Use of removable exhaust baffle

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TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Use of removable exhaust baffle

Post by TX82FIAT »

Folks, I love the sound of my Spider. Hitting the gas when going through a tunnel or even some underpasses puts a huge smile on my face. The performance is what I want when I want it. However, as I get older and try to hear a conversation with the person next to me the top down exhaust noise is starting to wear on me a little. This weekend I drove from San Antonio to Taylor Texas to Jeff's resurrections and back with the top down. By the time I made it back to San Antonio my throat was horse from the screaming conversation. Modified high comp engine with cams. I'm running 2.5 in mandrel bend from a set of headers through a resonator and free flow exhaust. No Cat. I was thinking of installing a removable baffle in the tail pipe like the motor cycle guys use. I would only use the baffle for tame driving where I would not need to get on it. I know the baffle would create significantly more backpressure than the tune is set up for but I can't think that the cam timing would be overly impacted. However, for a leisure drive, it seems like an option.

Thoughts on a removable baffle in tail pipe?
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
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joelittel
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1013
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: Use of removable exhaust baffle

Post by joelittel »

I have one for my bike, and have never had any problems.... but have never done a thorough search for hidden issues either.

I don’t recall if you’re one of the few running programmable fuel injection but if you are you could setup a tune just for the times you will run with the baffle.
TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Use of removable exhaust baffle

Post by TX82FIAT »

Yes, the laptop I had used back in 2011 to see mapping is long gone. I can download new EFI software. However, the initial tune was set up by the folks at Vicks and only tweaked. The current set up is running great. It is running closed loop with respect to O2. So, I'd have to plug an O2 sensor in as well. I know creating another map with an O2 plug in is the right thing to do. The baffle would be a limited date night use or cruise on the highway at 65 for trips. Hoping that when the baffle is installed driving under 3500 RPMs will mitigate the need for an additional tune. A few test drives should let me know right way if I need an additional tune. I'm due for an oil change soon anyway.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
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