Re: How do I make my Spider exhaust note throatier?

[warren@domain.elided (Warren Nicholson)]

 "Ken Ross" wrote:

While I love my 1990 Spider and find the engine to be great, 
the exhaust note is very muted and sounds like a Honda.  How 
do I make the exhaust note throatier and sound more like a 
1960's sports car? 
<SNIP>

Allow me to voice a dissonant note about exhausts (ahem...)

In spite of the expected and normal advice Ken will receive 
about straight pipes and glass packs, etc. I would like to 
state for the record that, when faced with this same choice 
after the last performance exhaust went to rust heaven, I 
analyzed and researched a good deal before finally deciding 
on....  a factory exhaust. 

Reasoning:  
1. I give credit to Luigi and his friends who designed the 
Lucretia in the first place. I bought her new in '73 and 
have found very few reasons to quibble with their design 
decisions. 

2. The design decision they made regarding the exhaust was 
toning down the noise while sacrificing very little 
performance. 

3. Although ripping, snarling car noises appeal to the 
emotions and cause heads to snap around as you go by, some 
of those heads belong to the men and women in blue who 
write speeding tickets for a living. 

My opinion: In this arena, the less attention you draw to 
yourself and your wheels, the better.

Lucretia and I can still be found flying below the radar and 
occasionally waving to folks on the side of the road who are 
enjoying the tender ministrations of the local fascista who 
are complimenting on the testosterone-drenched sound of their 
car which is currently being ticketed. 

One man's opinion. 

Faithfully, 

Warren Nicholson 
Alfa Romeo Association
Santa Clara, CA 
'73 Spider (Red 'n Ready)
'74 GTV (Running and Waterproof) 

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