I want to upgrade a Skylark to dual exhaust since it needs a complete system, now is a good time. Are there any vendors you can suggest or is Midas or someone like that the best bet? My local gas station will put in a system if I supply it. Thanks again. ________ Gang Bang Orgy
Gentlemen: Let me tell you about a recent experience with Torque Tech. I was a repeat customer too. I ordered a complete system for a newly aquired 70 convt. and paid for it by credit card. As usual the mufflers and the 2.5 exhaust arrived supposedly with the turned down tips as ordered. I was in a pinch for time so unlike the last set for another car I took the stuff still in the box to a muffler shop. I left the car for the install. When my wife drove me back I tokk one look at the rear of the car and stormed inside. The exhaust was sticking staight out the back like and Chev and looked dumb on a Buick. The shop said they just installed what was in the box. Well I then looked at the paperwork still attached to the box and sure enough TT sent the wrong stuff. I emailed the owner Keith with whom I had always dealt including for this order and told him what had happened . Several months have passed and no response. I had to buy from the GSCA the correct pipes from the mufllers back and pay again for the install. I will NEVER EVER buy from Torque Tech again. If they will do that to me they will do it to you. I would buy from TA next time! Jim Lore
Jim, Thanks for the heads up. there are many vendors for our vehicles. Another would be straightline performance, TA and I think there are a few others. I do not have the straightline website but i am sure someone does. Goodluck
I have a TA system on my '70 GS455 and love it. I mated the pipes with some Walker Super Turbo's, and am really happy with the sound. Here is TA's website: TA Performance The pipes turn down at the very end, and are cut horizontally to the groud like the originals, whereas the flowmaster pipes (maybe others?) are cut at a 90* to the pipe. Also, if you haven't ever heard a set of flowmasters you might want to consider all of the the interior resonance. They are very loud in the interior of the car, and can be pretty annoying sometimes even for a car guy. The Walker's are somewhat more quiet at idle, but once you 'get into it' they really open up and you can hear a noticeable sound difference. I would buy them again. That's my experience and I'm stickin to it. :TU:
Chris: I second your opinions and have always used the 20 inch Walker Dynomax muffllers. I also have a head to head test report which showed the Walkers were quieter and flowed better than Flowmasters. When I say they are quieter they are still not quiet. Jim Lore
Jim If I was you I would pick up the phone and call them. I would bet that you would get taken care of. I love this computer But I feel that not all business should be done on it. Something like that should be taken care of one on one. I might be wrong but give it a try.
Bob : With all due respect I am not taking care of any business on the Board. In response to a recomendation for a company, I would be remiss in not alerting Board members to my negative experience which after complaint went uncorrected. I see this type of info all the time on the Board and use this kind of info myself to a least put into the equation of whether I should select a company for parts or services. For example, there was one on the Board in the last day or so talking about CARS selling parts as NOS that were cheap repo non GM NOS. The Board member felt this was deceptive. I like CARS and have done business with them, but I will now ask are we talking GM NOS? It was useful info to me and I will bet to others. I always say the truth is the most powerful medicine known to mankind and what I recounted was just that-- the truth. A company that will not take care of these types of mistakes is the sin and that type of info should be shared. Jim Lore
flynbuick, I have had numerous dealing with Keith at TorqueTech over many years and have always found him to be honest and fair. I know from past experience that emails get lost and never reach their intended destination. Because of that fact, I never rely exclusively on email alone. A phone call can be a good thing.
Jim In your post you said you e-mail him all I was suggesting was you might call him. That was all. I have no problem when there is an issue with people telling others on the board that keeps us from getting taken for a ride. That is one of the good things about the board. But I can't tell you how many times I have e-mail someone and they never received it or they said they sent me something and I did not receive it. I have never purchased anything from him myself but I know many people who have and I don't believe I have heard of any issues. I am sure that there are some because if you are in a business you will have issues. But as you said it is how you deal with them. So I was just suggesting that you might give him a call and see if he blows you off then also, that would only be fare to him and yourself. I am sorry if have upset you in some way but I only thought you might resolve the issue if you were voice to voice not through an e-mail My apologies
One of the other members also lives in our area. He had a manifold-back system for his show car 1967 GS 400 done by a Midas franchise in Burke. Said it was about $450 a few years ago. He was very satisfied and recommended that shop to me. I'm also going to upgrade my Skylark to duals sometime in 2003.
Buick exhaust systems Greg If you are looking for a 100% correct system check out Gardener's Exaust . They really did there homework on there blueprint systems . 1st class company . IDOXLR8 :grin:
I am well aware of the Gardner exhaust system as he is a member of our Northeast chapter(GS/GN) Club. I have never used his stuff, but I understand it is the best stock looking exhaust system for the GS and many other makes too! I use mandrel bent 2 1/2" system due to performance issues in running the heads up stock appearing races.
....just my 2 cents here...... Midas or a "local" muffler shop probably will not have mandrel bent pipes. What are Mandrel bends ?? they are where the pipe is not "crinkled" in the bend areas - they are smooth and the diameter of the pipe through the bend is not significantly reduced. Most muffler shops just dont have the equipment to make pipes this way. They can however install your (mandrel) pipes bought from one of the vendors mentioned previously in this post.
exhaust I have used the Midas shop in Burke and got their aluminized pipes. They do custom bending, welding and install systems on many of the classic cars and hot rods in northern VA. Cost depends on the size of the pipe and aluminium or plain. They also offer several different mufflers from stock to wild. Ask for Howard at 703-978-0202. - Bill
I'm gonna have to say the Flowmaster American Thunder system is the best way to go. For $285 you get the complete mandrel bent header back 2 1/2" system, with mufflers and all the hangers and hardware you need. It has tailpipes that go over the axle, then from there it comes with pipes for both coming straight out or with turndowns. I have the system on my car and it sounds great! I think the pipes can be purchased separate if you want a different style muffler. The TA headpipes work excellent for mating it to stock manifolds...
Check out Magnaflow.com I like the 5x8 18" case but they have 14, 22 & 24" cases so you can pick the sound & price without killing the flow. They also have mandrel bent pipes, X-pipes S.S. hangers etc so that you can have your local shop cut it to fit and install it for you. I'll never go back to "turbo flow" junk again. Flowmasters sound cool but flow poorly and other than sound have been obsoleted by H & X pipes. Magnaflow has welded case universals that are top shelf and reasonably priced. If you like the Walker Ultra Flows you need to check out the magnaflows IMO they are better. Even if you don't get the mirror stainless steel case (I won't) you get the all stainless & welded internals so these won't rot from the inside out. Check out magnaflow.com/olwide-open.htm and you will see a cutaway and unlike the Walker & other straighthrough type mufflers they don't have the "continous flow roving fiberglass" packing. (Picture is on Walker's site.) That stuff either burns out or soaks up moisture like a sponge and lays in the bottom of the case. With that stuff you need a stainless case to keep it from rusting from the inside out. Did you ever take one off a car that had been on there for a long time. It will be much heavier than when you put it on and will feel like its filled with a water soaked sponge. I forget what the tech guy at magnaflow said what the "Hi temp accustical absorbing material" is but it won't soak up moisture or burn out.
I'm going to chime in, since Vern mentioned Magnaflow. I have Magnaflows on my Skylark. It was a custom 2.25" system done by a local shop. The sound is great, it's not loud at idle but, you can clearly hear it. Also, they are quiet enough that you can have a conversation in the car, while cruising. Now, sitting at a stop and revving well then they produce a decent amount of sound, but nothing you'd have to yell over.
