about the glass mug, I wonder if I still have that somewhere.
Yours is likely more correct than mine, I bought mine over a decade ago & has the flat clamps & hangars. I believe those are more like the originals now. Where is the flattened area you mentioned? I do not believe I have that either.
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68 GTO 4-spd Convertible 78 S/E Trans am L78, WS6 Auto 78 S/E Trans am W72, WS6 Auto 79 10th aniv W72 Trans am 80 Indy pace car Trans am 89 Trans am GTA |
#4
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I would love to see more of your car!
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#5
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Quote:
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#6
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Gardner exhaust system
I also used the Gardner exhaust on my 68 convertible with the Turbo 400 transmission. The tuner exhaust tips fit just right and sound great. I would use the Gardner exhaust kit again.
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#7
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Quote:
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68 GTO 4-spd Convertible 78 S/E Trans am L78, WS6 Auto 78 S/E Trans am W72, WS6 Auto 79 10th aniv W72 Trans am 80 Indy pace car Trans am 89 Trans am GTA |
#8
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Quote:
https://www.gardnerexhaust.com/exhau...xhaust-system/ |
#9
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Wow, I don't think I have ever seen anything like that before. Very curious to hear what effect that would have on the exhaust note. Cool.
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#10
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Gardner exhaust system review
The Gardner exhaust system with the Tuner Pipe sounds tinny. It was used to make the turbo 400 automatic 68 GTO sound more beefy. I also have a 68 GTO hardtop with the factory issued FoMoCo 3 speed manual transmission using a Midas exhaust. The automatic transmission 68 convertible does sound different with the Tuner Pipes than the manual transmission 68 GTO hardtop.
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#11
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The Following User Says Thank You to PurelyGTO68 For This Useful Post: | ||
#12
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Few more...
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#13
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My wife took these pics. She is much better at this than I am....
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#14
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Dayuum! Sweet car!
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#15
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Gorgeous 68 vert....and a RAII....doesn’t get much better! Beautiful job on the restoration.
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Don't rush me - it's only year 20 of the 3 year restoration! 68 GTO convertible YS M40, A/C, PS, PB-disc, Posi-T, PW, P-seat, AM-FM stereo 8-track, P-ant, P-trunk lid, Tilt-S, Rally gauges, Hideaways C1 224 Triple white |
#16
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Wow - what a beauty!
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Ken '68 GTO - Ram Air II 464 - 236/242 roller - 9.5” TSP converter - 3.55 posi (build thread | walk around) '95 Comp T/A #6 M6 - bone stock (pics) |
#17
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That is a stunning car!
I've used 6 Gardner systems over the years and everyone fit minty! I wish they did systems for my big cars to but they only do dual systems for A and F cars. For the cars that Gardner doesn't do I use Waldron and they are quite good (and half the price) but the fit and sound isn't at that Gardner level. The only nitpick is that the factory headpipes werent aluminized like the mufflers back. They should be painted black. People used to think that only the GM replacement headpipes were black but there is a thread on this site with photos from a bodyshop book printed in 1968 of an accidented 68 GTO and the headpipes are clearly black.
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#18
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Quote:
How far back should the black extend on the head pipes? All the way to the mufflers? I just realized I forgot to install the GTO decals on the quarter panels. The to-do list never ends.... |
#19
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Here are a few pics from that bodyshop book from 1968. It's clear that the entire headpipe is black but the mufflers back are aluminized.
Btw, the second pic makes it obvious that this car is an HO or RA1, it has the big manifolds which could be either but I think the 4 blade fan identifies it as a RA1 car?
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
#20
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Speaking of those rear quarter decals, ideally a set of NOS would be nice, the repops are not the right shade of white. Your car sure deserves it.
Interesting how your car is optioned, no power brakes (is it manual disc? I remember driving a 68 RA1 with manual disc, they didn't like to stop completely!) but it has an 8 track. My 69 Judge was optioned strange like that... 4.33 gears and an M21 plus manual steering and brakes but he also ordered power windows and an 8 track.
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops) 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop) 1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop) 1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon 1969 Executive 4dr Sedan 1969 Bonnie Cvt 1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them) 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them) 1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model) |
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