Exhaust Advice Needed

[bheston]

Hello.  I'm looking to upgrade my exhaust on the '69 SS I just bought.  Looking at the exhaust that is on it now, it looks very nice.  However, it doesn't sound very aggressive.  I wanted to get some opinions on the exhaust that is installed.  Does this look like an expensive system that someone painstakingly built to be as original as possible or is this average and I don't need to feel bad tearing it off and installing something a little more noisy.  I tried to attach a picture.  Thoughts?

[z28z11]

Wow - how aggressive do you want to be ? That's a reproduction of the chambered exhaust system, a system that came standard on early '69 high performance cars, and an optional (and extremely noisy) system available up through May of '69, when it was discontinued due to noise complaints and a lot of owners enduring ticketing because of it.

You can replace it with a louder system, to be sure, but it will take larger pipes and higher flow mufflers from any number of sources; if your want for originality still holds, they are still an expensive and desirable addition to any performance Camaro, originally equipped or not.

Regards,
Steve

[bheston]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the reply!  I'm learning as I go and it seems the owner of this car had aspirations of a true factory-correct restoration.  The car is not loud.  It's actually no louder than the factory exhaust on my 2010 Silverado  . 

I would like it to be a little more aggressive.  Here are more pictures.  Perhaps this provides more clues.  This is a numbers-matching 350 engine and I have the original invoice and protect-o-plate documenting its SS birth.  Also, the car only has 15k original miles (at least that's what I was told).

[bcmiller]

Might not be loud because of how the engine was built. What does it have for a camshaft?

Welcome to CRG. Looks like a very nice car. 

[Kelley W King]

I agree about the cam. I had a 396 with flowmasters that was really calm especially at idle. A little cam goes a long way. Beautiful chambered exhaust.

[KevinW]

Wow, they really tried to get it to GM freshly built condition, but how did they miss the backwards installed valve covers or the air cleaner from some other car? And how did they get the coil to mount on the pass side??? its supposed to be on the drivers side. 

[BULLITT65]

It appears to be a very clean car minus the couple miscues Kevin mentioned. (But those are easily fixed).
You may want to ask the seller where they purchased it through. Some of the stainless systems sound to tin can to me. Maybe post a youtube link so we can hear what your car sounds like?

[bheston]

Great information. I will try to get a YouTube but it might be a few weeks.

Could someone kindly send me a picture of the correct air cleaner? I would like to get that corrected because that’s bothering me 

[bcmiller]

Not factory correct on the air cleaner, but I like it and personally I would just use it. 

[bcmiller]

See this link for some 69 350 engine pics.

http://www.69pace.com/1969_ssL48.htm

[bheston]

Looks like the air cleaner is from a 1970 Z/28.  I must have the "futuristic" air cleaner option - very rare 

1970 Z/28 Engine:

[bheston]

Here is a overview of my engine.  Can you spot any additional errors?  So far I have:

1) Wrong air cleaner
2) Valve covers mounted incorrectly
3) Coil mounted on pass side and should be on drivers
4) Hose clamps wrong

[bheston]

More pics

[69Z28-RS]

I agree with Bryon; I'd keep the air cleaner...     Find an original one at your leisure if you feel the need... 

* I might have an original Air Cleaner for your car if you want to trade... 

[bcmiller]

If you want to have it look completely original that’s fine. Some guys like to be different. Some guys modify cars right away. That’s ok.

It’s YOUR car so do what you want.