1. After unpacking the box, this is what we had to work with. The 2.5-inch kit from MBRP (PN S7020409, $825) is made from 16-gauge T-409 stainless and came with polished tips. They also offer systems for V-8 Camaros either with or without the factory ground-effects package.
2. Here’s the stock system...
2. Here’s the stock system under Ryan’s V-6–powered ’12 Camaro. Life was easier since the OE system is held together by band clamps rather than welds.
Engines are nothing more than big air pumps. Atmosphere is sucked in, mixed with fuel, ignited, and then forced out through the exhaust system. Making this process as efficient as possible is one way to bring more power to the table. Now, if all we cared about was getting the exhaust out of the car efficiently, then things would be much simpler. But on a street car, and many race cars, the raucous noise from the engine needs to be toned down a bit through the use of mufflers. If designed right, a pair of mufflers can knock the decibels down, give the engine a nice tone, and not hurt performance.
When the OEs design an exhaust system for a new car they typically err on the side of caution by going towards quiet. This is fine for most folks, but it typically leaves some power on the table. Chances are if you’re reading this magazine, then you prefer your cars with a bit more rumble. The fifth-gen SS Camaro comes from GM way too quiet for our tastes, and others agreed, which is why there’s a plethora of aftermarket exhaust systems on the market today. But why should the V-8s get all the love? Many Camaro lovers snatched up the V-6 version for its better mileage and lower cost, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about sound or performance.
MBRP Performance Exhaust saw this demand and developed a kit in their XP Series specifically tailored to Camaros running the 3.6L V-6 mill. This cat-back system is made from T-409 stainless and features thick 16-gauge construction. Best of all, it was developed on their dyno to ensure that it’s more than just a good-looking part. MBRP also boasts that the system is crazy easy to install. To test out this claim we borrowed Ryan Foss’ new ’12 Camaro, ordered up a complete system, grabbed a few common hand tools, and scheduled some rack time at our Source Interlink Tech Center.
3. First up, Tech Center Manager...
3. First up, Tech Center Manager Jason Scudellari dropped the Camaro’s crossbrace by removing the four bolts.
4. He then loosened the GM...
4. He then loosened the GM clamps that secured the OE system to the Camaro’s catalytic converters. Keep these handy, as they will be used again later.
5. After spraying some lube...
5. After spraying some lube on the factory rubber exhaust hangers, Jason used a pry bar to persuade the system off of the body mounts. In addition to these, there are also two on the top of each muffler.
6. To get a little extra wiggle...
6. To get a little extra wiggle room, we popped the lower valance cover loose from the rear bumper. This allowed us to pull the system back far enough to detach the assembly from the cats.
7. We were then able to remove...
7. We were then able to remove the GM system as a complete unit. Here it is next to the new stainless system from MBRP. One thing we noticed is that the new system weighed a lot less than the GM exhaust with its humongous mufflers. Our guess is at least 30-plus pounds less.
8. The first step was tapping...
8. The first step was tapping the GM clamps back towards the cats so we could slip on the new MBRP pipes.
9. Jason then joined the new...
9. Jason then joined the new S-sections of stainless pipe to the existing pipe coming off the Camaro’s cats. The MBRP tubing is fully mandrel bent and designed with minimal bend degree angles to optimize flow.
10. Using the supplied stainless...
10. Using the supplied stainless clamps, Jason was able to install the system’s center section. This featured an integrated X-pipe design to further enhance performance.
11. We were then able to install...
11. We were then able to install the rear sections that feed the spent gasses to each muffler. If working alone, a pole jack or two really comes in handy to support the system until it can be secured to the factory hangers.
12. Jason was then able to...
12. Jason was then able to install the stainless mufflers and hook them to the factory hangers. MBRP states that on their Mustang 1100 chassis dyno, they saw gains of 12 hp and 25 lb-ft at the tires. The video of their dyno run can be found on YouTube by searching “S7020Dyno.”
13. Before tightening down...
13. Before tightening down all the clamps, we were able to push and pull the system around until the 4-inch, double-walled, polished tips lined up in the lower valance’s cutouts.
14. And here’s the new system...
14. And here’s the new system completely installed under Ryan’s ’12 V-6. Total install time was just over two hours and the only tools required were a set of metric wrenches, metric sockets, and a pry bar. We later heard from Ryan that he was happy with the new sound, and that the system didn’t exhibit any drone on the highway. He also reported that his butt-o-meter noticed a little increase in power.