I bought a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro that received everything from a 1989 IROC-Z... I noticed today that the muffler was not in the back, but instead, was where the cat is supposed to be! From there their's a pipe that go over the rear end and split into 2 exits... Why would someone do that this way if it wasn't like that from the manufacturer?

Any idea?

 

Interesting, I wouldn't think there would be enough room to put it there. Can you post a pic?

 

Well it's one way of eliminating the cat, but it is the long way of doing it.

It's possible that someone straight piped the exhaust at one time (thus the custom dual exits) and then a new owner decided to quiet it down and instead of cutting into the rear and having to redo the exits, just put a muffler where the cat should go since there's more space there.

 

If you have to pass a smog check in your state, this will never fly. Get a random-technologies converter and a decent catback system. Your car might even run better. Hooker and SLP also make smog legal headers, if you are so inclined

 

It's dark here right now, I'll try to take some pics on may 28 when I will not work.

I can say, the muffler seem to fit pretty good there, and the ground clearance is not really reduced that's what I was amazed about.

But why would someone change it to that way? Is their any benefits or is it better the manufacturer's way?

 

I've always been curious what differences in exhuast tone the car might have when comparing the same muffler in the stock location vs. having one in the area where the cat is or near there. Quieter, louder, less muffled, more muffled?

 

It is pretty loud actually... But I don't know if it has a performance muffler or anything. I also don't know the size of the piping... I will check all that and take some pics for the interested on the 28?

Maybe a video with sound too?

 

Another reason, and I think the only one that hasnt been mentioned, is so that the exhaust can be heard better in that position. I have recently put on an 80 series flowmaster (because it mathches up with the stock piping and no custom work will have to be done) and noticed that it sounds really good, if youre standing behind the car. If you are in the car you hear nothing but motor. If the muffler fits good and they found a logical place to hang it I see no problem with it and think its not a half bad idea.

 

if the muffler is a chambered tube type or a bullet style, the the I pipe section or by the Cat is a good place to put one. thats if you want to retain dual exits out the back of the car

and thats the reason i put one muffler behind the cat. i want dual exits out the back, and i will have them

 

Waonfire, is the muffler a chambered tube type or a bullet style if so that is a very sensible place to put it, good thinking Orr89rocz. Also, is the car abnoxiously loud or does it sount decent.

 

yep, that's what was on my '94.

with the muffler closer to the manifolds, the tone is different. It's hard to explain the exact difference and it's usually different on every car. It usually tends to come out a little better imo

 

usually the more tailpipe after the muffler the deeper the overall tone is...


I had a flow 40 where the cat was on my Z24 and just pipe all the way back, it sounded great but the droning from the FM drove me nuts...

 

yeah deeper and it usually "hides" more of the muffler's tone.

 

Well, tomorow I don't work, so I'll try to take some pics from the exhaust system. Maybe I'll take a small video with sound, butit'll be probably not sound good because of the cheap digital cam.

 

SPL makes a catback like that for the ls1 cars. Could be easyly modded to fit are cars. Adam :-)

SLP Performance Parts - VIEW P/N: 31043A

 

Well a lot of drag racers that need mufflers but don't want to have a full exhaust will install the muffler as close to the engine as possible and then for the track just remove the rear exhaust.
It saves a good bit of weight.
Another reason might have been to center the cars weight. A well balanced car doesn't have heavy parts far from the cars CG. Put the muffler in the middle of the car and it's not hanging off the end of the car. Same goes for car stereo equipment. Sure a huge sub box makes the rear sit lower but it also can be dangerous when you loose the rear end and it keeps on wanting to turn around on itself! That's the long winded answer that was probably not in the original owners thought process.

 

Never tought I would have that much replies hehe...

Tomorow I go see my mechanic so I'll be able to take pic from the underside so you people can see it.

 

lol has nothing to do here but i did a burnout when i had stock exhaust/engine and broke pipe at the cat lol best sound i ever had lol people didnt beleive me when i said it was stock , but like said before more than likely a fix to straight pipes, best bet , if you dont like get some new pipes and cat (especially for smog states) or if you liek , leave either way exhaust on 3rd gens is saweet

 

When I bought my first GTA it had a 2.25 inch midas job from the cat back so to get it loud cheaply I put a DeltaFlow 40 where the cat was and ran the I pipe to right before the rear axle and let it dump there. Sounded pretty freakin cool.