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Who really knows what gives V8s their throaty exhaust note?

T

TrueBlueLS

Platinum Member
I've been thinking about this for a little bit now. Could it maybe be the length of the tips coming off the muffler that resonate?
 
"Could it maybe be the length of the tips coming off the muffler that resonate?"

A 2 Liter V8 would have a fart can sound, too! Honest to God, I've never seen or heard so much attention given to 'exhaust tips', since the ricer/tuners hit the streets. Hell, even the manufacturers put big honking tips at the end of their 1.25" exhaust systems. I don't know whether to laugh or retch!
 
part of the sound has to do with the camshaft,which limits how far the vlaves open,and how fast,
that they open close.

Also a big thing will be what type of exhaust system the car has.

Alot has to do with the fact that there is 8 cylinders,each time a cylinder "fires"
it is a small explosion taking place.

You can put like a Flowmaster muffler on a 4cyl car,and it will not sound anything like a V8

a 6 cyl will sound different too.


4 cyl with Gibson


305 Chevy V8

Ford V10
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
"Could it maybe be the length of the tips coming off the muffler that resonate?"

A 2 Liter V8 would have a fart can sound, too! Honest to God, I've never seen or heard so much attention given to 'exhaust tips', since the ricer/tuners hit the streets. Hell, even the manufacturers put big honking tips at the end of their 1.25" exhaust systems. I don't know whether to laugh or retch!
Click to expand...
It would be higher pitched, but it would still have the characteristic V8 burble. American V8's sound the way they do because of their 90 degree crankshaft. This is also why Euro V8's sound different since almost all Euro V8's are flat-crank engines.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
part of the sound has to do with the camshaft,which limits how far the vlaves open,and how fast,
that they open close.

I'm not seeing how this would be any different than an I-4 or an I-6.

Also a big thing will be what type of exhaust system the car has

.Even with just headers, I think a V-8 would still sound substantially different.

Alot has to do with the fact that there is 8 cylinders,each time a cylinder "fires"
it is a small explosion taking place.


Isn't this true of any internal combustion engine?
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Originally posted by: Cyberian
Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
part of the sound has to do with the camshaft,which limits how far the vlaves open,and how fast,
that they open close.

I'm not seeing how this would be any different than an I-4 or an I-6.

Also a big thing will be what type of exhaust system the car has

.Even with just headers, I think a V-8 would still sound substantially different.

Alot has to do with the fact that there is 8 cylinders,each time a cylinder "fires"
it is a small explosion taking place.


Isn't this true of any internal combustion engine?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Mo' cylinders, mo' noize.

- M4H
 
I really doubt ole' Jeff is as concerned about the subtleties of the different V8s, as he is with the rumble they produce, which is 90% due to their displacement.

There was a movie from the '70s, called The Gumball Rally, which featured cars from around the world. The producers took pains to make sure the engine sounds on the soundtrack were authentic. All the big displacement engines had an authoritative rumble. Never did get to hear the Jaguar XKE 😛


"Music to my ears."

The car may perform, but that sound clip sounds like a damn weedwacker!
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
I really doubt ole' Jeff is as concerned about the subtleties of the different V8s, as he is with the rumble they produce, which is 90% due to their displacement.

There was a movie from the '70s, called The Gumball Rally, which featured cars from around the world. The producers to pains to make sure the engine sounds on the soundtrack were authentic. All the big displacement engines had an authoritative rumble. Never did get to hear the Jaguar XKE 😛
Click to expand...


Ah, the Gumball Rally.....

"The first rule of Italian driving...<rips off and throws out rearview mirror> whatsa behind me is not important!"

lol 😀
 
I'm curious to hear how an engine (any production automotive engine) would sound without any headers/exhaust manifolds/intake manifolds (well I guess it could have intake ports for each cylidner). Just the engine itself without any add ons. Assuming you could get it to run, I wonder how it would sound.
 
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
I'm curious to hear how an engine (any production automotive engine) would sound without any headers/exhaust manifolds/intake manifolds (well I guess it could have intake ports for each cylidner). Just the engine itself without any add ons. Assuming you could get it to run, I wonder how it would sound.
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Would be so loud that it would likely just sound like cacophany because it's so loud that we wouldn't be able to really distinguish the sound.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
I'm curious to hear how an engine (any production automotive engine) would sound without any headers/exhaust manifolds/intake manifolds (well I guess it could have intake ports for each cylidner). Just the engine itself without any add ons. Assuming you could get it to run, I wonder how it would sound.
Click to expand...



Go to a NHRA race, you will learn how it sounds real fast.
 
Read and learn much. Doesn't answer the question specifically, but explains why certain engine designs are inherently smooth and balanced, and why others are less than optimal. Firing order has a lot to do with an engines sound. A very simple example would be a Harley V twin. Just two cylinders, and when it's idling you can pretty much differentiate which one is firing. As it revs, it sounds like a drummer beating two sticks, only at a faster pace.
 
It's not just because of the displacement...

A 2L V8 would sound the same as a 6L V8 as far as rhythm goes, assuming it was the same design, just smaller displacement.
 
Originally posted by: JC
Originally posted by: Ornery
I really doubt ole' Jeff is as concerned about the subtleties of the different V8s, as he is with the rumble they produce, which is 90% due to their displacement.

There was a movie from the '70s, called The Gumball Rally, which featured cars from around the world. The producers to pains to make sure the engine sounds on the soundtrack were authentic. All the big displacement engines had an authoritative rumble. Never did get to hear the Jaguar XKE 😛
Click to expand...


Ah, the Gumball Rally.....

"The first rule of Italian driving...<rips off and throws out rearview mirror> whatsa behind me is not important!"

lol 😀
Click to expand...

Psst..

Gumball.
 
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