Will removing baffles completely on my 4-1 hurt anything?

[mixongw]

Running straight through "drag pipe(s)" is a big no-no! Your exhaust valves need SOME backpressure to actually "cool" themselves. When you run no type of baffle, you have no backpressure, and your exhaust valves will run hot, and possibly fail. Not to mention "ear splitting" loud?!!

Can you really explain, from a physics standpoint, how backpressure can cool an exhaust valve? I can't. As a matter of fact, I can't even imagine how it could.

[HiSPL]

My baffle was really, REALLY hard to remove. I basically had to use a long steel tire spoon and a 2 pound sledge to get the thing to move. It was misshaped inside the can. I don't know if it warped after it was put in or what. I knew I was modifying it so it didn't matter if I tore it up in the process.

[dtkid]

Yea, I don't really think the back-pressure does anything to "cool" exhaust valves.

The whole "exhaust-pipe/pressure" issue is based on the fact that the pressure wave/pulse that travels back up the exhaust header will in fact facilitate exhaust gas removal and mixture delivery to the combustion chamber. (When it is timed correctly with camming).

It is sorta the same thing the air-box resonance pulse delivers to the intake side.

Actually, I don't think you want the exhaust valves to cool...they will definitely break if they are subjected to ambient air (like running a motor without exhaust pipes).

[mixongw]

Yea, I don't really think the back-pressure does anything to "cool" exhaust valves.

The whole "exhaust-pipe/pressure" issue is based on the fact that the pressure wave/pulse that travels back up the exhaust header will in fact facilitate exhaust gas removal and mixture delivery to the combustion chamber. (When it is timed correctly with camming).

It is sorta the same thing the air-box resonance pulse delivers to the intake side.

Actually, I don't think you want the exhaust valves to cool...they will definitely break if they are subjected to ambient air (like running a motor without exhaust pipes).

Your last paragraph clears up a question I have had in my mind for years. I had always heard that you shouldn't run a motor without a pipe but never knew why. Thanks.