Hello Dave,

I am new to the forum, and am renovating my dad's old 1973 small block L48 (auto) convertible.  It was garaged for 14 years in Colorado (I'm in the Air Force and finally moved to a place where I can work on it), so it definitely needs some love, but it isn't in too bad of shape.

My first question: I am replacing the exhaust system, and was wondering what you thought about a chambered exhaust like this one: http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-chambered-exhaust-kit-small-block-aluminized-1973.html

Second question: I am having the carburetor rebuilt, and got a set of gaskets and seals to replace them on the engine.  What order should I replace them in?  Are there parts that typically go bad in that time frame that I should investigate replacing, or should I just try to clean everything, replace the gaskets/seals, and go from there?  I did drain the gas tank and it was clean.

I would really appreciate any advice.  Thanks,

Jack

Do not know anything about this particular system but there are a lot of chambered exhaust manufactures and local muffler shops to install custom systems.  You mite think about a local shop they may provide you with a system for about the same or less cost. 

The only thing I would caution you on is do you really want the noise all the time. It sounds great on some ones car.  But after having a custom exhaust system put on, I realize I had wasted money on the exhaust system or the stereo system.  I would rather have been able to hear the stereo.  You have to decide what is more important to you when you are driving all of those wonderful hills.  Driving with the exhaust rumble or good music.

I agree with Gilbert - you do have to make a decision between enjoying the stereo or enjoying the exhaust system.  Or - find some sort of happy medium.  I personally enjoy the sound of the engine.  But want to be able to roll up the windows and enjoy the music from time to time - of course with a little bit of a exhaust backdrop.  When my car as cruising along at 70mph - it is not really laboring at all, so it is not very loud.  I've been thinking of dropping in the from header side pipes by hooker -  but since my car is an 82, on the path to customize the exhaust a little bit to accept the pump in the air and sensor. I've been trying to imagine what this will do to the sound. Will the sound be beside me, and not necessarily in the car? or will it not make a difference.  - but that's for a future project.  For now, since my stereo does not work, I've been enjoying the commercial free sound of my engine. It never grows old to me.

Doing a basic rebuild on the carb is pretty straight forward..watch the accelerator pump as the new one may not have the spring under the diaphragm and will only work a few times and fall apart..the kits now are basically gaskets and a needle and seat..not much in them anymore..it wouldn't hurt to replace the float as well..the exhaust is what it is..loud..I just installed an exhaust used off an L88..its 2.5 inch diameter pipe..I only used about 2 feet of the pipe from the muffler..it added a good grunt to it and the throttle response is faster..but its not really loud at all..kinda depends on what you want.

Rich

I replaced my 73 exhaust with a system from Magnaflow. It took a little modifying but it sounds good.