I decided to install a Gardner Exhaust on my C-1 " driver" that I am putting together.. not so much to have one on this car but more to find out first hand how it is for when I do my O-1 show car and to show you guys as well. I can say without reservation that this was the single best purchase and install I have experienced for the entire restoration of the car... period
Some things to know...
The kit is expensive ( $1016.00 to my door ).
I bought the best possible kit from them.. they call it a concourse upgrade with hangers and clamps and resonators. The instructions were awesome.. these guys will talk to you on the phone for as long as it takes to get you to grasp the whole experience. The packaging was insane overkill which I would expect if it were for my show car. they put easy to peel off lables on the parts.. I learned quite a few things installing this kit... Like that the muffler seam points up and that the original exhaust system had four different clamp arrangements and that the donut gasket area really is supposed to seal well when the correct inserts etc are inlcuded..

The best part of all was that it actually fit like a glove.. I was amazed. It may have something to do with the fact that the last exhaust I installed was a stainless steel system that forced me to make 6+ trips to the local muffler shop to tweak the pipes to even come close to fitting... but regadless...it never fit right but this kit was almost surreal the way it went in

The kit showed up Friday .. much to my surprise the first box I opened had a complimentary pint glass in it.. I proceeded to fill it post hast as a good luck omen

I set the stuff all out and inventoried it Friday night. Saturday morning before my sons baseball tryouts @ 1pm it was in and all but done... and that with a visit from my Mom & dad for an hour!
The recommendation to leave the plastic on the head pipes was a great one.. I installed those first and put the X brace in to hold them up. I spaced them off the X brace with a cut off hockey stick handle and the rest went on slick. They mention to get a few things to support the pieces but neglect to mention the boxes that it all comes in work great for that very purpose

They include sealant for all the joints except the connection at the manifolds... this is cool but makes the pipes loosy-goosy so you do need to be super sure its where you want it before you cinch down the clamps.. I rattled them on with a 3/8 drive air gun to seal em' up good.. nothing snapped or broke..

The clamps are great and you can angle them per the picture in the assembly manual.. makes you feel like you really did a good job when its over
heres a pic of the box holding up the pipes before I installed the X brace

I will follow up once the car is running and on its four feet again driving... But to conclude for now... Take a gander at the hangers these guys make next to a set of NOS units..

Asking for better is unreasonable I think

P.S. my camera stinks so this is the only install shot you can even see well.. but here it is anyway..

Note how well the end cuts are made and how the left and right outlets are aligned symetrically.. not a big effort on my part there.. just a back & forth a couple times with a ruler and bam! minty install

website

American made
New York State
Called me back all the time
Charged the chargecard when shipped, not when ordered

I'm having trouble finding anything to bitch about here

Really, looks great! Nice to know just how well their exhausts truly fit. Made in USA even makes it better.

I guess you are exhausted now!!!!
Drive that turd!!!
Da Weave

Very nice!
I like the crimping on the curves just like the original systems had and also the old style clamps. A person would be hard pressed to find anything nicer. Thanks for sharing Tom. I have been wondering where I was going to buy my exhaust system when I was ready for it. You sold me on these guys.

When's your first Drive?

On your first drive take a video so we could hear the sound of the new system.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tom D,

I have spoken with these guys before and by all accounts this is the system to fit. It was great to see the pics of how its shipped , all the items and how it fits. I thought originally all the pipes had crimped bends not just the head pipes. Tony I know you had most parts in NOS , how do they compare??

I told them I want the car to sound just like it did... and with resonators etc I'm guessing the pulleys spinning around will be louder

T. with any luck I'll paint the core support today or tomorrow.. If I dress the cooling system I'll fire her up and pray there are no big issues... At that point I need to paint the nose and slap her on then test drive her to my convertible top stitcher

oh yea... that easy