1992 Chevy Camaro - Third-Gen Camaro Exhaust Upgrade

1992 Chevy Camaro Stainless Works Exhaust

Here's our 3-inch-diameter Stainless Works exhaust kit. The single-outlet pipe means at first glance our '92 will look like an ordinary third-gen, with no clues to the fire-breathing Mouse lurking underneath the hood packing more than twice the horsepower of its old 305.

1. When the new engine was installed, we bolted on a set of Hooker shorty headers. Our first step was to hook up our new Y-pipe to the headers.

1. When the new engine was installed, we bolted on a set of Hooker shorty headers. Our fi

For all the good you can say about the third-generation Camaro (great suspension, good looks, cheap and affordable to build) there are some negatives you can mention too (interior flaws, smog equipment restrictions, lack of a 350/manual trans option from the factory). Another is the exhaust. Because of the third-gen's odd floor and front subframe/unibody design, installing a true dual exhaust on these cars is near impossible, and even installing a single pipe exhaust can be difficult.

After installing the GM Performance Parts 350 crate engine in our '92 RS, we needed to do some exhaust work so our new small-block wouldn't be choked down by the 305-spec exhaust. But what to do?

Fortunately for third-gen owners, there's a place where you can find the love and attention you desire when it comes to parts and accessories. Hawks Third Gen Parts (www.hawksthirdgenparts.com) specializes in new, used, performance, and aftermarket parts for 1982-2002 F-bodies. Based in Easley, South Carolina, the Hawks website is packed full of great stuff for third-gen owners.

Since we want our '92 to keep its mundane, sedate RS appearance, we decided to go with the Stainless Works single-pipe kit. While the kit did require some modifications and tweaks to fit our '92 (it's specifically designed for fourth-gen cars with LS7s installed), it wasn't that difficult to adapt to our car. If you want a true bolt-in exhaust, either full or cat-back, Hawks has two dozen different exhaust kits listed on its website. It even has an old-school chambered exhaust system made by GMMG that sounds wicked (our neighbors at GM High-Tech have it installed on one of their fourth-gens).

Follow along as we get our exhaust installed and point out some of the things you have to deal with when working on these cars.

1. When the new engine was installed, we bolted on a set of Hooker shorty headers. Our first step was to hook up our new Y-pipe to the headers.
1. When the new engine was installed, we bolted on a set of Hooker shorty headers. Our fi
2. To coax the Y-pipe into position, we needed to use a prybar to get the flange bolt holes to line up.
2. To coax the Y-pipe into position, we needed to use a prybar to get the flange bolt hol
3. Next up was the off-road pipe that took the place of our catalytic converter. In many states, if your car is going to be driven on the street and/or has to pass emissions/vehicle inspections, you’ll need to keep your converter installed.
3. Next up was the off-road pipe that took the place of our catalytic converter. In many

4. Moving to the back, the new muffler hangers bolt in place where the factory hangers installed on the rear subframe. Leave these loose until after you have the muffler and tailpipe installed; you’ll need the wiggle room.
4. Moving to the back, the new muffler hangers bolt in place where the factory hangers in
5. The muffler bolts to the hanger through the high-temp fitting using a supplied bolt on each side. Because the muffler has to be turned and twisted a bit to get in place, leaving the hanger brackets loose makes the job easier.
5. The muffler bolts to the hanger through the high-temp fitting using a supplied bolt on
6. The big Stainless Works muffler fits right in place underneath the gas tank and in front of the trunk area’s well.
6. The big Stainless Works muffler fits right in place underneath the gas tank and in fro

7. The tailpipe assembly has the other muffler hanger connection welded onto it and just slips right onto the muffler then is secured using the supplied stainless steel exhaust band clamps.
7. The tailpipe assembly has the other muffler hanger connection welded onto it and just
8. We ran into a problem with our mid-pipe. The kit didn’t come with a transition from the 2.5-inch off-road pipe to the 3-inch mid-pipe.
8. We ran into a problem with our mid-pipe. The kit didn’t come with a transition from th
9. After talking to Hawks' tech line, we came up with this transition pipe. To fit properly with the rearward part of the system, we had to do some trial-and-error measuring to shorten the transition pipe.
9. After talking to Hawks' tech line, we came up with this transition pipe. To fit proper

10. We also had to shorten our off-road pipe a bit to get fitment right.
11. Once everything lined up, we clamped it in place. We’re going to go back and do some clean-up work on the clamps and replace our parts- store ones with solid band clamps like the rest of our system uses.
11. Once everything lined up, we clamped it in place. We’re going to go back and do some
12. And here's the end result. Fired up, this system has a nice but not overpowering note and no hint of drone at cruise. Now we just have to fix our pinion seal leak and shifter cable, then it’ll be off to the track to see how fast this ’92 will run.
12. And here's the end result. Fired up, this system has a nice but not overpowering note