Ok, I've looked all over on the net and cannot find the answer to my question.

I found a black 1997 Camaro SS for sale that I want to buy. I saw the SLP sticker on the inside of the passenger side door just breifly, but I don't know everything about all the options.

The owner said the car was rated at 315HP stock and has optional exhaust package. I know standard SLP options would put it at 305HP, but I did see reference to 315 around the net due to freer flowing exhaust.

My question is which exhaust option was that? How would I be able to tell if this car had it? The one I might buy has dual exhaust tips on each side. Dual dual cat back?

Thanks!

 

My 97 SLP option sheet list optional performance exhaust @310HP. It would be a 3" cat back with two on the left.

 

Thanks for the info.

Just to clarify, you would say that if the car had dual tips (2"?) on each side it probably isn't 315hp stock?

 

Ditto, Drop Top Steve's comments. The Base SS is listed at 305hp (w/Z28 exhaust). The optional exhaust adds 5hp for 310, not 315. In early 97 the optional exhaust was the famous two-on the-left-exhaust. Later 97 SS models (March+?) had an optional exhaust that was the dual-dual, which I believe you are describing. I never have seen any offical reference to a 315hp 97 SS.

 

Seems like it would be the standard SLP complement.... Better Y pipe, ram air, 2otl catback.... The Firehawk however *is* rated at 315 optional.

 

I remember having a conversation years ago with Kevin at SLP about the exhaust setups. The "dual-dual" was less efficient than the "2 on the left", but still made the rated 310hp. That told me that the 315hp I saw on the Firehawk (with the 2 on the left) was what I probably had. Any documented SS info says the 310hp rating.
I never believe what any Manufacturer says for hp anyway.

 

Thanks for the info guys!

Sounds like there were 3 options for exhaust on the 97 SS.

One base (similar to z28) package that gave the 305HP and then in early 97 the optional package with two tips on the left that gave 310HP and then later that year the optional dual tips on both sides that also gave 310HP.

 

I just wanted to add something about the 315HP question I had.

I saw all over the interent references to 315HP due to freer flowing exhaust option for the SS. Every one I saw had the same wording which means they all got it from somewhere either GM (doubt it), SLP (doubt it) or somewhere else. Who knows. Maybe it was different for the 1996 SS?

This is one of the many sites that made reference to 315HP: http://www.camarosource.ca/main_new_...e%20available?

"SS - available as an upgrade to the Z28 model starting in late-1995 (as a 1996 model). The package include a functional ram air hood scoop and reworked exhaust manifolds resulting in 305 HP and 335 ft-lbs of torque. An optional freer flowing exhaust system brings HP to 315 and torque to 342 ft-lbs."

Not to beat a dead horse on this topic, but I saw this so many times I just had to post it. Also, I wanted to be sure of what I was buying.

-Nick

 

The reason the dual-dual was more restrictive (than the 2OTL) was that the dual-dual had a 2.75" intermediate pipe rather than the 3" on the 2OTL.

And you are certainly correct that you cannot take too seriously any factory HP ratings. When they get created, they are more a function of the marketing department than the engineering department.

Cipher96Z, some early production 96SSs had extrude honed factory exhaust manifolds. That info is clearly in the sales brochures, but they stopped that expensive practice before the end of the production run. Amazingly they still showed extrude honed exhaust manifolds in the 97SS brochure although none had it! (you have to read the fine print on the brochures disclaimers!)

Also, don't believe all the info you see on websites.

 

Brochure info on 96 ss. only difference from the 97 is the extruded honed manifold which was only performed a very very limited 96's

http://members.***.net/tom97ss/1996%20SS.htm

 

are yall menaing rwhp or fwhp when you say 315hp.

 

Well, factories only rate and advertise their engines according to flywheel. So that is what is being discussed. Rear wheel ratings are much more practical but factories never use them to promote what they are selling.

 

My guess is that the 315 number comes from the fact that the 96 was "supposed to" come with high flowing exhaust manifolds.

GM allegedly dicided not to offer the manifold.
Don't know if any of the 96s got it or not.

April 97 the SS came out with the dual-duals, supposedly tamed the exhaust noise a bit and supposedly done to improve the symetry.

Prior to that the 20L had cone of silence which when removed increased the DCB but probably unleashed a couple pones too.

When it comes to Factory info, you can't rely on it since they have the right to change things without letting anyone know.JMHO

 

Wow, thanks guys. It took me a while to respond, but I appriciate the clarification. It was a bit confusing.

Btw, I did make the deal for the 1997 Camaro SS I was talking about. I pick it up tomorrow and I'm so pumped!

 

good luck and enjoy i got my SS 3 years ago and i'm still get pumped when i walk out side and see the beast