1969 Camaro Chambered Exhaust Experts

[Steve Shauger]

I would not install chambered on a 69 Z28 as been stated you lose HP and it sounds like crap. One of my Z's has it listed on the WS so what's on the car is a Gardner system.

I sold a 69 Z years ago and the new owner insisted that I install a standard cross flow system prior to purchasing.

Big block don't sound as obnoxious as small blocks!!

[CamaroNOS]

As you can see, the general consensus is that the aftermarket systems sound like crap. I am not surprised as a few SB systems I heard years ago were just like you fella's described......hideous. I was hoping that the current aftermarket systems sounded better. Although I can tolerate a chambered system on a BB.

The kicker is I had a complete NOS SB chambered system approx. 6 years ago that I sold, figuring that I would never have a need for one. How does that saying go......."never say never".....haha.

I may be interested in a used GM SB system if anyone happens to have one available. I have all my parts shipped to Port Huron Michigan so shipping is not an issue.

I really do appreciate everybody's input and the knowledge within this group.

Thanks once again,

Paul

[cruiserofland]

Paul and all, this thread inspired me to do more digging on the system on my car. One tube says IMCO 2.75… so I am guessing that my setup was built by a shop using IMCO chambered tubes. So I can’t comment on the sound of the Gardner system or GM NOS but I can tell you that this system built from IMCO components sounds fantastic. My car had a major restoration from 2000-2010 in the Chicago area (the owner of Foreign & Domestic Auto Body in Libertyville) so I’m guessing this system was built around then

[CamaroNOS]

Thanks for you info. Matt (and everybody else) and your interest and sparking a desire to do some more research myself.

The best I can tell is that IMCO did produce chambered exhaust pipes for automotive purposes many years ago (possibly as far back as the late 70's as per FB). Matt has them on his 69 Z/28 and there are other Corvette FB forms referencing the IMCO brand as well. It appears that IMCO is just manufacturing exhaust manifolds for off shore boats, best I can tell.

As I referenced along with many site members, the SB chambered system that you typically buy from all the regular Camaro parts suppliers sounds terrible. They have a terrible crackle sound and really do the original factory installed systems no justice and that is a problem for me and alot of others it seems.

So I did some digging and found a company called Highflo Performance located in Michigan that manufactures a complete manifold back 2.5" (NOT a 2.25" system) chambered system with all the hardware for first gens. They also produce a less expensive system for a header back system. After talking to the owner, Ryan Westdorp who honed is exhaust building skill sets from Mike Cederstorm's who some of us are familiar with as the owner of Sweet Thunder. If you are a early Corvette owner, you definitely are aware of the great respect/reviews regarding the Sweet Thunder chambered systems to deliver that correct non-crackling sound. Ryan assured me that his chambered system is manufactured quite differently from the regular run of the mill systems, producing quite a different sound from the other manufacturers, which is exactly what we all need if you want a properly sounding chambered system on your car.

The only negative aspect to his system that I see is that the crimping of the two rear wheel well chambered sections are not spaced out the same as a factory system. For me, if the system sounds as good as it seems, it is a small price to pay to enjoy a chambered set up.


https://highfloperformance.com/pages/about-us

https://highfloperformance.com/colle...mbered-exhaust


As far as a substantial loss in HP/TORQ running the typical chambered system that is currently supplied through the regular Camaro part suppliers, I have heard/read about this many times. Here is a link to another aftermarket chambered pipe manufacturing company called Classic Chambered Exhaust that has customer comparisons with their systems. I cannot say that the Highflo Performance chambered systems delivers this type of similar HP/TORQ numbers as the Classic Chambered Exhaust system, but Ryan assured me he has never had a complaint regarding any engine power loss. And as he put it, "after selling thousands of systems, somebody would have said something by now."

https://www.classicchambered.com/

https://www.classicchambered.com/cla...rformance.html


I am a VERY happy dude now knowing I can install a much more correctly sounding system on my car for next spring....YIPPEE. And once installed, i will see if I can upload a video.


Paul