Hi All, I just spent (wasted? ;-) the last 2h trying to find some documentation on differences between 1997 and 1996 stock SS exhaust systems. Not much out there it seems.

Ok if you dont mind helping a guy out please correct or add to what i have so far...

1. I own a bone stock 1996 SS and it has the two tip exhaust exit on the driver side. My car was ordered with the 'optional' $499 SLP exhaust (making it a 310 hp car)

Question: Did ALL SS's in 1996 get this 'dual on one side set up' or only the cars that received the OPTIONAL add-on SLP exhaust? If only SS cars adding the $499 got this then what did 'plain Jane SS' cars get for an exhaust system (with particular emphasis on visual exit of the tailpipe(s))?

2. What was the deal in 1997 re: SS exhaust? For both the 'plain jane SSs' as well as the SSs that were ordered with the optional $499 exhaust add on from SLP. My buddy has a 1997 (3rd owner) SS and it has 4 tips (2 exiting on driver side 2 on passenger side). His car also came with the $499 SLP added option. Is his set up correct? If he didnt get the $499 option would it have had a differnt look?

PS- Ive seen a 360 mile 1997 LT4 SS and it had the exact same exhaust exit set up as my buddies 1997 SS. At the time the LT4 owner old me that ONLY LT4 SS had this quad tip exhaust. That true? If so I'm confused! :-)

3. Question- Not exhaust but Ill ask anyway. I saw on two site that said early 96 SS (1 through car 497) received ported heads and other goodies by SLP. I also read that this was bogus and ive also read it was true but added nothing horespower wise so was stopped. Whats teh real deal?

4. One last q thats partly exhaust related. What if any significant changes existed between 1996 and 1997 SS's (exhaust plus other changes)? I am only interested in any performance or handling differences between the two years (not things like monsoon stereo in 1997 etc).

Thanks (in advance) VERY much!! :-)

Joe

 

i had a 97 SS with the exhaust option and it was SLP's 2OTL exhaust same as your 96\

none exhaust option SS's had Z28 style exhaust

as far as i know the only diffrence between the 96 and 97 SS was the dash.

 

1.) Did ALL SS's in 1996 get this 'dual on one side set up?

I don't believe so. If it was an SLP SS, then yes.

2.) What was the deal in 1997 re: SS exhaust? For both the 'plain jane SSs' as well as the SSs that were ordered with the optional $499 exhaust add on from SLP. My buddy has a 1997 (3rd owner) SS and it has 4 tips (2 exiting on driver side 2 on passenger side). His car also came with the $499 SLP added option.

It is probably likely, he may have the trans-am styled SLP tips. Or perhaps the dual/dual tips from the SLP Loudmouth. We'd need pictures for sure to tell. It all depends whether or not it was an SLP optioned car. You can tell by looking at the sticker on the door latch.

3.) The F-body LT4's had a little bit bigger of a cam than that of a stock LT1 203/210-degree duration at 0.050-inch tappet lift, (actually smaller than actual LT4 Hotcam), and 1.6 roller rockers, and an LT4 intake, but other than that I don't see that being feasable. Much of the short-block remains similar to the LT1 except for the LT4 crank's undercut and rolled journal fillets. The crank is balanced for the LT4's slightly heavier pistons, which have reduced valve notches (3 cc's smaller) to bump the LT4's compression to 10.8:1 from the LT1's 10.5:1. The biggest changes were in the cylinder heads though, where the LT4 has wide/shallow combustion chambers with 2.00/1.55-inch sizes in the LT4 compared to the 1.94/1.50s in LT1
You should look into your buddies supposed LT4. It would say in the factory sticker w/ all options on the car. It's a rare car if he really does have a factory LT4 1 of 100. I'm kind of doubting he does


4.) There are big differences than a 96 SS compared to the 1997 SS. The dash/gauges are completely different (What you'd see in an LS1 F-body), different styled seats, and I believe the 97's put out 10 extra HP than compared to a 96 SS.

 

Hey thanks guys...

Ok I have some more info and replies... look for "===" sections below.

2.) What was the deal in 1997 re: SS exhaust? For both the 'plain jane SSs' as well as the SSs that were ordered with the optional $499 exhaust add on from SLP. My buddy has a 1997 (3rd owner) SS and it has 4 tips (2 exiting on driver side 2 on passenger side). His car also came with the $499 SLP added option.

It is probably likely, he may have the trans-am styled SLP tips. Or perhaps the dual/dual tips from the SLP Loudmouth. We'd need pictures for sure to tell. It all depends whether or not it was an SLP optioned car. You can tell by looking at the sticker on the door latch.

==========
His car is 100% a REAL 1997 SS Camaro. No bones about it. Also, as i originally mentioned he DID get the add-on SLP $499 exhaust option (in addition to car cover, mats, short throw (6speed) shifter, Bilsten II, Torsen rear, oil cooler and all synthetic fluids- yes a VERY loaded car). If this helps his car is number 2,3XX (cant remember the exact number but its definitely not an early 1997 car). Perhaps the SLP dual exhaust on one side set up for 96/early 97? was changed mid year to quad exhaust tip set up (duals on both sides?). As I mentioned he does have the dual tips ("quad") on both sides (is this the SLP stock loadmouth installation). According to the original owner ZERO mods on the car incl the exhaust set up it has today. Im attaching a link (since I didnt see an image attach option?) of the set up close to what he has.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

