When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I built a Arduino based GPS Exhaust Flap Controller for Laguna Seca Sound !!!!
Hi Everybody,
I recently had a knee injury with surgery scheduled for this week. To distract myself and do something useful at the same time I started building a GPS based exhaust flap controller for the C7 Corvette and Grandsport for tracks that check sound.
This is based on a design by Mech33 on the rennlist forum for the Porsche GT cars.
I recently finished it and thought I'd make a post of out it:
Mostly I made this so I can stay flat open through Turn 5 to Turn 6, past the sound station at Laguna Seca with no need to upshift to 4 and not have to worry about blowing sound!
Summary
- Uses GPS to calculate when the car is within 80 feet of the Laguna Seca Turn 5 Sound station
- Automatically closes flaps when the above condition is met
- Re-opens flaps when past the sound station.
- Optionally - Keeps flaps closed for the first 30 seconds of bootup - Basically keeps my neighbors happy when I fire up the car first thing in the morning
- I've also programmed it such that it will close flaps anytime it is within 80 feet of my house
- Can be configured for any track (Not limited to Laguna Seca)
IMPORTANT NOTE - Only works properly for C7 Stingray and Grand sport models. Does not work on the Z06 or ZR1. For the Stingray/GS, the car keeps the flaps closed past ~3800 rpms in stealth mode (which my device relies on). On the Z06/ZR1, even in stealth mode, the car opens the exhaust flaps when going past ~3800 rpms... unfortunately.
Technical Details
- Mainboard - Arduino Uno Microcontroller board
- Relay - Seeed Arduino Relay Shield V2.0
- GPS - Adafruit Ultimate GPS Logger Shield with external GPS Antenna
- Packaging - Alekshop Provided Custom Case!
- Software - Code heavily modified and updated - based on Mech33's code for the Porsche GT cars
- Quick disconnect for flap relay and GPS external antenna
Credits
- Much thanks to Mech33.for the original idea on rennlist
- Thanks to Aleks and Alekshop for providing me with a custom case
If anyone else is interested, I'm happy to build a few more.
Finished Device:
Final prototype for testing:
Modified a tap-a-fuse and tapped into Fuse 83 to control the flaps via my controller:
Very nice job man sometimes it is good to be down a man can get stuff done that he wouldn't take the time to do other wise.. Hope every thing goes well on what ever you are having done & you are back 100% in no time... Robert
Thank you all! I am in software engineering as a profession so it was fun to apply some of that to a fun project ... which will help me defeat Laguna Seca's silly sound policy!
I love projects like this. Nice job. My goal for 2019 is to finally build a special purpose OBD2 app that's been rattling around in my brain for a while.
Something like this may have worked for ZR1 or LG Motorsports when on the Ring in Germany. Of course that is provided the car has valves to the mufflers.
Thank you all! I am in software engineering as a profession so it was fun to apply some of that to a fun project ... which will help me defeat Laguna Seca's silly sound policy!
It's silly because Laguna Seca enforces a 90db sound limit which is low for even some stock exhausts. People have bought homes really close to Laguna and then complained about sound from the race track, so the local city enforced a very low sound limit.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
C7 of Year Winner (track prepared) 2019
can you provide the source code?
I'm nowhere near laguna but would be cool to see the code and maybe even add some features.
I'm working on an electronics project that replaces the stupid steering wheel buttons (so aftermarket wheels can be used) and if I could just incorporate some of this functionality into that project for one little kit that would be neat.
I'm nowhere near laguna but would be cool to see the code and maybe even add some features.
I'm working on an electronics project that replaces the stupid steering wheel buttons (so aftermarket wheels can be used) and if I could just incorporate some of this functionality into that project for one little kit that would be neat.
Sure thing, I'll PM you.
BTW its crazy but I've been thinking the same thing .. I wanted to get a nice sparco racing wheel but need to move the controls off the stock wheel and was contemplating another project. Maybe we can collaborate on this together.
It's silly because Laguna Seca enforces a 90db sound limit which is low for even some stock exhausts. People have bought homes really close to Laguna and then complained about sound from the race track, so the local city enforced a very low sound limit.
I never could understand why people would buy a house next to a race track then complain about noise. It would be like moving to the desert and crying there is no
water! duh!!
12-26-2018, 05:34 PM
I built a Arduino based GPS Exhaust Flap Controller for Laguna Seca Sound !!!!
cool project. 
