Camaro Exhaust Systems
The 1967 Camaro exhaust systems had different configurations depending on the model and performance. There was a single exhaust system which we will not talk about here because this is a muscle car only site. The Camaro exhaust systems that will concern us will be only the Camaro dual exhaust systems. These exhaust systems whether a big block or a small block used 2 1/4” head pipes, 2 1/4” overall the axle pipes and 2 1/4” tail pipes. Small block Camaros used resonators on the 1967 Camaro exhaust system while big block cars did not use resonators on the Camaro Exhaust Systems. The exhaust hangers on Camaro exhaust systems were all the same in 1967. The 1967 Camaro exhaust systems used a long bracket with two holes to hold the over axle pipes up where they joined the head pipes on the 1967 Camaro exhaust system and tail pipes were held by a 2 hole hanger that attached to the frame rail on both sides of the car to hold the tail pipes to it with a strap clamp on the dual exhaust 1967 Camaro exhaust systems. The head pipes on the 1967 Camaro exhaust system had wrinkles in the bends and had small flats on top of the pipe where it went under the transmission tail shaft support as well as a long flat on the bottom of the exhaust head pipes for clearance for the parking brake. The over axle pipes were slit on the 1967 Camaro exhaust system where they went over the head pipes and the tail pipes were oval shaped where they exited out the car behind the rear wheel. The 1967 Camaro exhaust tail pipes were held to the muffler on the driver side by a clamp but welded on the passenger side for ease of assembly. Clamps on the 1967 Camaro Exhaust Systems were unique. The clamps had a round bottom saddle for the head pipes to the over the axle pipes and for the driver side tail pipe to the muffler but used a clamp with a bulge in the bottom of the saddle for the over the axle pipe into the muffler (guillotine clamp). This clamp on the 1967 Camaro exhaust probably provided more clamping force at this location. The final set of the clamps on the 1967 Camaro exhaust systems were a strap clamp making use of a sheet metal screw to tighten the bands together and hold the tail pipe to the tail pipe hanger. The 1967 Camaro exhaust system provided functionality and performance while being aesthetically pleasing to this brand new breed of muscle car.
The 1967 Camaro went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang. The engine options for the 1967 Camaro were numerous. Engines for the 1967 Camaro were all follows: 230 CI, 250 CI, both six cylinders. The V8’s were available in a 327 CI, 350 CI, and 396 CI, and a late introductory 302 CI in the Z/28’s came available in December of 1966. The 1967 Camaro had nearly 80 options and 40 dealer accessories so these cars could pretty much be outfitted however the individual wanted it. There were variable packages available but the most desirable and infamous had to be the SS, RS and of course the Z/28. The 1967 Camaro Z/28 was built specifically to compete on the SCCA Trans Am Racing Series. The series required the engines to be no bigger than 305 cubic inches and the Z/28 came in with 302 with forged crank and pistons allowing this racing machine to top out with 350 – 375 HP. Only 602 of these cars were sold in 1967 and some dealers weren’t even privy to the fact that they were even available before it was too late.
The 1967 Camaro was the first Pony Car from Chevrolet. Pony cars could be classified as a a small car with good handling ability, a large motor with a good deal of horse power. The name derived from the 1964 Mustang that took the automotive industry to new levels of production since it was desired by many. The popularity of the Mustang brought out other cars from other manufacturers labeled as pony cars. Chevrolet had the Camaro, Dodge the Challenger and Plymouth the Cuda. These cars soon began competing in a competitive racing series knowns as the Trans Am Series. The Camaro with Mark Donahue at the wheel was virtually unbeatable in 1968.