NOTE: I searched the internet and this is closest looking SLP system I could find. Its not exactly what he has. The biggest diff between this pic and his is that the exhaust pipe portion just before you get to the dual tips is NOT straght though as shown here. His is a bit wider, and it looks like they are some sort of resonator (one on each side). To me they look like the old school cherry bombs. Other than that this pic gets it close.

thoughts?
======

3.) The F-body LT4's had a little bit bigger of a cam than that of a stock LT1 203/210-degree duration at 0.050-inch tappet lift, (actually smaller than actual LT4 Hotcam), and 1.6 roller rockers, and an LT4 intake, but other than that I don't see that being feasable. Much of the short-block remains similar to the LT1 except for the LT4 crank's undercut and rolled journal fillets. The crank is balanced for the LT4's slightly heavier pistons, which have reduced valve notches (3 cc's smaller) to bump the LT4's compression to 10.8:1 from the LT1's 10.5:1. The biggest changes were in the cylinder heads though, where the LT4 has wide/shallow combustion chambers with 2.00/1.55-inch sizes in the LT4 compared to the 1.94/1.50s in LT1
You should look into your buddies supposed LT4. It would say in the factory sticker w/ all options on the car. It's a rare car if he really does have a factory LT4 1 of 100. I'm kind of doubting he does

====
I could understand the doubt but trust me this LT4 IS real. Guy had every bit of paperwork laid out at the car show including at number his was out of the 100. Most definitely real.
===========

4.) There are big differences than a 96 SS compared to the 1997 SS. The dash/gauges are completely different (What you'd see in an LS1 F-body), different styled seats, and I believe the 97's put out 10 extra HP than compared to a 96 SS.

=====
Yeah I was referring to HP (or suspension)differences only. From what i can see the 96=97 in HP. 305hp in both (310 if you got the SLP exhaust). I did read that teh 96's ide harshness was toned down in 97. Not sure if true and if so what 'toned down' meant?
=======

===
What about my question of the early 96 SS's having worked heads, intake etc? That true?
====

 

Ok. In that pic it does in fact have the slp muffler used on the SLP 20TL (TWO OUT THE LEFT) It has the SLP Loudmouth dual/dual tips. I've never seen a stock f-body with that.

And I know some 2OTL systems came with the cone of silence (a small cone that baffles the exhaust toning it down a bit. So that's what you might be after.

And as far as I know no 1996 SS's had worked heads/intake manifold stock. Unless it was a really rare Granatelli, Dick Harrell, or SS Intimidator that was produced. The SS's do have upgraded CAI/ Ram Air compared to a stock z28...


Could you get more pics showing the car's exterior and the LT4 option in the door jam?

 

That pick shows the dual/dual slp setup. It was used as the "optional" exhaust about mid way through the 97 year. As you know SLP was required to put the "cone of silence" in the cars that had the "2otl" because it could not pass the noise standards. The dual/dual solved this problem. The "20tl" has to be the best sounding exhaust next to the GMMG, but I am biased. The "2otl" sounds really good with long tubes
I think the only cars that had any mods were the lt4 cars, but do remember reading somewhere that some early cars may have come with extruded exhaust manifolds, could have been the lt4 cars though.
As far as I am aware there are no differences in the 96 and 97 SS's as far as hp levels or suspension besides the optional stuff offered in both years. Both had the 2 cat setup that bumped "stock" hp to 285 from 275.

 

Any cat-back sounds good with LT's, just some more than others.

 

This is a really good (old) topic I wanted to add 2 cents of "reference material" to, since I just got done crawling under my sister's and mom's cars trying to figure out something. These are the best measurements I could get while squeezing under the cars, so I assume they are accurate, but they may be off...

'95 Z28 with 100% stock exhaust:
2.75" pipe, narrows to 2.5" at muffler inlet, dual 2.25" outlets.

'02 SS with SLP Center Mount Exhaust (uses same muffler as '98-'02 SLP Dual-Dual):
3" pipe, 3" muffler inlet, dual 2.5" outlets

the '97 SLP Dual-Dual Exhaust has:
___" pipe, 2.5" inlet, dual 2.5" outlets

If you can fill in the blank... please do.

 

Performance Exhaust System (All Models)

• 3" Stainless steel intermediate pipe and over-the-axle pipe
• SLP Power-Flo muffler
• Two 2 1/2" outer diameter tailpipes (.304 stainless steel)

Sport Suspension Package (not available on convertibles)

• Progressive rate springs (eibach)
• Bilstein shock absorbers (recalibrated for lower height)
• Rear lower control arms and firmer bushings
• Transmission isolater mount

Other Optional Equipment: (all models)

• Rear axle assembly with Torsen differential
• Aluminum ASM differential cover.
• Hurst shifter with leather ****
• Custom Floor Mats
• Custom Car Cover

"BASE SS SUSPENSION" (above Z28)

• Larger diameter front sway bar and bushings (1LE)
• Panhard Bar
• 17" X 9.5" ZR-1 Wheels with BFGoodrich Comp TA 275/40ZR17 tires (convertibles have 245/50ZR16)

 

In 1997 there was another very limited run of LT4 Exhaust manifolds, not sure who or how they were distributed. There was also some issue with "cone of silence" in the exhaust in the later 1997 models.

Here's a picture of my LT4 Exhaust Manifolds...

These were made of stainless steel and are about 15lbs each. The interior is smooth because of the extrude honing process. These were port matched to my LT4 heads. Unfortunately, I went the header route and pulled these off. I miss them.

 

My car was ordered with the performance exhaust option (2otl) and it's a '97.

The quad tips (dual/dual) were available as an option on '97 cars I believe (I know it was available on LT4 SS and Hendrick's Edition SS anyway.)