Catalog › Installation Guide: Camaro Convertible Cat Back Mach-XC Installation Guide: Camaro Convertible Cat Back Mach-XC

Note: With the automatic, take note that when you take the stock exhaust off the catalytic converter falls down because they are on flex’s. Please take extra care with positioning the exhaust before tightening. The “floppy” converters make the automatic install much harder. Please take your time and have patience. Good luck and feel free to call if you have any problems.

Note: There are three areas under the V8 Camaro Convertible that have braces. There is a front brace/crossmember that has 8 bolts (15MM) that must come off. There is a mid-brace that can stay on if you cut the stock exhaust just behind this brace. This mid brace is handy to leave on as it will help you “hold” the exhaust. The rear brace (drivers and passenger side) must come off. The rear braces have 3 bolts and 1 nut.

Removing the Stock Mufflers

1. It is helpful to cut the sock exhaust system somewhere around the rear wheels. Cut both drivers and passenger’s side. This will allow for much easier handling during the disassembly. If you do cut your stock GM system make sure you do it in a straight section. This would make it much easier to install if you ever had the need to re-install the stock system. (i.e. return or lease)

2. Loosen (don’t take completely apart) the two stock GM band clamps (15mm socket) at the rear catalytic converter and front pipe connection. At this point the front and rear braces (note above) should be off.

3. Carefully slide the pipes backwards out of the band clamps. Don’t let the assembly hang and elongate the band clamps as they need to be reused. If you cut the system you can slide this assembly forward over the GM mid brace to get it out. If you do not cut the system you have to take this brace off to drop the stock exhaust system. Put mid brace back on as soon as the stock system is off.

4. Pull down on rear of the exhaust system by the muffler. When the rubber hangers stretch, squirt soapy water into the rubber where the hangers go. You could use WD40 or grease but that would not be good for the rubbers. It starts to deteriorate them. Using a fair size channel lock pliers, squeeze the backside of the rubber and the hanger rod. This will push the hanger knob into the rubber. Start all 4 like this. Then using a long screw driver or pry-bar carefully take off the 2 rear muffler assemblies by sliding the hanger rods forward out off the rubber hangers.

5. The stock exhaust system is now disassembled and its time to put your new kit on!

Installing Your New Exhaust Kit

Note: If you snug everything first instead of fully tightening, it will allow for movement and adjustments once the new system is on. Snug, align, snug some more and then do your final tighten.

Note: The bottom band clamp on the J-pipe’s must be loosened and swiveled down in order to install each tailpipe. Once tailpipe is installed the J-pipe’s can be repositioned.

1. Slide rear rubber stock exhaust hangers as far to the rear of the car as possible. These hangers will slide back and forth on the stock hanger rods.

2. Being careful not to bang the rear valence, slip the left and right tail tips thru the valence. Attach Solo’s rod hangers (on the tail sections) into the rear rubber hangers and let it hang loose.

3. Slide the front MACH-XC front muffler section from the front of the car to the back of the car going over the GM mid body brace. This brace will help to hold the MACH-XC section up during the install.

4. Slide the front MACH-XC muffler section into the GM stock band clamps. Make sure that the MACH-XC section is completely bottomed out into these clamps. Do NOT tighten the clamps.

5. Assemble the two band clamps provided by SOLO and slip them onto the rear of the MACH-XC section with the bolts facing upward.

6. Slide each tail section into the front section while pulling the rear stock rubber hangers as far forward as possible. Pulling these rubber hangers forward will allow the tail sections to move forward easily into the front MACH-XC section. These rubber hangers also need to be forward so that they don’t rest on the 4 ½” T304 stainless tips.

7. Make sure the tips are equal distance in and out and centered in the cut out of the valence. A helper with a good eye is recommended to hold the tips.

8. Hand tighten each of the 4 band clamps to a snug position. Make sure the SOLO band clamps are equal distance on each pipe.

NOTE: If further manipulation is needed to get the tail tips aligned you can loosen both converters at the manifold. Loosen only enough for a slight adjustment as a 1/8” movement at the front can translate into a ½” movement at the rear.

9. Ensure that the tail pipes are still in perfect position and lightly snug each of the 4 band clamps.

SOLO clamps: Hold the top nut with a 9/16” wrench and lightly snug the bottom bolt head with a 9/16 socket. THIS FLAT BAND CLAMP WILL FORM AROUND EACH LAYER OF PIPE.

GM band clamps: lightly snug with a 15mm socket.

10. Ensure that everything is still aligned and proper. Perform a tight snug on all 4 clamps.

11. Check again then perform your final tighten to all four band clamps.

Adjusting Tips & J-Pipes:
12. To adjust the tips (after band clamps are tight,) see the below picture. It is easy to tweak the tails toward the outside of the car using a pry bar as shown. Don’t pry too far as it is much harder to move the tips back inward.

13. Road test…

14. The j-pipes are at a “factory preset” that is good for most Camaro’s. If you hear any bad RPM ranges or vibrations you can shorten or lengthen the top piece of the j-pipe to “tweak” your car to your liking.

15. To shorten or lengthen the J-Pipes just loosen the top clamp and shorten or lengthen both sides by moving the end cap piece.

16. The procedure that we use is:
•  Shorten by 1”
•  If this makes the sound more desirable move in either direction ½” until fully satisfied.
•  If shortening the j-pipe makes it worse, then length if from this position by 2”.
•  Move in ½” increments from here until fully satisfied.

17. Drive away and… Enjoy Going Solo!

We really enjoyed designing this solo camaro convertible mach-xc cat back exhaust kit.
We are very proud of the results this kit gives. We hope you enjoy it too!