Comparing gas tank baffles

GNVAIR

Member
Joined
May 24, 2001
I have been putting my 87 back together. In talking with people on Facebook I have found people talking about the baffles. There are those that talk about how bad the replacements are but do not have any data logs showing dips in fuel pressure or leaning out because of in adequacies.
My original tank rusted out under the rubber isolators.
As such, I had to find a replacement. At the time (2015) I looked for a baffled tank and did not pay attention to brand or details.
I bought one off of Ebay. I expected one to show up with the silver terne plating. The one I received showed up painted and was bare metal inside. I kept it and was going to use it until the baffle issue came up. This one had the short "pie plate" welded to the bottom. These are the pictures of it and I am convinced that it is an off shore Asian clone. Note the stamped numbers are the same as the Spectra brand.
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Last year I purchased a baffled Spectra tank part# GM307C for my 78 Malibu. I bought it with the idea that I would some day convert to EFI.
Note the extensive baffling inside. It is very tall and completely surrounds the pump.
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I cut up my original tank before I disposed of it. I saved the original plastic baffle. Funny that it has a GM part number on it. Maybe someday I will get a non baffled tank and cut it open and install this and Tig weld if shut.
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apparently from my research ...the one Kirban sells is one of the best replacements out there made in Canada..I can't remember but I dont believe any of the replacement tanks have any baffling at all .. just the dog dish like the pic you showed... I guess my thought would be to just have the tank full...or I have questioned the use of in tank foam baffles ...isnt there more inside the stock than just the pick you posted ...I thought the stock tanks had more baffling in them..im sure there is the argument about cost to keep the tank full and weight ...but some serious racrers actually us 100lbs of ballet weight in the rear ...soo...intereseting topic...
 
apparently from my research ...the one Kirban sells is one of the best replacements out there made in Canada..I can't remember but I dont believe any of the replacement tanks have any baffling at all .. just the dog dish like the pic you showed... I guess my thought would be to just have the tank full...or I have questioned the use of in tank foam baffles ...isnt there more inside the stock than just the pick you posted ...I thought the stock tanks had more baffling in them..im sure there is the argument about cost to keep the tank full and weight ...but some serious racrers actually us 100lbs of ballet weight in the rear ...soo...intereseting topic...
The Spectra is the one that is made in Canada. If you look at my 2nd post in this thread you will see the extensive baffling.
All of the tanks have baffling/reinforcements along the rear of the tank. Both of the replacements had it and the factory one had it as well.
But the plastic baffle was the only crucial baffle in the factory tank.
 
The Spectra is the one that is made in Canada. If you look at my 2nd post in this thread you will see the extensive baffling.
All of the tanks have baffling/reinforcements along the rear of the tank. Both of the replacements had it and the factory one had it as well.
But the plastic baffle was the only crucial baffle in the factory tank.
10/4...I have also heard the filler neck has had some fitment issues ...great info ..thx ...
 
Looks like the new one's baffling is similar to the plastic stock one so I'm sure it's way better than the first one.
 
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