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  1. Makin' Our Camaro Purr - Catback R&D, Part 2: Turning Heads

    Makin' Our Camaro Purr - Catback R&D, Part 2: Turning Heads

    Our recently released catch can for this 2016+ Chevy Camaro 2.0T needed a part two to our "The Making Of" (TMO) video series for the project, and I was tasked with directing it. I wanted to take our Camaro home (Washington D.C.) for the weekend to put some miles on it so our kit would catch real world content inside of the catch can to show in the video. It just so happens that we had a full cat-back exhaust prototype on the car for me to enjoy. Let me tell

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  2. Makin' Our Camaro Purr - Catback R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    Makin' Our Camaro Purr - Catback R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    Here I stand, firmly within the land of people who spend egregious amounts of money on car parts, as I look back and wonder how in hell I got here. Those of us in my position often place the blame on a nasty little creature called the "mod bug."

    The mod bug, as they say, is a tricky little bastard. Though you may think most damage-imposing biting insects live in Australia, I can assure you, this one is alive and well in the Americas. I've had firsthand experience as a victim, and it isn't pretty - just ask my bank account.

    The feeling of that bug biting for the first time is unforgettable. At the beginning, you say "just an exhaust and springs, and then my car'll be perfect". Enter mod bug. Before you know it, you're dropping a Ferrari engine in your wide-body FR-S.

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  3. Sounds from an American Muscle Car - Exhaust R&D, Part 4: Sound Check

    Sounds from an American Muscle Car - Exhaust R&D, Part 4: Sound Check

    A Gaggle of Pipes,

    Hello everyone! You may remember from our previous 2016 Camaro SS Exhaust post that we have decided to move forward with five different systems for this car. It is my pleasure to let you know that all our Camaro exhaust prototypes have been completed. We've been busy testing and re-testing for fitment, sound, durability, and performance - and fun, of course. Our on-road testing process usually begins a little something like this:

    Rob, the project manager: "Hey Gardiner, I need you to take the SS home tonight to put some miles on the pro system."

    Me: "Ugh, if you insist."

    They really have to twist my arm.

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  4. 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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  5. Turn Up the Volume - Cat-Back Exhaust R&D, Part 2: Sound Testing

    Turn Up the Volume - Cat-Back Exhaust R&D, Part 2: Sound Testing

    In our last post we took a good look at the stock Fiesta ST exhaust and the initial design of our cat-back exhaust. The exhaust was fabricated and installed on the car and then it was time to test the stock system.

    exhaust post 5

    To Resonate or Not to Resonate

    Getting the sound just right was quite a process. Our initial prototype featured 2.5" piping with a single rear muffler. This design did not feature a resonated mid-pipe unlike the stock unit. The initial design was sound tested on the dyno and also test driven by several members of the team. While we loved the low growl of the exhaust as it was, we wanted to test a resonated version before settling on a final design. As with all exhaust development projects, we are aiming for a final product that sounds great on throttle while still being

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