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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I found a source who has more than two dozen of these. These are original, new, GM mufflers as used on our cars from the factory and on the 4th gens. They are unused have been in storage for a long time and all of them have scratches and dents on them from being stacked. These three are supposedly the nicest ones and I have another several I am going to buy. Are these something our community would be interested in? If so, should I buy him out and be the repository of factory mufflers for our cars - dents, scratches and all.
It's too bad there are no factory tail pipes to go with them. Let me know what you guys think?
Keep them for 50 more years and they MIGHT be worth something.
There is no real need for numbers matching exhaust for the 3rd gen.
The cars just do not bring the money for a factory nut and bolt resto like the WWII ford jeeps (I am a military restorer and collector also) where 1 single bolt in a original military packing may fetch 30$.
Keep them for 50 more years and they MIGHT be worth something.
There is no real need for numbers matching exhaust for the 3rd gen.
The cars just do not bring the money for a factory nut and bolt resto like the WWII ford jeeps (I am a military restorer and collector also) where 1 single bolt in a original military packing may fetch 30$.
Actually, I'll go to extreme measures in order to put a stock exhaust back on my cars - both for the original look and sound. I resort to nation wide searches in order to find someone's cast off used one.
Although dinged up, these are new. I just wish factory tailpipes could be sourced.
Actually, I'll go to extreme measures in order to put a stock exhaust back on my cars - both for the original look and sound. I resort to nation wide searches in order to find someone's cast off used one.
Although dinged up, these are new. I just wish factory tailpipes could be sourced.
I'd love to have a stock exhaust on mine as well. I still have the Flowmaster exhaust that was put on by the previous owner and it's just too darned noisy for me.
Hey Chazman really neat find. Do you know how to read the date codes on them? I am assuming they have a date code. Also are they application specific for the drivetrain?
Hey Chazman really neat find. Do you know how to read the date codes on them? I am assuming they have a date code. Also are they application specific for the drivetrain?
If anyone has info on reading the date code, I'm all ears!
Here is the PN on the one on my '91. I'm looking for another for my '92, it's too bad those have a bit of shelf wear... Perfect for a replacement of a nice survivor driver though, I still think these are the best sounding of any brand on our cars, nice and mellow
Here is the PN on the one on my '91. I'm looking for another for my '92, it's too bad those have a bit of shelf wear... Perfect for a replacement of a nice survivor driver though, I still think these are the best sounding of any brand on our cars, nice and mellow
I'm with you, Erik. It's hard to beat the factory exhaust note.
If it follows other dates, the first two numbers are the line & the shift, the 164 and 4 would be the Julian date and the year so June 12th of 1984 or June 13th of 1994.
A few months ago I was talking to a guy (I think on ebay) who was selling some like this. Only I didn't think he had any that were un-dented. I was confused as to why somebody would go though the trouble of saving them, but they treated so poorly. The ones I saw looked like they were tossed into a dumpster a few times. Those your showing don't look too bad. Are they good on both sides? Would also be interesting to see how the pipes were cut off. I was thinking of buying one, but they all seemed to have some pretty good dents somewhere. Maybe this is a different guy, or he found some decent ones out of the bunch?
I'd say if you can get the factory muffler/tailpipe assembly for $114 from that site, that's the way to go. But I'd be surprised if they had the OEM part available.
The Walker tails are fairly close, but aren't exact replicas of the the GM parts.
A few months ago I was talking to a guy (I think on ebay) who was selling some like this. Only I didn't think he had any that were un-dented. I was confused as to why somebody would go though the trouble of saving them, but they treated so poorly. The ones I saw looked like they were tossed into a dumpster a few times. Those your showing don't look too bad. Are they good on both sides? Would also be interesting to see how the pipes were cut off. I was thinking of buying one, but they all seemed to have some pretty good dents somewhere. Maybe this is a different guy, or he found some decent ones out of the bunch?
Charlie, I would be interested in buying one or two to put away for the future. I always wondered if there might be a source for NOS mufflers out there when the time came to replace mine. Thanks for your efforts.
Well, I'm gonna try and clean these up and see how they look. If anyone remembers the muffler/TP assembly I found for my yellow IROC, and how it looked after I restored it, I think these will look pretty good.
I Would Request Pics Of Both Ends Of The Muffler Before Purchase,To See What Inlets/Outlets It Has,If You Do A Complete Search Of #10229366 It Has Been Superseded Several Times 10229366 To->10244693 To->10285174 To>10289836. And That Shows It's For A Forth Gen.
That looks like the guy. I bought the 7 best ones he had. Not sure what he's doing with the rest of them
Yes, that's a 4th gen clamp on the one. The 3rd and 4th gen mufflers are the same. The ones I already have are identical to the factory IROC's in both dimensions and design.
Also, they're coming from Canada, so we may have an issue with duties.
I was wondering if all these use the same pt numbers or do they have the superseded numbers in later yrs? I honestly haven't looked at any of my 4th gen catbacks to know.
Wow. Ive had a thread up in the wanted section for months now. Im looking for a factory muffler and tips, however just a factory muffler would be easier and cheaper to ship lol.
Charlie if you ever feel seven mufflers is too many for you, id be interested. If youre planning on selling some and all are called for, then thats ok.
Wow. Ive had a thread up in the wanted section for months now. Im looking for a factory muffler and tips, however just a factory muffler would be easier and cheaper to ship lol.
Charlie if you ever feel seven mufflers is too many for you, id be interested. If youre planning on selling some and all are called for, then thats ok.
Hey Brad, let me see what the next four look like and we'll talk.
I picked up a muffler with tail pipes and tips from a 4th gen LT1 Firebird somewhere around 2000. The muffler part number was exactly the same as the one on my 91 Formula, same clamp on both, etc. In fact about the only difference was the 4th gen setup had the tips.
