1969 Camaro Chambered Exhaust Experts

[CamaroNOS]

I have a 69 Z/28 with a 302 (factory solid cam,11:1 compression and headers) a M22, 4:10 or 4:88 (TBD) gears, 15" Polyglas tires and no factory floor insulation. I would like to hear from some experienced members what it will be like running a chambered exhaust system on the car. The pipes are a factory 2 1/4" system and unfortunately I do not know the exhaust system brand.

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being quiet and 10 being insane), how loud will the interior be with the chambered system without any floor insulation, just a factory carpet? Will I need a bucket of aspirins after driving 20 minutes at 50 mph?
2. I suspect installing the factory heavy sound deadener will reduce the interior noise a bit. If so, to what percentage if you were to guess?
3. Would installing after market sound insulation on the complete interior floor area reduce the interior sound substantially? And if so, to what percentage?
4. If installing after market insulation helps a lot, who makes the best insulation kit for this purpose? Keep in mind I only would put the insulation on the interior floor compartment and not on the interior of the doors, quarter panels or trunk area.
5. Would I be safe to say that trying to listened to my favorite VH album with any form of insulation in the Camaro will be a pipe dream..... haha.

Paul

[X66 714]

My 1968 Z/28 left the factory with 4.56 tail gears. I've always had 1-3/4" primary headers with the stock deep tone exhaust system using an original GM muffler. Even driving that car & trying to listen to your favorite tunes isn't so great. My car came with deluxe interior, so it has the extra sound deadening. Some people like the chambered exhaust...some don't. I hear some people say it sound better on a Chevelle. It's a matter of choice...Joe

[William]

Chambered is a noisy system, not a performance system. Probably cost 30-40 hp.

IMHO, the 67-68 Deep-Tone system had a much better sound.

[CamaroNOS]

Thanks and yes I am aware of the loss of performance with a chambered system. I am not installing it for performance reasons.

I have had several 69 Z/28's with the cross flow system and it is probably the best factory set up.

I just need some insight into what's in store for me (noise wise) when I drive the car with a chambered system.


Paul

[cruiserofland]

I have a ‘69 Z, factory setup 302, M20, 4.56, deluxe interior, 15” radials, and chambered exhaust. I’d probably say it’s a 5 out of 10 at 55-65 mph (though with these gears I don’t do a lot of long freeway cruising). It’s only at WOT / high RPM that it gets wake-the-neighbors / alert-the-authorities loud (9/10?). Not sure to your other questions.

I continue to be surprised how civil it is if you are civil with the loud pedal. It’s downright delightful at idle (even at 950 for the 302), and totally livable at cruise RPMs with windows down. At least to my younger ears I can’t imagine running a quieter system. I can barely hear the other Zs at cars & coffees, when standing next to them! So +1 for chambered here. I think Eddie would be heard with the right sound system (maybe even through the single under-dash speaker)

[ALLZS]

not to change the subject but with reguards to h/p loss what about the exhaust system with the resonators and cross flow muffler i think the system with just the crossflow muffler sounds the best

[SS427]

I installed a complete Gardner system on a customer's Z28 several years ago and hated it. It was obnoxiously loud. I would rather have open headers as that is what you expect to hear with headers, not with an exhaust system. It was very loud out back as well as in the cab. I have since talked a few people out of chambered exhaust since that time including the Chevelle owners.

[luzl78]

I put Gardner 69 Chevelle chambered on my 70 Monte that has 496 5 speed. Factory manifolds and it sounds awesome. I matted the floor with noise insulation so interior noise is not a problem.

[Steve Shauger]

I would not install chambered on a 69 Z28 as been stated you lose HP and it sounds like crap. One of my Z's has it listed on the WS so what's on the car is a Gardner system.

I sold a 69 Z years ago and the new owner insisted that I install a standard cross flow system prior to purchasing.

Big block don't sound as obnoxious as small blocks!!

[CamaroNOS]

As you can see, the general consensus is that the aftermarket systems sound like crap. I am not surprised as a few SB systems I heard years ago were just like you fella's described......hideous. I was hoping that the current aftermarket systems sounded better. Although I can tolerate a chambered system on a BB.

The kicker is I had a complete NOS SB chambered system approx. 6 years ago that I sold, figuring that I would never have a need for one. How does that saying go......."never say never".....haha.

I may be interested in a used GM SB system if anyone happens to have one available. I have all my parts shipped to Port Huron Michigan so shipping is not an issue.

I really do appreciate everybody's input and the knowledge within this group.

Thanks once again,

Paul