Dose anybody know how many Camaros in 69 came with Chambered Exhaust?

1526

Mark How can you tell for sure.

Probably not. The early Z28's and SS396 cars got the chambered exhaust as standard equipment. Then some time in Oct 68 I think it was discontinued as the standard exhaust thanks to complaints from law enforcement but it was still an option up until around May of 69. Records will show how many cars were ordered with the NC8 option but not how many early cars had it installed before the changeover. I'm sure the guys at CRG will add more to this and correct me where I'm wrong.:)

GM reported 1526 RPO NC8 exhaust systems were ordered during the 1969 model year. Z28's got the chambered exhaust as part of the Z28 package up until the end of October or so but i don't know if the Z28's are in addition to that number or if that number included the early Z28's. NC8 was an option for big blocks, I don't think (Kurt?) it was ever actually part of the SS package (or a mandatory option) like it was for the Z28's. NC8 was not available as an option ever, on a small block, except the Z28.

Mark C you have mail

My guess;
Los Angeles thru Nov. 68 10% of 8,000 cars 800
NorWood thru Nov 68 10% of 20,000 cars 2,000
add that to the 1526 optioned cars

Grand total 4326

Hey I know everyone has an opinion

Todd

I don't think the early cars were in the RPO counts, since it was part of the package.
Not something I've researched a lot, but the service bulletin indicates that chambered was discontinued as the standard exhaust on Z28, L34, L78, & L89. That sure implies it was standard on those cars, but I'd like a confirming reference.... Bill will know for sure. :)

My 69 COPO recreation has a repop chambered system on it. When I bought the car I removed non smog cast iron manifolds. As car didnt have smog, I decided to go with Hooker headers for the Day 2 look. Pipes were fabricated to connect Headers to chambered system. Dont know if the one picture shows, but I'm not happy with some of the welds on dual horizontal chambers.
Can someone post or send GOOD closeup pics of cometically correct system.
Thanks,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/DSCF0385.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/DSCF0437.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/HRPT0a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/SubframeBelowFront.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/UnderFloor.jpg

NC8 was initially standard on Z/28 and SS built with L34 [350 hp] and L78/L89 [375 hp] engines. Due to some owners being ticketed for excessive noise it was dropped as standard equipment [tech bulletin 69-T-8, Nov 25, 1968] but remained optional for the above applications until mid-May 1969 when it was discontinued at the same time chrome tailpipes became standard equipment on dual exhaust. At least one ZL1 [#59] was built with it.

Chambered is a noisy system, not to be confused with a high-performance system. Bill Porterfield did a series of dyno runs on a ZL1 engine, starting with "as-delivered" condition. When the chambered system was removed the engine picked up nearly 80 hp.

To dispel all of the other myths about chambered it was not made of stainless steel, was not larger in diameter and never had chrome tailpipes. With the exception of the manifold pipes Z/28 & bb used the same parts. Occasionally an alleged NOS system turns up on ebay, often with 2 3958458 mufflers and a standard RH tailpipe. On a correct original system the RH tailpipe is welded to the muffler; the LH tailpipe is not.

i can email you some pictures of my c&c reproduction & some original.

On the above COPO recreation, had the car not come with the repop chambered, I personally would have opted for the original style single transverse muffler.....or possibly the flowmaster transverse......
On Hot Rod Power Tour 2005,I received several surprising compliments about the way my car sounded......so other than trying to clean up some of the welding cosmetics, I'll leave it alone...

When the chambered system was removed the engine picked up nearly 80 hp.

So was the hp gain with it removed and running open, or in comparison to the regular transverse setup? Just wondering if there is any dis/advantage in hp in the chambered vs transverse systems.


dave

So was the hp gain with it removed and running open, or in comparison to the regular transverse setup? Just wondering if there is any dis/advantage in hp in the chambered vs transverse systems.


dave

I was wondering that too Dave. Any exhaust system on a ZL1 will probably cost 50-80 hp over open headers. But I wonder what the real power difference is between the transverse and chambered. So William, the original chambered exhaust on a big block was only 2" piping like the Z28? That would definitely hurt power output. But i don't think the chambered exhaust was really very good at making power no matter what size. And some of them really sound obnoxious.

