camaro chambered exhaust

[427-KING]

Does anyone know when exactly  chambered exhaust option was offered for camaros[ie earliest to latest]production dates.? Ive seen many conflicting reports,and also it was stated that camaros had chambered option avialable beyond the chevelle. Also what are the camaro production numbers for camaros.lastly does anyone know what XH code on buildsheet is for transmission ? Thanks

[Mark]

Chambered exhaust was the standard exhaust on Z28's from start of 69 production until early November 68, after that it was optional.  It was an optional exhaust on all big block SS's from atart of production until May 19th 1969, at which point the system was cancelled for all Camaros.  All cars on the production line that did not actually have the exhaust installed by end of 2nd shift on the 18th of May had the exhaust replaced with the N10 dual exhaust system, no matter what the order, or broadcast sheet stated.  I do not beleive it was available on small blocks other than the Z28 at anytime during the year.  1526 Camaros were equipped with the system.

XH is the code for an M21 with 3.73 rear gear.

[Stingr69]

Mark,
That "1526" number is too low. The system was standard on all Z/28, L34, L78, and L89 untill Nov 25th, '68. Still available as an option untill May 19th '69 so that "1526" number could not include all of them. That number may be only the ones that were ordered as "RPO NC8" from Nov to May but that is only my guess. It wasn't an RPO before the cut off.

My car still has about 25% of my original GM hangars back there holdomg up a repro chambered exhaust.  I know it is pretty restrictive but since the car came with it originally, I want to run it for the historical purposes.

-Mark.

[bertfam]

The system was standard on all Z/28, L34, L78, and L89 untill Nov 25th, '68

Not quite. It was only standard until August 25th, 1968. After that it was optional until May 19th, 1969, and the official Chevrolet records indicate only 1526 cars came with ROP NC8.

More info HERE.

Ed

[427-KING]

Thanks for replys

[tmodel66]

The system was standard on all Z/28, L34, L78, and L89 untill Nov 25th, '68

Not quite. It was only standard until August 25th, 1968. After that it was optional until May 19th, 1969, and the official Chevrolet records indicate only 1526 cars came with ROP NC8.

More info HERE.

Ed

Mark you stated November for Z28 and Ed said August. Was the system standard on Z/28 til November but the Big Block cars got cut off in August? I don't have either car but I thought it interesting they stopped so much earlier on the big blocks.

[bertfam]

I think the PDF is a typo and should be November instead of August (which was what I was quoting). I checked a few other sources and they all have November 25th, 1968.

However, the number produced (1526) is consistant with the other sources as well, so that's correct.

I'll have Kurt take a look at the PDF.

Ed

[tmodel66]

Thanks for the information Ed.

[Stingr69]

The system was standard on all Z/28, L34, L78, and L89 untill Nov 25th, '68

Not quite. It was only standard until August 25th, 1968. After that it was optional until May 19th, 1969, and the official Chevrolet records indicate only 1526 cars came with ROP NC8.

More info HERE.


Ed

I know about that chart but it does not take into account any option that was part of another performance package. All SS's or Z/28's built during the time frame would have chambered exhaust as part of that package and it would not be counted in that RPO chart that CRG put together. Chambered exhaust was available but not allways an RPO by itself untill after it was made optional on high performace models (a separate individual RPO).

-Mark.

[Stingr69]

The system was standard on all Z/28, L34, L78, and L89 untill Nov 25th, '68

Not quite. It was only standard until August 25th, 1968. After that it was optional until May 19th, 1969, and the official Chevrolet records indicate only 1526 cars came with ROP NC8.

More info HERE.

Ed

Mark you stated November for Z28 and Ed said August. Was the system standard on Z/28 til November but the Big Block cars got cut off in August? I don't have either car but I thought it interesting they stopped so much earlier on the big blocks.

Both Chevelle SS and Camaro BB & Z/28 had the standard chambered exhaust system changed to regular duals on November 25th, '68. After that, the system became available as a separate regular production option NC-8. 

