First-Gen Camaro Exhaust - Classical Resurrection '68 Camaro

The suspension of our Classical Resurrection Camaro has been tuned to give a cool stance and, we're sure, terrific handling. But, you might wonder, how are we going get a free-breathing exhaust system to fit beneath the lowered underbelly without major clearance problems? The answer comes in the form of this dual-exhaust, single-muffler Flowmaster system designed to tuck neatly under a lowered first-generation Camaro. Add in a set of shorty Hedman headers and speed bumps should be no problem.

The suspension of our Classical Resurrection Camaro has been tuned to give a cool stance a

Just when you thought we had given up on our Classical Resurrection Camaro, the first-gen F-body has resurfaced with another cool twist. As we move closer to getting the car ready for some hot summertime cruising, we're realizing that there are a few special requirements that need to be met. But make no mistake about it, we're on a mission and definitely up to the challenge of getting the cruiser finished and on the road.

In this case, since the car is so close to terra firma (thanks in a big way to the 2-inch dropped spindles and adjustable coilover shocks from Superior Spindles), we were met with the stark realization that the underside of the headers and their accompanying collectors were on a straight path to destruction once the final ride height was arrived at. In simple terms, they were sitting on the ground! Furthermore, we soon envisioned how pancaked the mufflers were going to be the first time we encountered a speed bump. Back to the drawing board, we thought. Maybe it was time to investigate an airbag suspension, or worse yet, jack the thing up.

Then came the phone call from our good friend Brian Moberley at Flowmaster with news of a dual exhaust system designed specifically for early Camaros that have had their suspension height lowered. Voila, perfect solution. But, we thought, how can we stuff two-even slim-mufflers under the lowered floorboards? The answer was simple after we saw the press release. There aren't two mufflers, there's only one. And, it fits in the stock location!

The Flowmaster system comes complete from headpipe to exit tips. The 2 1/2-inch heavy-duty aluminized tubing is mandrel bent and features an H-pipe connection and a large single muffler, which essentially mounts in the stock location. Tips come straight out the back, but in our case, we had them modified so they would dump out right after the rear tires.

The Flowmaster system comes complete from headpipe to exit tips. The 2 1/2-inch heavy-duty

One muffler, dual exhaust? Something doesn't add up, we reasoned. Well, as it turns out, this system uses a large dual-chambered muffler with two inlets and two outlets, accommodating the dual pipes from the collectors to the tips. And, with an H-pipe included, the sound is destined to be nothing short of awesome-as well as balanced. Again, our excitement level grew as we realized that we'd be able to keep the slammed look and actually drive it as well (forget the air bags on this baby!).

Then reality set in once again: What to do about the header collectors? Well, that's where the tubing experts at Hedman came in. They make a set of shorty pipes that exit just above the bottom of the floor. That meant we could keep the entire exhaust system-from the collectors on back-firmly away from the ground. In fact, the way it turned out, the subframe and K-member will hit the pavement before our aluminized 2 1/2-inch tubes will.

When the kit arrived we were extremely pleased at the quality and completeness of the package. Everything is included, from gaskets to all the required nuts and bolts. So, after loading the Camaro onto our H&H trailer, it was off to The Muffler Man (and our buddy Craig Watts) down the street from the office to have the headers and pipes installed. It took Craig the better part of one afternoon to put all of the pieces together (it took longer than expected due in part to a good lunch and the extra labor required to push the yet-to-be-driveable-or steerable-F-body into the shop and up on to the lift).

For an expert like Craig, the job wasn't hard. He did, per our request, make one adjustment by modifying the tips so they exit out just behind the rear wheels instead of straight out the back. Other than that, the Flowmaster system provides enough clearance and is neatly mounted the entire length of the Camaro's underbelly. To see how easy and clean a fit this collection of tubing is, follow along as we show you how you can have the driving pleasure of a lowered Camaro without taking a big hit on the pipes.

The shorty headers from Hedman worked perfectly for this application. The collector ends right at the area where the firewall meets the floor. This allows the headpipe to be mounted as close to the underneath of the floor as possible, for maximum ground clearance.
The shorty headers from Hedman worked perfectly for this application. The collector ends r
Our headers came silver coated for maximum corrosion resistance.
Here's the headpipe coming off of the collector. Note how tucked up the combination is. A standard three-bolt flange adapts one to the other. This was the starting point for our expert exhaust fabricator, Craig Watts of The Muffler Man shop. The first step was to get the correct angle and tighten it in place.
Here's the headpipe coming off of the collector. Note how tucked up the combination is. A

