I know the full exhaust system has been discussed several times but I'm really undecided about which route to take. I can pay to have a custom exhaust installed or I can do this on my own with the Flowmaster. The only thing that is holding me back about the Flowmaster or any pre-bent exhaust is the fitment especially the exit out the rear. Anyone have pictures of the back of their Camaro with the Flowmaster they can post?
Did you have problems with the 2 1/2 hitting or rubbing against the tank, axle springs or quarter panels?


Thanks
Dave

I have the 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhaust kit (#389-17149 - Jegs)on my car and there is no rubbing anywhere. It fit really nice. The only cutting was from the headers to the H pipe and that modification is due to all the different manufacturers of headers - I think.

If you want photos, just tell me what you want and I'll post them.

My pipes were bent by a shop, and the driver side barely has room between the spring and the quarter panel, so it vibrates a little there.
One piece of advice I can give you- listen to a car with flowmasters at all RPM's and see if you still want them. I have headers with 40 series, and I don't care for them. I wanted something with more of a bass note to it, these sound hollow and raspy, and at WOT they sound like a Harley. At idle, they're okay, and at cruising speed they aren't bad either.

I know I know mine is a 68 but the quality and fit of the 67-68 kit was very good. I installed this weekend on the street with jackstands. If you have a lift it'll take no time. We had to cut some pipe near the headers and one of the hangers (because of my tire size). I highly recommend.

No exhaust shop can custom mandrel bend a whole exhaust system for the price of the flowmaster system. If you want a restrictive crimp bent exhaust system for the same or more money than the flowmaster kit than go for it. But if you want a good free flowing mandrel bent system that you can pretty much install at home I would go flowmaster all the way. The force II system is easier to install than the AT (amreican thunder) system because the AT system requires that you remove the rear seats and drill some holes in the floor pan right behind the rear seats. Also the header collectors need to have the collector rings welded, easily done by anyone with a welder, my father inlaw did mine at his work, took about 10 mins to do both collectors.

http://www.pypesexhaust.com/sys-fb2.html

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by mulsane71z:
I have the 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhaust kit (#389-17149 - Jegs)on my car and there is no rubbing anywhere. It fit really nice. The only cutting was from the headers to the H pipe and that modification is due to all the different manufacturers of headers - I think.

If you want photos, just tell me what you want and I'll post them.

</font>


Thanks for all the replies. I'm really interested in the exit of the tailpipes and how they look compared to the factory setup. I will be running the stock exhaust manifolds so additional downpipes will need to be made to fit the flowmaster if I go that route. Zee thanks for the link to the Pypes site. I found where they offer the downpipes and also a quiet version of the complete exhaust system. This is a concern since my wife and 3yr old will be riding along and the constant drone of a loud exhaust system my affect their interest in the car.
mulsane71z do you have the transverse setup or the true duals? Hows the sound level witht he setup you have?


Dave.

Just my 2 cents.....I`ve got the transverse set up on my Z. I`m told its good sounding but on the loud side.Its not loud inside at all tho,can carry a normal conversation.I also run the stock manifolds.A buddy who works at Midas installed it, he does all their custom exhaust work,took him 4-5 hours to get it right. Had to rebend the pipes to get them straight under the car and out the back.I`m happy with it,don`t know if I would do it myself tho.Good luck with yours.


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Dan
70 RS Z28

I had the cross flowmaster cross flow kit from Summit installed. It all fit perfectly on my 70Z. I had 2.5" pipes made up from the smaller 2.25 stock size from the manifolds but as short as Midas could make them. The tailpipes were cut on a 45* and bent inward like my stock all chrome tailpipes.

I couldn't stand the drone at 2500 RPM coming from the pass window, and no, I wasn't going to roll up the window. I hated the loud noise. It was still in my head after a short drive. It probably wouldn't have bothered me if I was 20. This was without headers too, so the sound is different compared to a car with headers. Plus, I couldn't hear the M22 whine. So I put the stock Walker system back on the next day.

