Why is it that when you are trying to find a cat-back system for an '82 Z28 all the systems are made for '83 and up? What is the difference in these systems and who makes one tha works for an '82?

 

The 82 exhaust splits into 2 pipes because it has 2 mufflers...so you have to get a new pipe from the Cat back to the new single muffler...When I went to get a Flowmaster it cost extra because they had to replace the pipe that splits.

 

my 83 actually has that dual muffler setup too

so im guesing the later years had a stock single muffler?

 

So could you just buy a complete cat-back for an '83 and up car and replace it with that?

 

you can do what we did to this 84 z28. edelbrock 6872 headers, catco 6007 converter and whatever 3" catback you want. we gained 1.13 seconds just doing this.

http://crossfireinjection.com/

 

I'd get a system that does away with that split altogether. I had an '82 Z28 also, and my car had that exhaust. I think however, a Flowmaster setup for a later model 3rd gen would be better than the stock 82-83 config.

BTW - those are resonators on the 82, not mufflers. Similar in design to the '77-'81 Z28 dual resonator exhaust. I guess GM was trying for a similar sound with the '82 setup. IIRC the Z28 resonator and pipe system (from the diff back) is stainless also.