As far as sound, the stock muffler was extremely quiet, and the 4th gen muffler is just as boring. I ran the stock 91 muffler and pipes on my 86 T/A for awhile too. Even with SLP headers, high flow cat, a cam, etc it was still extremely quiet. Not sure where people are getting the idea that the stock mufflers ever sounded that great. Maybe is the same misguided nostalgia that makes Gatorbacks the best looking and performing tire ever made.
I picked up a muffler with tail pipes and tips from a 4th gen LT1 Firebird somewhere around 2000. The muffler part number was exactly the same as the one on my 91 Formula, same clamp on both, etc. In fact about the only difference was the 4th gen setup had the tips.
As far as sound, the stock muffler was extremely quiet, and the 4th gen muffler is just as boring. I ran the stock 91 muffler and pipes on my 86 T/A for awhile too. Even with SLP headers, high flow cat, a cam, etc it was still extremely quiet. Not sure where people are getting the idea that the stock mufflers ever sounded that great. Maybe is the same misguided nostalgia that makes Gatorbacks the best looking and performing tire ever made.
Drew! Where have you been?!
Anyway, don't be a party pooper - I love the factory sound and the look of Gatorbacks.
I'm guessing its the same guy. I know there where no boxes & the seller said they all had damage. I made the assumption they where new take offs & not really NOS. I never looked into it any further. I would love to find an original muffler for my 89. IT still has all the original pipes, but seeing the tail pipes were cut off the original muffler & then clamped on, They are probably 1" short to be welded onto the muffler & look original again. Would still be better that the aftermarket replacement thats on it now though.
Not sure why, but I never got a subscription notification on this thread. I'll subscribe again & see if it works.
I picked up a muffler with tail pipes and tips from a 4th gen LT1 Firebird somewhere around 2000. The muffler part number was exactly the same as the one on my 91 Formula, same clamp on both, etc. In fact about the only difference was the 4th gen setup had the tips.
As far as sound, the stock muffler was extremely quiet, and the 4th gen muffler is just as boring. I ran the stock 91 muffler and pipes on my 86 T/A for awhile too. Even with SLP headers, high flow cat, a cam, etc it was still extremely quiet. Not sure where people are getting the idea that the stock mufflers ever sounded that great. Maybe is the same misguided nostalgia that makes Gatorbacks the best looking and performing tire ever made.
I love the gatorbacks, but mostly because they scream 80's Irocs & corvettes. I'll never forget going to pick up some parts at Broadway Chevrolet in 1986 & walking past a new iroc on the sales floor. I was blown away with such a wide & low looking tire on a production car. Its nothing today, but at the time 50's sidewalls on a 16" rim was unheard of & cool as heck. So, just looking at my gatorbacks on my 3rd gens brings me right back to that time. Great memory for me. Somewhere I have a picture of Spring break @ Daytona beach in the spring of 1986. There where three Irocs were lined up on the beach. I went and looked at those first, then the Girls.....
I picked up a muffler with tail pipes and tips from a 4th gen LT1 Firebird somewhere around 2000. The muffler part number was exactly the same as the one on my 91 Formula, same clamp on both, etc. In fact about the only difference was the 4th gen setup had the tips.
As far as sound, the stock muffler was extremely quiet, and the 4th gen muffler is just as boring. I ran the stock 91 muffler and pipes on my 86 T/A for awhile too. Even with SLP headers, high flow cat, a cam, etc it was still extremely quiet. Not sure where people are getting the idea that the stock mufflers ever sounded that great. Maybe is the same misguided nostalgia that makes Gatorbacks the best looking and performing tire ever made.
I guess I need to say I miss-spoke/typed by saying that it was only a 4th clamp.
I know the old guillotine clamps were used until 89 or 90 as far as I remember seeing. My 91-2 garage cars all have/had SLP catbacks on them. I do have 2 lower mile factory exhaust 92 ttop formula 350s in the shed I need to look at.
My wifes 98 has the nicer flat clamp. I removed so many stock exhausts through the yrs and surprising I don't remember which clamp was used in the other yrs from 90-97.
As far as the gatorback tire, they do have a great looking tread that really belongs on these cars. As far as performance, it was fairly decent for the time (84ish 92ish) but not close to the very sticky near road race compounds of todays tires.
Time and tech marches on every yr.
When ever I see a nice 3rd gen, I always check to see if it has a factory exhaust. They usually don't, so it's a pleasant surprise when they do.
As far as Gatorbacks go, they were the baddest tire of the '80's. And today, they complete the look of our cars. I wish Kelsey would release them in our size already!
As far as Gatorbacks go, they were the baddest tire of the '80's. And today, they complete the look of our cars. I wish Kelsey would release them in our size already![/QUOTE]
I have bought from him as well, have to watch the pricing there, some of it is crazy high.
Not sure if that P shaped clamp is even correct but its different than the 3rds U shape and 98 an up stuff
I have bought from him as well, have to watch the pricing there, some of it is crazy high.
Not sure if that P shaped clamp is even correct but its different than the 3rds U shape and 98 an up stuff
I got L-69 exhaust manifolds for my Crossfire from him. He had them listed for something ridiculous like $375 and they didn't sell.
He then re-listed them with no reserve. I realized I was the only one watching them and bid $9 at the end of the auction and got them. Shipping cost was a bear though.
I've bought a few other items from him, though - he's got some cool stuff.
Several years ago on eBay, (maybe from the same seller), they had a GM OEM 3rd gen muffler/tail pipe assembly, brand new, never been used and in perfect condition. I bid on it, but it went far higher than I was willing to spend. This one doesn't seem to be getting the same love.