The Roar of the Baller
Photos/Story: T-Bone
Here is another installment of transforming Billy’s 2007 RAM Hemi Quad Cab into the Blacktop Baller. We installed an AIRAID cold air intake system, ACCELL coils and a Hellwig Helper Spring and Sway Bar. We finished off the year with a set of Helo wheels and Nitto Trail Grappler rubbers sponsored by The 401k Club Hot Rod Shop. Today we head out to Gibson Performance for a Super Truck Exhaust System featuring their Superflow Hi-Performance Muffler.
We braved the rainstorm and headed out to Gibson Performance in Corona. They asked if we can bring some girls from our magazine, as if we have them on a shelf, a couple of calls and Melissa and Erica were happy to come out and help with the installation.
When we pulled up to the shop the rain came pouring down. The girls certainly helped brighten the dreary day. Shawn Gibson introduced us to another Shawn who will be installing the system. Billy noted on several occasions how cool everyone there is. No attitudes, looks like a great place to work.
Shawn guided us to the Dyno rollers in the floor of the shop. We pulled a dyno before and after the install and found a modest increase. We opted to have the exhaust exit before the rear wheel on the passenger side. A simple cut to the main pipe right behind the catalytic converter, Shawn welded up the new system. A 1 into 2 round Superflow Muffler. They set up a pair of round black tips.
While they finished up the installation, I took the girls around to see the shop.
Gibson Performance has two buildings on this block of industrial units in Corona. The lobby and offices is in one building and we toured the manufacturing and testing facility.
There were approximately a dozen guys cutting, bending and welding up exhaust systems in a very clean and orderly shop. Gary showed us around on a couple of fascinating machines. He even let the girls get their hands dirty as they handled some of the tubing. First up was a pipe perforator. It’s a wicked machine where you load a section of pipe in to an adjustable stop. It is fitted with a wild looking bit, kinda like a saw blade that spins as the pipe spins on a lathe-like holder. This makes those ventilated perforations in the pipe within the muffler housing. Erica pushed the button and the pipe came spinning out full of ridges and slots.
Then we went to the bender that bend sheet metal to the pre-designated shape. This machine requires two hands to operate. Mostly a safety device so you don’t get your fingers in the rollers. It rolls out a piece of sheet metal to oval, round or even triangular shape. Melissa pushed an oval shaped muffler body out of it.
Right next to that machine was the bead welder. Gary loaded the piece under the channel of this machine and gave a welding mask to Melissa who watched the machine accurately weld a line on the can. Surrounding these machines are a variety of welding tents where the guys were busy welding the ends and insides of the mufflers.
Some were welding pipe for the high-performance headers they make too. We dig seeing this manufacturing here in the U.S.A. let alone in California.
On the other side of the facility was the testing center. That’s where they installed the system on Billy’s RAM. On the bench were mock-ups of new header designs they are working on, and behind the bench were the templates that they use to get precise cuts on the various bends.
From meeting with Shawn’s father Ron we have found nothing but genuinely nice people who are passionate about what they do and enjoy their work. It truly shows up in the product too. On the way home we were pleased at the sound of the truck. For a fairly aggressive system, there wasn’t that insane drone. I dig the low tone in the idle and the roar at start up and launch. Visit www.GibsonPerformance.com to find a system perfect for your vehicle.
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