Exhaust System
1970 Corvette needs a new exhaust system. What are pros and cons in going with a chambered exhaust system instead of a muffler. This car is a driver.
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Re: Exhaust System
If I recall correctly, a Camaro with a chambered exhaust system made less power than one with mufflers. Try using "off road" mufflers for a bit more noise. -
Re: Exhaust System
I can't say on a C3 ,Al. But since my C2 has sidepipes, I had to get a bit of rumble on my daily driver (1992), it was just too quiet.
The stock 92 has a huge resonator behind the cats and the usual 2 mufflers. I put on a chambered catback system from Corvette Central.
The chambered sections are about 3 ft/ long and right behind the cats, the rest is straight thru, no mufflers.
Of course it's louder but, at low RPM, it's quiet enough to drive thru the neighborhood, no one even glances at the car.
It's a bit strange but it's real quiet to 2,800 and then it's like a switch has been thrown, gets nice and rumbly, does sound a bit like sidepipes.
On the highway at cruise, 70mph in 6th, you can barely hear the pipes. And there's no cabin resonance like many aftermarket C4 exhaust systems.
BTW, the CC system fit perfectly, no mods, no hassle.
If I bought another C4 as a daily, I'd put this exhaust on it.
Lawyerspeak: I have no idea how well chambered would do on a C3.
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Re: Exhaust System
The OEM 1969 side exhaust was/is chambered. It will be different than undercar chambered exhaust, but it is hard for me to believe the undercar chambered exhaust systems have more chambers than the side exhaust. Of course the side exhaust exits by the occupants hips and the under car is in the back. That gives an extra 3 feet for sound attenuation.
My first Cortvette was a 1969 390hp with side exhaust. One of my first trips was 300 miles to Cincinnatti. When we arrived the folks there asked us why we were shouting at them. Answer: side exhaust. It sounds nice to passers by, but is too loud for the occupants, even young occupants.
The Camaro undercar chambered exhaust (I believe for 1970, but John H may know better) was withdrawn in mid-production because some jurisdictions were charging drivers with noise violations.
It is your car -- do what you want and let us know how it works out for you.TerryComment
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Re: Exhaust System
I installed chambered exhaust on my 72 350, 4 speed convertible. Wow, sounds great, however, very loud inside. My wife prefers not to cruise to long! Definitely change the personality of this car, I am sure it also added several hp, feels more responsive. Definitely not for long trips. I may be changing to stock pipes with flowmaster. If so, I may sell exhaust. Very low mileage. Let me know if interested. New is not cheap!Comment
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Re: Exhaust System
I purchased mine from Ecklers. C3, awesome sound.Comment
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Re: Exhaust System
I ran stock 2" & 2.5" with stock mufflers, then chambered undercar, Hooker headers & side pipes, and Flowmaster 40 & now 50 series. All comes down to personaly taste. I hated the chambered and side pipes. The chambered came from a well known mfg and didn't come close to fitting under the car, I had to have a muffler shop rebend them to fit. The side pipes were just too loud and easy to burn your legs on. The flow masters, 40's are loud with a drone, the 50's are ok but longer then stock. I plan on going back to the plain jane stock mufflers that fit in correctly under the car.Comment
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Re: Exhaust System
Early production '69 Z/28's (and big-block Camaros) came with the NC8 chambered exhaust system, which was deleted as part of those packages in November due to increasing customer complaints of excessive noise tickets and was replaced by the standard dual exhaust system. The NC8 chambered system continued to be available as an option until mid-May, when it was cancelled entirely, never to be seen again.
The Camaro chambered exhaust system (like the chambered N14 side exhaust system on the midyear Corvettes) was pushed by Sales and Styling, not by Engineering; on the Z/28, it cost over 20hp between 5000-7000 rpm vs. the standard dual exhaust system due to the smaller core pipe diameter and inward-protruding perforations, but it was louder (and raspier).Comment
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Re: Exhaust System
I have not used a chambered exhaust system on my original owner 1970 350/300. I have installed larger exhaust pipes, the originals were 2 inches and I changed to 2 1/2. I got the same type 2 1/2 exhaust pipes that were factory installed on my 1968 327/350 L79. These exhaust pipes will connect to your 1970's exhaust manifolds just like the original 2 inch system. The difference is that just a short distance from the connection at the exhaust manifold the 68's larger exhaust pipe expands from 2 inches to 2 1/2 inches. I used GM's exhaust pipes over 20 years ago, don't know if they are still available from GM.
Muffler preference are Walker guaranteed for life of the car. My Walker mufflers are in excellent condition today. The Walker part number is 21589 for the right side and I installed them on 1/27/1990. When the heat riser is wired open a muffler will last longer.Comment
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Re: Exhaust System
Jim-----
The pipes and mufflers are long-since GM discontinued. In fact, the last time I checked there were virtually no exhaust system pipes or mufflers for any 53-82 Corvette application still available from GM.
Also, for the 1968 model year, ALL Corvettes were equipped with 2-1/2" exhaust----from 300 HP to L-88. For 1969, ALL Corvettes were equipped with 2" exhaust----from 300 HP to ZL-1. The 1968 small block exhaust system can be used to convert any 2" 1969-72 small block system to 2-1/2".
By the way, the 1969 big block forward exhaust pipes are unique to that year. They transition from the 2-1/2" manifold outlet size to the 2" pipe size. 1969 was the only year that ANY Corvette big block ever used a 2" exhaust system and, thus, the forward pipe configuration was used only for that year.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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