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camaro ss

  1. Piping Hot - Exhaust R&D, Part 6: Pure, Unadulterated, Awesomeness

    Piping Hot - Exhaust R&D, Part 6: Pure, Unadulterated, Awesomeness

    The last piece of this puzzle has finally fallen into place. Finishing off our offerings for the 2016+ Chevy Camaro SS exhaust systems lands us here with our Race Axleback. The SS has an unmistakable sound, and it's a sound we don't want to stray far away from - we only want to enhance it in the most robust way possible, and I feel that the engineers have done just that.

    I'll make this simple - this exhaust is mean.

    _MG_4196r

    It's a mix of a modern sounding V8 with the raspy aggressive tone of a certain 1970's-era machine that was made of steel, had belt-buckle seat belts and a bad attitude. When this car starts up, it will give unassuming bystanders a jump - I've seen it happen at gas stations when I got to drive it. There are no fancy tricks here, just a raw, unrestricted, unfiltered

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  2. Piping Hot - Exhaust R&D, Part 5: Decimating Drone

    Piping Hot - Exhaust R&D, Part 5: Decimating Drone

    Usually, the first noticeable change people make to any car is how it sounds. As summer starts to heat up, some of us gearheads are starting to take our unicorns, endless money-pits, kind-of-finished projects, or whatever you call your ride, out of storage, or the garage. It's the season for nightly meets, hot track days and long cruises, giving you the perfect opportunity to showcase the changes you've made to your pride and joy since you put it away for the winter. Whether you replaced your catalytic converter with a high flow version, got a full, larger-diameter exhaust, or custom fabricated your own straight-pipe setup, the exhaust is the go-to modification if you want to be heard.

    We know that there is a sweet middle ground many go for when modifying the exhaust. An exhaust that is too tame can be a bit of a let-down if you want some serious growl. However, an exhaust that is too aggressive can anger the neighbors, attract Johnny Law, and loudly drone on the highway - none of which

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  3. Clean Camaro - Catch Can R&D, Part 2: Test Results

    Clean Camaro - Catch Can R&D, Part 2: Test Results

    UPDATE: This catch can is now on pre-sale! Check out the installed & kit photos below and be sure to check out the website to purchase this kit: Mishimoto Direct-Fit 2010-15 Camaro SS Catch Can Pre-Sale

    An engine is a lot like a human body. It's full of moving parts and fluid. It breathes in and out, just like you or I. Except instead of lungs and a heart, it has cylinders and a crankshaft. Its blood may have an octane rating, but like your body, an engine needs fresh air to survive. Blow-by finds its way into your engine's lungs, compromising its airways, and choking the power out of it. Imagine having a chest cold, but instead your lungs are full of oil and unburned fuel; I bet you wouldn't run well either.

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  4. Clean Camaro - Catch Can R&D, Part 1: Prototype Design

    Clean Camaro - Catch Can R&D, Part 1: Prototype Design

    Success in engineering is rarely the result of one attempt. Our products go through revision after revision before they ever see the light of day (or darkness of your engine bay). This goes for complex products, like oil cooler systems and intercoolers, to seemingly simple catch can brackets. Our engineers must consider every situation that could occur in a vehicle, then design our products to handle them. The development process for our 5th Gen Camaro SS direct-fit oil catch can is no exception to that rule.

    Success is also rarely the product of one person's efforts. Teamwork plays a major role in every product here at Mishimoto. From conception to release, our projects are touched by just about every Mishimoto employee. When it comes to designing and developing a catch can kit, more ideas create a better product. That's why our engineer, Jason, brought in one of our draftsmen, Josh, to help with this kit's design.

    This wasn't Josh's first time designing a product, however.

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  5. Cooling the American Dream - Radiator R&D, Part 2: Performance Testing

    Cooling the American Dream - Radiator R&D, Part 2: Performance Testing

    If you grew up working on cars, you're probably familiar with the clamor that a wrench makes when it hits metal. This sound was once the soundtrack of America, the marching drum of industry. But then came the modern age and that clamor was replaced with the dull thud of plastic. Now, everything is made from plastic. Your computer, your table, your car: plastic. Your Camaro radiator is partly made of plastic, but Mishimoto is changing that.

    At Mishimoto, we see ourselves as modern alchemists, turning plastic into gold"well, aluminum really. It's no secret that aluminum is far more durable than most plastics. Eventually, that plastic radiator end tank is going to crack or break, leaving you and your Camaro steaming at the side of the road. It's hard to predict when this will happen, but it is easy to prevent.

