Exhaust for a 1956 Cadillac

[carguyblack]

Does anyone have recent experience with an exhaust supplier such as Classic or Waldron recently? Are there others out there I should check? Also, is a 15 guage for the pipes a decent thickness and should I buy aluminized, galvanized or what? I've purchased some pipes for my other modern cars and they are not all created equal, I've found. The most recent post I found on this subject was from 2010. Any advice as to whether it is smart to buy a system that includes all the clamps and hangers etc. or are those things easy to obtain locally? Thanks in advance,
Chuck

[cadman56]

I would purchase aluminized pipes & never get the resonators.  You may have to cut up an old tire sidewall to get the flat rubber pieces that set on top of the support plate ( I think behind the muffler).  Larry 

[Maynard Krebs]

I'd trust Waldron long before Classic.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I plan on replacing my exhaust in my 57 once I finish some other minor upgrades....were the resonators not standard?  Also what are the thoughts on having the exhaust go through the bumpers like they were from the factory?  Will that eventually corrode my bumper tips?

[Walter Youshock]

Resonators came on every Cadillac.  They give the car a different exhaust note.  Plus, without them, it's a points deduction in CLC a d AACA judging, if that matters.

I went stainless with resonators and dipped the pipes out of the bumper.  I installed dummy pipes in the outlets.  It looks like the pipes go through.

Would the ends rot out--not with the amount of driving you do.  Mud and cinders would pack in the ends, get wet, then bake from the exhaust and rot out the ends.  Another point to consider is black soot on the stainless inserts or even discoloration of the chrome.

[carguyblack]

Walter is spot on with his comments. I chose to run my pipes through the bumper for authenticity but I certainly have some soot after a long drive. Haven't yet had a bluing of the chrome from heat but I am conscious of that possibility. I guess all of these issues were around in 1956 so I am very much period correct, right ?

[55 cadi]

Allcads in Las Vegas has exhaust tips for the 55, work well and look good.

Give Ed a call, look on there website, it shows it I believe.

Jason

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Thanks for the tip Walter!

[Walter Youshock]

You do have to fabricate new rear brackets but, thankfully. There are holes in the frame you can use.

As for the "oh so cool looking" exhaust through the bumper, which started in 1952--by 1957, they were replacing so many bumper ends that they had to stop porting it that way.  Thankfully, '57 and '58 bumper ends are the same.  I'd bet 85% of the '57 Cadillacs with solid ends are from 1958.

[dplotkin]

Does anyone have recent experience with an exhaust supplier such as Classic or Waldron recently...?

Yup, I did a Waldron aluminized on my 56 Fleetwood and have them through the bumper ends as correct. Sounds beautiful. Why would anyone omit resonators?
Here's a tip on cleaning the bumper ends from exhaust. First, NEVER use chrome cleaner...on anything. Best place for that is on the shelf at the store.

A bottle of McGuires high-tech spray wax and a terrycloth towel will remove soot & bluing. Best way to deal with it is to stay on top of it. Clean them after every use, then keep a layer of wax on them too.

Dan

[carguyblack]

So don't use a dry Scotch-Brite on my new chrome? 
Thanks for the tip and reassurance that I'm not messing anything up too bad.

[walt chomosh #23510]

Chuck,
  One tip that I might throw at you is the thickness of the metal. I built a magnificent stainless steel exhaust system(including a crossover pipe with flanges) for my 55 along with SS mufflers and SS resonators.(all TIG welded) Too loud! So I added another pair of mufflers in order to calm her down. I found out from another CLC member that the thickness was my problem. The Stainless I used was USA made but thinwall. Stick with a thicker wall  tubing and your beautiful Cadillac should sound like one....walt...tulsa,ok