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Mark
1970 Z28
Home Page on 1970 Z28
http://members.rogers.com/mlvd/

Sounds like the custom bend with a Walker or like muffler is setup for me. Mark I was thinking about the Gardner exhaust but can't justify that much for an exhaust system right now. I had a system purchased from Joe's 2nd gen but he strung me along for four weeks, and still no exhaust. Nice guy but too many excuses as to why the system wasn't done so I cancelled the order.

Fyi, The new Pypes crossflow system has completed final fitment testing and will be in stock by early May. For those of you that are concerned with clearance because of a lowered vehicle or the 'oem look', this system differs from the FM system in that it employs the use of a 'straight thru' crossflow muffler for extremely high flow ratings not found in any other F body crossflow system available. If you are interested, here are a few pics of the test vehicle system. http://pypesexhaust.com/gallery36.html



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Fool around, get hurt, don't come crying to me

i've got the american thunder system on mine.. please disregard rust & jacked up rear http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/CharlieCamaro/vicky%20camaro/DSCF10007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/CharlieCamaro/vicky%20camaro/DSCF10009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/CharlieCamaro/vicky%20camaro/DSCF10008.jpg

i can get more detailed pics but not until the weekend.. if you want them let me know..

cheers,


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"Son, a woman is like a beer. They smell good, they look good, you'd step over your own mother just to get one! But you can't stop at one. You wanna drink another woman!" - Homer J. Simpson

1977 Camaro Sports Coupe (http://home.zonnet.nl/ksstone)

Here is a link to a tech topic on another forum concerning this system.

http://forums.performanceyears.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/8016067811/m/6421003511

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Fool around, get hurt, don't come crying to me

Dave,

If you are thinking of going with the Pypes system, have a good long chat with Chris about the pre-bent front pipes.

I bought a complete 2 1/2" xpipe system from Chris last year for my 79. The fit on the x pipe backwards was really good, I had no interference problems over the rear axle or under the trunk area and the tail pipes exit nice and straight (I put the stainless angle cuts on them).
The front pipes were a pain though. I had to have new necks made as the pre-bent were too big to seal the manifolds; the passenger side hung way to low and both angle bends had to be changed.
I may have been unlucky, Chris may have improved on them since, but it would wise to check with him before ordering.

Overall, I am really pleased with it.

Ccass. how much is the new crossflow system??

I put the American Thunder 2 1/2" system on my 72 and it was no problem at all. Just needed slight tweeking of the hangers to get the tips to have clearance and fit. Looks the same as the stock system except bigger pipes. Great system, glad I got it.

I just put the 2-1/2 inch AT true dual system on my '79 2 weekends ago (PN 17149). I love it. I love the tailpipes. BUT - this system is fairly loud and based on what you said about your family members, it would probably be too loud. But - my interior is completely removed (for restoration) so I'm not sure how much that is contributing to the cabin noise. BTW, the tailpipes, and the entire system fit perfectly with no clearance issues.

Ditto on the above statement about mandrel bends. I'm sure a muffler shop will do their best to convince you that it doesn't matter, but it does. And be sure to get stainless steel or aluminized. Don't try to skimp on that cost. Otherwise, you'll be replacing the system in 5 years. There are so many pre-fabbed systems out there, that IMHO, this is the only way to go - even if you must pay a muffler shop to install it. Don't waste your money on a "custom" bent exhaust shop system. Those are for people that drive "not so common" cars. Take advantage of the fact that there are so many Camaros still on the road and buy a factory (and I don't mean OEM) built system.

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2000 Corvette hardtop black, 6 speed, 1/4 mile: 12.918 @ 111.29 mph on stock EMT's 330 rwhp, 342 rwt on MTI's dyno, 3075 lbs SOLD ; C6 coming soon

79 Camaro 355 CID, Edelbrock intake, Edelbrock 600 cfm carb, Edelbrock performer 64 cc alum cyl heads, comp cams extreme energy 262 cam, erson roller rockers, hooker headers, Flowmaster American Thunder 2-1/2 in exhaust, Mallory Comp 9000, 3.42 posi, 700R4 rebuilt w/ B&M kit, 2400 stall converter w/ TCI lockup kit, energy suspension f.e. rebuild, 1-1/4 front sway bar, 5/8 rear bar

67 Camaro, 327 w/ a 'glide , waiting on "funding"