Anyone have experience with this specific exhaust setup? Seems like a great system for the price - $286 from Summit. I've seen the positive posts on Flowmaster and know about the 3-4x the cost and advantages of Borla and MagnaFlow.
Thrush 89021 - Thrush Turbo Header Back Dual Exhaust Systems
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-89021/make/pontiac/model/firebird/year/1968
Here is my experience with FGF exhausts. There is very little margin for error. Space is tight. Headers or stock manifolds? If stock manifolds, you need the right head pipes.
Stock manifolds and yes, I have a question about head pipes as this is a "Header Back" system. Can/where I get head pipes? Maybe custom made? And, I'm asking if this "system" fits? I have a PG if that matters...
Getting headpipes that bolt up to the exhaust manifold flanges and fit in the tunnel is the key. Then getting over the axle and fitting up the transverse muffler with the tail pipes out between the springs and inner quarter panel is also tricky. I think I got most of the parts from Ames and added some short mufflers for resonators. It took some work. The next time I do it I will probably get the whole system from Gardner. I got the exhaust for my goat from him and it all fit perfectly. He only does stock exhaust systems. Another route is Pypes. Or find a reputable local shop to bend the pipes and fit it all up.
What's a PG?
https://www.gardnerexhaust.com/https://pypesexhaust.com/catalog.html
Thanks, I'll ck it out! I was thinking I'll have a shop customize this the right way.
Power Glide.
Here's some more words of advice. For the joint from the headpipes to the resonators (or the next piece of you don't use resonators) use bandclamps
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/30732/10002/-1#You will likely need to remove the headpipes in the future. You will never get it apart if you use U bolt clamps.
ahem ...FLOWMASTERS SUCK
I have 2 that will be going up for sale, I WANT MY CAR TO SOUND GREAT GOING DOWN THE STREET NOT GIVE ME A HEADACHE INSIDE THE CAR EVEN WITH THE CONV TOP DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY SUCK
I have the RamAir cast iron headers and I then went with Magnaflow, Magnaflows are great if you love the old school sound of glasspacks, they have a nice rumble cruising and when YOU GET ON IT THEY EXPLODE TO THE WORLD BUT NOT IN YOUR HEAD LIKE FLOWMASTERS.
In case you didn't get my subtle hinting I hate Flowmasters.
I had Thrush turbos, they came with the car, never got the sound I wanted, if you t sound a tad over stock with slight and I mean very slight hp gains then those may be right for you. If you want your car to run cooler, like 10*F cooler and get a huge gain in HP and TQ I would go with the cast iron RamAir exhaust manifolds and Magnaflows, get the manifolds from RamAirRestoration link below. I've had headers, not crazy about them anymore, the factory RA exhaust was well engineered by Pontiac and they take away more heat, RAR will ceramic coat them so the heat does not go into your car and underhood it goes down the exhaust pipe which increases velocity and they are not as challenging as headers to install but you do need the RA oil filter set up.
oh yeah one more thing, Flowmasters suck
I tried the head pipes from Pypes. The would not ship to CA. so I had them shipped to a friend in Ariz. and picked them up there. The had very nice bends but the flare to manifold wasn’t even close. The flanges were both stamped wrong and would Slide right over the flare. There was no way to use them so I sent them back. The only positive was that they did accept the return. I had some custom made.
RamAirRestoration is the way to go, everything fits.
https://www.ramairrestoration.com/