The ZL1 with the bad boy cam is an extreme example but the point remains that NC8 was highly restrictive. Todays' 3-inch X pipe systems cost almost no power regardless of cam.

I have no hard data on an N10 vs NC8 comparison. But I do have an old memory. Way back when one of my Illinois cronies who ran a speed shop had a daily driver '69 Z/28 with NC8 that was a regular visitor to their chassis dyno. When the chambered went away it was replaced with a stock transverse muffler. I recall his surprise at the 10 or so RWHP the car immediately picked up.

Here is one picture. I have a Stainless Works chambered repro system. Mine sounds like it has glass packs. Is that what they are supposed to sound like?

My b/b has a set of ss 409 (Ithink--definately not 304) ones made off the original GM tooling. Supposedly one of 1000 sets made by Colvin in the 80's. I met a guy in Knoxville who had a set, and he told me the story. Then when I was shopping for a bunch of stuff, D&R told me about an old set they had for about 10-15 years. They told me the same story....so I believe it.

Anyway, mine has sort of a tinny sound, coupled with the rumble of a lopey cam. I personally love it....but my wife hates it and won't ride in it. So I win twice :)

Gary, I have been told and read the same thing from many sources, i.e. the darn repro's sound like glass packs. And many people have removed them!

Gary, I have been told and read the same thing from many sources, i.e. the darn repro's sound like glass packs. And many people have removed them!

I would prefer the "tinny" sound Unreal refers to above. I will probably change mine to the transverse system. That is what I originally ordered and received the chambered in error.

what do they sound like?

what do they sound like?

Like brand new glass pack mufflers.

I cleaned up some of the ugly welds on my above pictured 69 Yellow BB clone (COPO) .....and rewelded a few welds with my Miller Tig.
I still cant get over how unhappy I am with the LOOK of the tailpipes......They have the misc kinks from bending, and the aluminized pipe has degraded in areas, causing constant rust and steel wool maintenance.
W/O having a local muffler shop trial and error tailpipes .....does ANY company make a stainless tailpipe or chrome tailpipe in 2+ inches I can retrofit to this ??? brand chambered system
I'm too cheap to remove system and buy FLOWMASTER or ???? ........and this does resemble G.M. factory on my "clone" COPO.........( I know who cares)

Thanks for your advice...........

........and this does resemble G.M. factory on my "clone" COPO.........( I know who cares)
........

Chuck,
Hey, I care. I know the feeling. I'm all about "factory original"

Hope you get it all worked out soon. I know it can be frustrating at times but remember, this is a hobby, it's supposed to be fun!! :)

Doug

........anybody have accurate info, on how misc chambered mounting hangars,brackets, clamps are PLATED or Coated.....If natural steel did YOU paint "natural steel" or what have correct cars LOOKED like.
I was thinking to manganese phosphate misc brackets and maybe zinc plate (silver) the clamps??????
Just dont want Rust!!!!!!!!!!!

........
Just dont want Rust!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry Chuck, have to chime in with a zinger for you

If you don't want rust MOVE from the rain forest ... :-)

Jim, I was RAINED upon BIG TIME in Kentucky and Tennesee during the 2005 Power Tour. I know many people like to bust Washingtonians upon ALL the rain.........but truth be had, it rains more inches, with more force in many other localities.
I dont plan on driving car in rain, here in Seattle, but as car is not a trailer queen/show car, I'd like the misc surfaces plated, painted BoeShield T-9'd to protect......

love ya man,

bump

Hello to ALL my patient friends, (Huh???) I'm still playing with the above "POS" chambered exhaust system. I'm retrofitting the below pictured
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Exhaust/StainlessWorks.jpg
Stainless Tipped tailpipes to the above system........
Ive cut off the non chrome (surface rusted) tailpipes. I would up cutting clean through the right side and now have nothing to slide the new polished pipe onto.
Also could you please LOOK at the Top above pic and SEE where the pipe sizes down between front chamber and rear chamber.
Seems like ORIGINAL 69 OEM system pipe size remained the same between chamber..........
I'm close to tossing this entire mess.........but I'm so friggin frugal to keep throwing money at this upside down $$$$$ clone.........

Thanks,