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  6. A Cold Heart for the Camaro - Oil Cooler R&D - Part 1: Stock Review & Plans

    A Cold Heart for the Camaro - Oil Cooler R&D - Part 1: Stock Review & Plans

    For the past seven years the 5th Gen Camaro SS has been a staple of track days at Willow Springs, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca and just about every other road course in America. Another staple of those track days has been a spike in mild heart attacks as those Camaro SS owners glanced down at their oil temperature gauge to find temps in the 290+°F range.  Even off the track, though, a hot day mixed with a heavy foot can lead to oil temp related heart problems for both you and your Camaro.

    Everything in Balance

    When it comes to modern engines and driving, oil temperatures are a balancing act between hot and cold; thin and thick.  When straight-weight oil, also known as single-weight oil (like SAE 30), is cold, it's thicker and more viscous.  Higher viscosity means that the oil flows slowly and sticks to surfaces longer.  This also means, however, that on cold start-up, it's much harder for the engine to move the oil and thus bearings and wear surfaces

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  7. Just the Way You're Crimped - Exhaust R&D, Part 2: Testing the Crimp Myth

    Just the Way You're Crimped - Exhaust R&D, Part 2: Testing the Crimp Myth

    Greetings, Camaro enthusiasts, and welcome to Part 2 of the Mishimoto R&D blog series on our 2016 Camaro SS Exhaust! As you may remember, we took a gander last time at the OEM exhaust, paying special attention to some of the really cool design features that make this system unique. One feature has emerged as a real point of contention and has become so hotly debated, that I wouldn't be surprised to hear about it on the next CNN Presidential Town Hall. I am referring, of course, to the crimped section of piping near the rear axles.

    For those of you not in the know, a variety of theories exist about the function of this design, and there is some uncertainty as to what its implications on power output might be.

    Well, we are here to put an end to the confusion. In the name of science, we have dyno tested the car with the ONLY changed variable being the presence or absence of the crimped section. Before I get to the results,

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  8. House of the Rising Engine Temperatures - Thermostat Housing R&D, Part 1: 3D-Print

    House of the Rising Engine Temperatures - Thermostat Housing R&D, Part 1: 3D-Print

    For those of you not familiar with the climate here in New Castle, Delaware, let me educate you on our summers; they are hot, and they are HUMID. In the dead of the July heatwave, there is nothing worse than smoldering in an apartment with no AC. I am always very appreciative of the little part of my psyche that drives me, once I can barely stand the heat, to pause Top Gear, get off the couch, and grab a cold, refreshing drink. If I were a car, that little part of my psyche would have a name, and it would be called a thermostat.

    2016 Camaro thermostat housing (OEM) next to some of our other 2016 camaro parts
    2016 Camaro thermostat housing (OEM) next to some of our other 2016 camaro parts

     

    What is a Thermostat, and in what Neighborhood
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  9. With a Little Help from My Aux Rads - Auxiliary Radiator R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    With a Little Help from My Aux Rads - Auxiliary Radiator R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    2016+ Camaro Auxiliary Radiator Discounted Pre-Sale has begun!

    As I'm sure many of you know, we strive for transparency here at Mishimoto, and we love sharing our development process with all of you. There are many benefits to this, and hearing your feedback ranks highly among them. That said, our search for inspiration is wide-reaching and multidisciplinary. Just recently, I happened upon an interview with Noam Chomsky, renowned thinker and MIT professor, who is quoted as saying: "I like the cold weather. It means you get more work done".

    I think Chomsky missed his calling in the automotive parts industry, because his sentiment is very much in line with how we feel about coolant temperatures in your 2016 Camaro SS. To that end, I'm sure he would be thrilled to learn that we have begun development on a brand new set of Camaro auxiliary radiators!

    Factory Review

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  10. (I Can't Get No) Low Oil Temps - Oil Cooler R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    (I Can't Get No) Low Oil Temps - Oil Cooler R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    Here at the Mishimoto R&D facility in New Castle, DE, we are hard at work designing 2016 Camaro parts, but we've been experiencing some pretty inconsistent weather lately. We've had brief glimpses of spring, but this past weekend has thrust us back into the sulk of the winter that we so naively thought was behind us. As one might imagine, we're really looking forward to some sunshine and scorching summer weather! But do you know what is NOT looking forward to the heat?

    You got it! The oil in your 2016 Camaro SS.

    That's right, folks, you needn't fret anymore; Mishimoto has tasked our engineers with making you and your oil much more comfortable by kicking off the development process for a snazzy new 2016 Camaro oil cooler!  Our company is full of enthusiasts, and we understand how frustrating the fear of overheating can be when you have to pass on autocross or cut off those last few runs at the strip. Let's take a quick look at what we've got going on from the factory

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