Exhaust System Configuration on 69Z'z

[Dave69x33]

Can any one tell me, or have pictures of, an original non chambered exhaust system from a 1969Z.  My Z is a 05A built car.  I have a nice repo transverse muffler set-up, with the chrome tip tail pipes purchased from Rick's 1st Gen.  According to Jerry MacNeish's book, after approx April 15, 1969, the system included resonators.  I would like to see these resonators.  Does anyone make very good repos? Were these resonators also used on any other GM car?

I appreciate any feedback that anyone may have.

[william]

The April 15 date is not correct. Dual exhaust Camaros had resonators starting with 1967 production. The "deep-tone" dual exhaust option for 67-68 simply eliminated them.

Possibly due to a short-term supply problem when chambered was dropped as standard equipment some 69s were built without them. The problem went away around February. Check the undercarriage photos of the #3 ZL1 on the rack at Berger Chev for the Hi-Perf Cars Magazine road test. Built 02D, has resonators. Assembly-line systems had the exhaust pipes welded to the resonators; the photos show no clamps.

05A is probably too early for chrome tailpipes. Not that I care, I put them on my car too.

[Dave69x33]

William,

Thanks for the feedback.  I based the April 1969 date from Jerry MacNeish's book, The Definitive 1969 Camaro Z/28 - SS396 Fact Book, pp. 37-38 where he explained the time line with a sketch showing the three different 1969 exhaust system configurations.  Also, on pages 114-119 he shows copies of original window stickers and car shippers, and explained the standard price increase for the Z28 option during the May 1969 time frame, from $506.60 to $522.40 due to the standardization of chrome tips.  Based on the 05A build data and VIN number of my car, it fits in between the window stickers shown on page 111, a May car with VIN 637170 showing the $506.60 price point, and the window sticker on page 114, another May car with VIN 652055 showing the higher$522.40 price.

If anyone else out there has a May '69 Z28 built at Norwood, and happens to have your original window sticker, I would like to know what the price was for the Z28 option, your VIN number, and if know what exhaust system originally came with your car.

I would like to share that Jerry MacNeish goes on to quote a letter sent to Chevrolet dealerships on 12/23/68, stating that the cambered exhaust was discontinued as the standard system on 11/25/68.  This was due to citations the police were handing out for excessive noise on Camaros (and SS Chevelles) optioned with RPO Z28, L34, L78 and L89.  The chambered system was replaced with the standard duel exhaust system used on the 396/325 HP, L35 Camaros.  The letter goes on to state that the RPO NC-8 chambered exhaust was still be available as optional equipment in "those areas where this system was permissible", then finally deleted from production on 5/19/69 with the standardization of the chrome tips.  Interestingly, the window sticker shown in his book on page 113, Z28 VIN 641676 destined for Clinton, Iowa (the Iowa Governor at that that time must have been a Camaro fan....) included the optional chambered exhaust for $15.80.

Sorry for getting a bit wordy here but wanted to pass on to others what I have learned, who may not yet have MacNeish’s and other related fact books.  Let’s keep digging for and sharing more factual documentation on this topic!  I take loads of pictures of any unrestored 69 Camaro I run across but have not yet seen an original exhaust system.

Thanks.

[x77-69z28]

my car is an 05A car also. if you look at page 115, it shows a vin of 641676 and a price of the z28 package as 506.60. that 641 vin is about the end of 05A.

[Dave69x33]

My Camaro VIN is 638712.  May built Camaros at Norwood were N636000 thru N65400, which puts my car about 2700 unit into the month, which correlates with my 05A trim tag.  As William pointed out, and due to the phase-out of the chambered exhaust system as option, along with the transition between the interim transverse muffler and the muffler/resonator systems, it’s possible that these exhaust system variations could have been pepper in among the May cars.

[firstgenaddict]

I have a photo of a friends recall letter issued Aug 22 1969 by Chevrolet
(this was sent to the original owner of his LOS Dec 68 1969 RS/Z)

The letter states the following VERBATIM

"Dear Camaro Owner,
1969 Camaros equipped with engine option Z28 (290 h.p.), L-34 (350 h.p.), or L-78 (375 h.p.) produced prior to December 4, 1968, incorporated a chambered type exhaust system. 1969 Camaros with the engine option Z28 (290 h.p.) produced from December 4, 1968 until May 2, 1969 incorporated a regular muffler dual exhaust without resonators. It has been determined that these exhaust systems may exceed the state of California maximum noise level during instances of maximum acceleration in the lower gear ratios."

If he grants permission I will post a copy of the letter.

[Shooter69z]

I have a 69Z with what I think is the original exhaust system. I think it's a June car. It still has the wrinkle bends in the pipes and resonators on both sides just a head of the muffler. The car has 48,000 miles. I put the last 500 or so on it. I've been told that the system is original to the car.

[69Z28-RS]

Apparently that was the configuration at the latter part of the '69 model year, and is the configuration my car is supposed to be in, although I've never had the resonators on it.   Do you have an audio file of how it sounds?      do you run headers or stock manifolds?  I'd love to hear how it sounds, as I have recently acquired good original resonators for my car.   I'm concerned they will make it *too quiet*..

[Shooter69z]

I don't have audio of the sound. To me it sounds good. Too quiet is a relative thing. It won't rattle any windows but I've had compliments on it's sound. That cam is resonsible for some of it. Folks just think that lope is great. It has stock manifolds.