[KurtS]

The option pdf was in error, sorry. I fixed it in the spreadsheet and will update the pdf in the near future.

[firstgenaddict]

I have a photo of a friends recall letter issued Aug 22 1969 by Chevrolet which states 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.

[tmodel66]

I have a photo of a friends recall letter issued Aug 22 1969 by Chevrolet which states 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.

Why has California never been anything but a bur under the saddle?  They've got 36 blends of gas now days and put the squeeze on the whole nation with some of their crazy thinking. 

[crobjones2]

Why has California never been anything but a bur under the saddle?  They've got 36 blends of gas now days and put the squeeze on the whole nation with some of their crazy thinking. 

Don't get me started :p

[miket1]

I think the PDF is a typo and should be November instead of August (which was what I was quoting). I checked a few other sources and they all have November 25th, 1968.    However, the number produced (1526) is consistant with the other sources as well, so that's correct.
I'll have Kurt take a look at the PDF.
Ed
  My 69 Z28 was built 10B, 1968, it came in from Chevrolet with chambered exhaust as std. equipment, I have the original sales order showing the base price and options ordered, the chambered exhaust is  not  listed as an option.
Thanks,  Mike

[KurtS]

I have a photo of a friends recall letter issued Aug 22 1969 by Chevrolet which states 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

Interesting that those dates conflict with other GM documentation.

[firstgenaddict]

  My 69 Z28 was built 10B, 1968, it came in from Chevrolet with chambered exhaust as std. equipment, I have the original sales order showing the base price and options ordered, the chambered exhaust is  not  listed as an option.
Thanks,  Mike

That is correct, it should not be listed as an option as it was standard equipment at that time.

[KurtS]

And I finally updated the RPO sheet with this correction and lots of other details.

[firstgenaddict]

Kurt,
The Exhaust Recall Letter I have a copy of is from a LOS car, I do not know if it matters however I felt it was necessary to add.

James

[NoYenko]

Question related to my early 11A 396 and judging.
From what I read here my 396 car may have been built with chambered exhaust. My trim tag is dated 11A but several component dates are more like middle of Nov. The car has rusty cambered exhaust hangers in the rear also. If I install the deep tone single muffler system would I get points taken off at a national event. Not a big fan of the chambered exhaust for a 325hp cruiser. What do you guys think. George

[firstgenaddict]

GM Paperwork indicates L35 325's were not equipped with Chambered it was option NC8.
If your engine block is not original to the car I would be inclined to believe you have a L34 350HP not a L35.
Same fuel line set up as L35 just a hotter cam and slightly higher AT shift points.

[MyRed67]

Both Chevelle SS and Camaro BB & Z/28 had the standard chambered exhaust system changed to regular duals on November 25th, '68. After that, the system became available as a separate regular production option NC-8. 
[/quote]
  Hmmmm,  I had a '69 Chevelle SS  L35/ 350 hp., 4 spd., 4.11 POSI with Chambered Exhaust.  Just now finding out how rare that was.  I remember the local Police was always hasselling me about it, I just always told them it was factory installed.  Of course I should add I always made the most of it.

[NoYenko]

James thanks. It is all original drivetrain, and L35. I miss read the information or spaced out again on the L34-350 vs L35-325. It's confusing why chevrolet gave the lower HP engine a higher numerical number. So my car could have come with standard dual exhaust. George

[MO]

I'm with Stingr69, 1526 seems far too low. With 20,000 Z's produced in 69, that's and average of over 1300 per month (considering the extended model year production). So in the first four months of production, they may not have hit the average, but there had to have been more that 1526 built. And when you throw in the big block SS's and the option availability until mid May, that number just doesn't make sense.

[KurtS]

The option quantity is for the # of that RPO that was ordered. If it was part of a package, then the RPO wasn't ordered.

Only 116 of CE1 (headlight washer) were ordered, but CE1 is part of the RS option.

[MO]

Kurt, thanks for clarifying. My confusion was from the second post where Mark said-  "1526 Camaros were equipped with the system."

I took that to mean total production.