[Bentwheelbob]

Car is looking fantastic. Congrats to you and Robert for the fine work. The paint blending is great as is everything else.

[blue71ta]

Looks great. You're lucky to have a good paint / body guy locally to do the work.

It looks like Gardner MAY have sent you the '71-'73 chrome tips. I would double check before installing them. The '74 / '75 tips are longer. If they are the earlier tips, they will be too short (just trying to help, not being critical).

[blue71ta]

Here's a pic from an ebay auction to show the difference (74-75 tip on top, 71-73 on the bottom):

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Looking great there BJ - you're going to have a lot of fun with that car!

What's the story with the headlights?

Thanks Chris. One of the previous owners changed them to halogen bulbs. I haven't driven the car at night but assume that they are much brighter than the old T3 bulbs. Did the 74 cars still use the T3s?

Originally Posted by blue71ta

Here's a pic from an ebay auction to show the difference (74-75 tip on top, 71-73 on the bottom):

Thanks - we did discuss the difference, but I'll measure them and confirm that they are correct.

BJ

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by blue71ta

It looks like Gardner MAY have sent you the '71-'73 chrome tips. I would double check before installing them. The '74 / '75 tips are longer. If they are the earlier tips, they will be too short (just trying to help, not being critical).

Originally Posted by blue71ta

Here's a pic from an ebay auction to show the difference (74-75 tip on top, 71-73 on the bottom):

Thanks for the "tips" guys. I just measured the tips that came in the Gardner system and I get 14" from the end of the top of the pipe back to the apex of the bend. How does that compare to the ones you posted?

BJ

[77 Canamman]

I'm impressed with the progress of the car. I am also impressed with the packaging of the exhaust. Surely, it will fit the car, unlike some systems on the market......

[74 SD455 Formula]

Here's a couple of pic's of my Original paint 74 Formula. Hope it helps.

[vitamin c]

How are your head pipes from Gardner configured? One piece off the manifold, or two piece with the manifold elbow needing to be welded after installation? I just installed the 2 1/2''Gardner system and had to weld the elbows after the system which is no big deal, but after the install I was thinking that the elbow looks pretty restrictive.

[njsteve]

The Gardner systems are an exact duplicate of the original ones - with the same original flow restrictions and all.

If you are looking for performance, go aftermarket like a Pypes system. If you are going for restoration go Gardner.

I have had the Gardner systems on two 455HO 1972 Formulas and they looked perfect on a full restration but I went with a Pypes crossflow on my Gramma's car with their new 2-1/2" Ram Air D-port manifolds, and that exhaust completely out performs the stock/Gardner system in terms of performance.

[unruhjonny]

cool!

Thanks for sharing that letter and pictures!

[77 Canamman]

1974 used Guide Power Beams, such as these:

[74 SD455 Formula]

Steve,
I did something similar except I took a Gardner Exhaust off of my 72 455 HO GTO and put on a 2 1/2 R.A.R.E. X pipe set up on and what a difference,like night and day. The motor can breath.

[The Boss]

Guides - those halogen units can easily push it towards the pro touring look.

[OVERULD]

Nice Find! Thanks.

BJ

[njsteve]

Interesting find. That explains the problem with my 73 SD455 Formula. The original owner ordered both the stripes and the side moldings on his order form. Due to the conflict, both selections were deleted from the car further up the paperwork chain when it was submitted.

[Held for Ransom]

Here was a picture I snapped of the '74 a while back.

[OVERULD]

Here is a pic I took while it was still in wrapper - may be off by a half inch or so.



Eric Gardner assured me that I have the right length, that he knows there are two lengths and that I have the right one. I'm having to go on his assurance here. Looking at my photo, it may actually be closer to 15"

BJ

[OVERULD]

Exhaust manifolds arrived today from Central Connecticut Coatings.











I'm told by Eric that there is no gasket needed between the down pipe and the manifold - just metal-to-metal. His down pipes came with a nice ceramic-coated flange - two-bolt on left and three-bolt on right.

Getting installed this Friday.

BJ

[Held for Ransom]

Tips look like the correct length.

Are those Max Performance manifolds???
Are those lines on the end flanges from where they hung to coat?

[OVERULD]

Thanks Mike. I bought them from Ames. Which lines are you referring to?

BJ