1966 thunderbird exhaust

[Herb66]

Greetings:
I'm at the point that I need to replace the entire exhaust system on my bird...Has anyone ever bought an entire system from the online suppliers?
Does it fit properly?


Thanx

[Rt.146]

i have not reached the need to replace my system, my 66 came without resonators,I'm of the same mind as the PO , leaving them off.

[cacockrum]

I bought the complete set from the Birds Nest. It would not fit correctly without a few hundred dollars worth of modifications, but the total cost may have turned out to be less than what it would have been for a “start from scratch” job. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten a quote from a reputable shop before ordering the set.

[Peddller]

I replaced the entire system on my 65, got it from Waldron. I was very pleased with 1 exception and it isn't a big deal. The short turned down outlet tubes out of the mufflers were probably a 1/2" too short.

[Herb66]

Thanx for the reply, gents..
I'm trying to get a quote from an exhaust shop in the area, but they don't want to quote over the phone...I don't know why...I told them to just replace everything...
It does seem the online suppliers are cheaper..it would be nice if everything fit, but it appears in the real world, probably not.
If you make something, how much effort would it be to make it right!

Thanx

[paulr]

Speaking for a good friend here who sourced full SS from Waldrons, which I believe is among the top of the line options, after spending high dollar and many assurances he still had to fork over for custom bending in our neighborhood shop to get around some issues. Stories I hear, unless your installer is supplying the parts he bends, I don't thing anything that comes in the mail is going to be perfect for your car. Just being practical.

[blab]

I just got overaxle pipes and mufflers from Waldron. Fit perfectly. IIRC, club members worked with Waldron to get the design right.

[paulr]

I just got overaxle pipes and mufflers from Waldron. Fit perfectly. IIRC, club members worked with Waldron to get the design right.

Good to hear this experience. The member I posted about above had his experience about 4 years ago. The exhaust system is excellent, but some extra bends were needed. Did you get resonators? Did you also get stainless?

[blab]

The resonators were still kind of good so I kept them. Like the H pipe they were from an old replacement (aluminized, not Waldron) I did in '95.

In the end I went with aluminized again because I read that stainless might change the sound a little bit towards "pinging".

This is what the old aluminized exhaust looked like:



Car had been in a carport for a few years.

Back in the nineties I didn't do everything myself and the guy who installed it told me to drill holes into the mufflers so condensed water can escape. Never did that and they were rusted from the inside too. Reminds me that the new mufflers again have no drain holes.

[Randy Mattson]

I went to a local muffler shop with a photocopy of the exhaust system from the shop manual.
He built it to look exactly like the copy in aluminized steel, resonators and mufflers.
I forget the exact cost but it was less than $500 installed.
This was on a '65 Special Landau in the mid nineties.
I was very pleased with his work.
Good Luck.
Rqndy Mattson

[wabigoon]

Bought from Classic car exhaust systems. Fit was very good. We got the entire system with resonators.

[Herb66]

I finally spoke with a local exhaust shop that said they will do a complete exhaust in aluminized steel for $750.
Including gaskets and studs..
Lou's custom Exhaust is a local chain here in the Boston area..

I'd like to do stainless, but there are other things the car needs as well..

I'll keep u posted on how I make out.

Thanx