It used to be that the exhaust system was an overlooked part of the total performance package. Look under a bunch of cars at a show, and you’re bound to see a number of 'em with disgusting, rusty, poorly bent, crumpled pipes. The days of rippled, restrictive bends; rust-prone, bare-steel tubes; and glasspacks are over, fortunately. Nowadays, good exhaust means long-lasting, aluminized pipes that stay looking clean and bright for years; smooth-flowing, full-volume mandrel bends; and high-tech baffled mufflers.
Would you believe us if we told you there exists such a system that you can afford, have shipped to your door, and install in your driveway on a Saturday afternoon? Believe it.
We installed Flowmaster’s 2-½-inch American Thunder exhaust system—complete with 50-series three-chamber mufflers—on our ’65 LeMans in four hours. And we didn’t need a lift or exotic tools, either, just four jackstands, simple hand tools, and a little patience. We did have to visit the local muffler shop and shell out $5 to have the head pipes cut and expanded to fit over the header reducers, but otherwise it’s a complete bolt-on. We’re glad we took plenty of pics during the installation, ’cause none of our friends believed we installed such a trick exhaust in the driveway! That about says it all.
Check out how easy it really is.