From there, Craig lined up the first length of tubing under the floor. His goal was to keep it as far up as possible without allowing it to make contact.
From there, Craig lined up the first length of tubing under the floor. His goal was to kee
With a stand holding the rear of the driver's side pipe, Craig MIG welded it to the short piece of tubing coming from the collector.
With a stand holding the rear of the driver's side pipe, Craig MIG welded it to the short
With the angle of the welded head pipe determined, Craig welded the three-hole flange in place...
With the angle of the welded head pipe determined, Craig welded the three-hole flange in p

...then used a grinder to smooth out the weld material as much as possible. With the collector flange welded in place, the pipes will always be in the same position, and the likelihood of getting exhaust leaks is diminished.
...then used a grinder to smooth out the weld material as much as possible. With the colle
The headpipe was then bolted to the header and Craig set off to complete the rest of the system.
The headpipe was then bolted to the header and Craig set off to complete the rest of the s
With both headpipes welded and bolted in place, the next step was to fit the intermediate pipes. Flowmaster sends this section welded together with a balance, or H-pipe, already installed. This helps equal out the exhaust pulses and makes for a cool sound.
With both headpipes welded and bolted in place, the next step was to fit the intermediate

A small level is used to make sure the intermediate pipe is installed flat, not twisted. It's attention to detail like this that separates an adequate exhaust system that will do the job from a well-built one that a cool custom car deserves to have.
A small level is used to make sure the intermediate pipe is installed flat, not twisted. I
The dual-inlet/dual-outlet single muffler fits nicely in the stock location. Note the heat shield on the backside that will help dissipate the muffler's temperature where it faces the gas tank. The inlet pipes go up and over the rearend.
The dual-inlet/dual-outlet single muffler fits nicely in the stock location. Note the heat
The inlet pipes go between the intermediate H-pipe and the muffler. Here Craig trial fits the pieces together. Note that every connection will be welded and that no muffler clamps will be used. The Flowmaster kit does, however, come with clamps so you can remove the system if necessary.
The inlet pipes go between the intermediate H-pipe and the muffler. Here Craig trial fits

Here's a great shot of how exacting the mandrel bends are. This is the pipe that goes from the intermediate to the muffler.
Here's a great shot of how exacting the mandrel bends are. This is the pipe that goes from
The tailpipe comes from Flowmaster designed long enough to go straight out the back just inside the rear lower quarter-panel. Since our Camaro has a pretty good size 17-inch tire coupled with a 2-inch de-arched leaf spring, we chose to have the pipe cut and angled down so it dumped out right after the rear tire.
The tailpipe comes from Flowmaster designed long enough to go straight out the back just i
Craig made sure that all of the strategic points of the Flowmaster system had an appropriate hanger installed.
Craig made sure that all of the strategic points of the Flowmaster system had an appropria

At this position, under the floor, the rear seat was removed and a hole was drilled in the floor so a bolt could be used to secure the rubber-mounted hanger.
At this position, under the floor, the rear seat was removed and a hole was drilled in the
Craig used the utmost care when welding the joints together, not only to be safe, but also so that our hard work at detailing the perpetual Classical Resurrection project was not in vain.
Craig used the utmost care when welding the joints together, not only to be safe, but also
At each tailpipe section, a hanger was welded on to the pipe and it was attached to a polyurethane bushing mounted in the unibody. This will give the pipe a little give, but since it was a tight fit, won't allow it too much so that it vibrates against the underbelly or rearend.
At each tailpipe section, a hanger was welded on to the pipe and it was attached to a poly

Initially, Craig tack welded all of the parts to the system in place and then went back to fully weld the joints. Here's the final weld on the right exit pipe.
Initially, Craig tack welded all of the parts to the system in place and then went back to
In this view, with the gas tank removed, you can see how the Flowmaster system tucks in place and avoids any humps or suspension components for a smooth and consistent fit.
In this view, with the gas tank removed, you can see how the Flowmaster system tucks in pl
Craig uses high-temp silver paint from Plasti-kote to dress all of the welds. This not only makes the system look good, but will also help prevent rust and corrosion.
Craig uses high-temp silver paint from Plasti-kote to dress all of the welds. This not onl

Here's the finished tip and the complete assemblage of pipes in place.
All we can say is that if this exhaust system sounds half as good as it looks, we'll be happy. Hopefully, we'll be able to fire this puppy up real soon, and then...Stay tuned!
All we can say is that if this exhaust system sounds half as good as it looks, we'll be ha

SOURCES
Flow Master 2975 Dutton Ave. Santa Rosa CA 95407 Dept. SC	The Muffler Man 714-524-7818 www.ocmufflerman.com
Hedman Headers 16410 Manning Way Cerritos CA 90703 Dept. SC