exhaust systems manufactures

[aaronz28]

hi gang,
i am pretty sure that Gardner is the cats meow with these OEM style systems..

but what are the opinions on the systems offered by Ricks, Heartbeat City, D&R etc?

i need a resonator/transverse system for a late 69Z and am pretty sure to be getting a Gardner, but really wanted stainless...

don't even know if I can get it from anyone in stainless, but aside from that, i've not heard good things about the fit on these systems..

can anyone elaborate good or bad news on the systems they installed on their cars?

Thanks

Aaron

[RamAirDave]

Ive used Gardner, D&R, and Rick's.  None stainless.

Gardner, no brainer there.  Perfect fit and the way to go if you're concerned with a judging sheet.

I installed one from D&R about a week before my friend installed one from Rick's.  I was pretty pleased.  Wasn't perfect, but better than I was expecting based on experience from some in the past.  He had all kinds of problems that I did not have.

He put the one from Rick's in the trash can, bought a D&R and said it was night and day difference.  Again, not perfect but pretty good considering the price.  This was about a year and a half ago, so I can't say much about what is currently available if it's changed.

A guy on TC a several months afterwards experienced the same thing, D&R fit better after having tried the one offered through Ricks.

[aaronz28]

what isn't "perfect" about the D&R stuff...
does it hang crooked or something?

Aaron

[jl8dale]

I just installed a D & R last weekend and was pleased. Not a Gardner, but for the price, a good system. The Passenger side long pipe was about 1 1/2 inches shorter than the drivers side and those same long pipes hang a little lower than the Gardner. I had just put a Gardner on a couple of months ago on my Z/28 and this system went on a Pace Car.
Overall, with a little wrangling, it looks and sounds great and over half the price of Gardner.

[Barefoot Dave]

I've got the D&R system on both of my cars. It was easy to install and fit with no modifications other than having to open up one or two ends slightly to get the proper interference fit. It hangs well (tucks up nicely), looks good and sounds nice. Not too loud and not too quiet....just right as far as I'm concerned.

[RamAirDave]

It was easy to install and fit with no modifications other than having to open up one or two ends slightly to get the proper interference fit. It hangs well (tucks up nicely), looks good and sounds nice. Not too loud and not too quiet....just right as far as I'm concerned.

I had similar, having to have one of the pipes "swelled" to get a tight fit into the muffler.  Part of that was the part was made incorrectly, plus my local vendor ordered the wrong system.  I didnt want resonators, so was sent the eliminator pipes.  One wasn't swelled on the muffler side.  Was fixed in no time at the local muffler shop.

Otherwise, pretty good.  Muffler hangs straight, tailpipes are even from side-to-side in length, shape, and proximity to the lower tail panel.  My "not perfect" comment was more in comparison to the Gardner.

[GaryL]

I bought the HBC transverse system. Basically it is just parts from IMCO (a company that services the muffler shops). The muffler sounds great. The pipes fit pretty good. The reason I bought it from HBC because I wanted chrome tips and he said his were the best. The HBC tailpipes were the IMCO tailpipe with the tips cut off and replaced with chrome tips. After 2 sets and 2 months waiting for tailpipes bent correctly I returned them and bought the D&R tailpipes with polished stainless tips. At least they fit OK. In retrospect I should have gone Gardner.

[SSMUNDY]

I bought my system from Rick's for my 67 convertible. I only had to do minor tweeking of the long pipes to clear the x-brace. Overall a decent system and installed in 1 evening.

[usa1z28]

I installed the D&R system on my '69 x33. I have absolutely no complaints. Everything lined up to the factory mounting points with no cuttting! The whole kit, including coated hangers and clamps was under 3 chips! I can send pictures if interested.

[chevyman555]

I bought a system from Ricks for my 67 Z.  Right side was a nice fit.  Left side was a different story.  The angle on the head pipe was way off and could not be tweeked.  I had to send photos of the poor fit to Ricks and wait four weeks to get a replacement shipped.  Replacement fit fine. 

[RANDYHUMMEL]

Hay can anyone help me. I want to put a new exhaust on my 68 rs-ss 396 car. I would like to put a gardner on but they are not Stainless. I live in Ohio and the car sits alot. I am thinking of making my own from stainless. How will this hurt me at shows, and has anyone done this. I also think the price Gardner in getting seams high. I have a muffler shop in the family and plain on doing it there.

[aaronz28]

Gardners are expensive because are the simply the best... they fall together and hang strait with no issues at all.

every other system i know of is hit or miss... some fit nice, others are a joke.

an aluminized system will probably outlive the car unless you park it underwater

A

[RANDYHUMMEL]

Thanks I know Gardner are the best. I have a Aluminized system at this time it is over 20 years old and in great shap, but I want Stainless.Has anyone used Waldrons Antigue Exhaust  Systems, they are stainless. If you have how close are they to the Gardner Systems.

[aaronz28]

I've talked to Joe a bunch of times, but i've not seen or installed one of their systems.

i suspect they are good, but in my case, i couldn't get the chrome tips, which was a deal breaker for me.

i've installed 3 Gardner systems on cars and every one has been a breeze to do on the floor of my garage... no cutting, no welding, everything lines up perfectly.

Aaron