Rumble considers rumble

[rumble]

I have read time and time again on our board that the reason our cars don't produce the deep low frequency exhaust "rumble" that other V8's do is because we only displace 281 CI. I would like to present, for the boards consideration, that maybe this is not entirely correct.
Case in point, a 283 CI small block Chevy or even a 239 CI flathead Merc/Ford had a sound very much like the present day Camaros etc. When equipped with a glass pack they had a very "Harley like" deep cackle.

What my question is, do you think rather than the displacement it is the fact that we have a 4 valve head design that gives us our sound? If not the 4 valve then could the reason be combustion chamber design? My point is that many other small displacement engines have had a much deeper exhaust rumble than ours regardless what mufflers we use. I would think that all of these deeper sounding engines had on thing in common, a single large exhaust valve. I don't know if that really has anything to do with the exhaust sound but I can't believe that 281 CI displacement is the reason either.

Please, if you will, sound off on this.

[MAD-3R]

I have read time and time again on our board that the reason our cars don't produce the deep low frequency exhaust "rumble" that other V8's do is because we only displace 281 CI. I would like to present, for the boards consideration, that maybe this is not entirely correct.
Case in point, a 283 CI small block Chevy or even a 239 CI flathead Merc/Ford had a sound very much like the present day Camaros etc. When equipped with a glass pack they had a very "Harley like" deep cackle.

What my question is, do you think rather than the displacement it is the fact that we have a 4 valve head design that gives us our sound? If not the 4 valve then could the reason be combustion chamber design? My point is that many other small displacement engines have had a much deeper exhaust rumble than ours regardless what mufflers we use. I would think that all of these deeper sounding engines had on thing in common, a single large exhaust valve. I don't know if that really has anything to do with the exhaust sound but I can't believe that 281 CI displacement is the reason either.

Please, if you will, sound off on this.


I was under the impresion that it was due to it being an DOHC engine, instead of a pushrod motor.

[merc406]

I don't think displacement has much to do with it, I had a couple of 63 Buick 215 cubed motored cars that I had glasspacks on, and you'd think a big block was coming down the road. :D
If anything it has to do with the firing order and maybe the 4 valves. :bounce:

[03SILVERSTREAK]

I have read time and time again on our board that the reason our cars don't produce the deep low frequency exhaust "rumble" that other V8's do is because we only displace 281 CI. I would like to present, for the boards consideration, that maybe this is not entirely correct.
Case in point, a 283 CI small block Chevy or even a 239 CI flathead Merc/Ford had a sound very much like the present day Camaros etc. When equipped with a glass pack they had a very "Harley like" deep cackle.

What my question is, do you think rather than the displacement it is the fact that we have a 4 valve head design that gives us our sound? If not the 4 valve then could the reason be combustion chamber design? My point is that many other small displacement engines have had a much deeper exhaust rumble than ours regardless what mufflers we use. I would think that all of these deeper sounding engines had on thing in common, a single large exhaust valve. I don't know if that really has anything to do with the exhaust sound but I can't believe that 281 CI displacement is the reason either.

Please, if you will, sound off on this. Well how about the cobra mustang ? they have a low sounding exhaust system...

[2003 MIB]

Good Morning Gary,
I think the answer is as close as listening to a Cobra, Mach 1 or other 32V-equipped Ford. I have a friend here at work with a 2003 Mach 1- headers, X-pipe and 14" Magnaflows. I like the sound but wouldn't call it a rumble... I've liked your Flowmasters since Ennis- Sound is pretty subjective- if anybody's chasing the intro to the Beach Boys hit "409"- I don't think it's gonna happen.
Trumpets don't sound like tubas.

[rumble]

Trumpets don't sound like tubas.

Damn! That's it. Trumpets don't sound like Tubas. Thanks Dan.

[MM03]

I Have a theory about the sound difference. Could it be that with 4 valves you don't need as much valve overlap to let the new fuel in and spent gasses out. This gives our cars a smooth idle and good power. This could be the diffrence in sounds.

[2003 MIB]

Damn! That's it. Trumpets don't sound like Tubas. Thanks Dan.

No, THANK YOU for not showing up with all that snazzy chrome to the AER show...Might give some of us slackers a chance at the prizes... ;) ;) ;)
Hope to see you and Barbara soon.

[rumble]

No, THANK YOU for not showing up with all that snazzy chrome to the AER show...Might give some of us slackers a chance at the prizes... ;) ;) ;)
Hope to see you and Barbara soon.

A very humble thank you for your exaggerations.

[RCSignals]

You are right Rumble. much of it has to do with the muffler itself.

A Model A Ford for example has a very distinctive exhaust note. However, if you use a muffler other than an original type, the exhaust tone changes significantly

[jobrien8]

Another thing that affects the rumble of any type of engine is backpressure and the travel within the muffler. When you install a low restrictive muffler you change the timber and the backpressure of any exhaust system. Remove the resonator, install high flow catalysts and you do the same thing. So any change, you change the sound. Also don't forget the length of the system. It is also has an effect.

[woaface]

Go here and listen:

http://www.bishopsales.com/kennybrown/movies/kennybrown_marauder_video.html

http://www.bishopsales.com/kennybrown/movies/kennybrown_panther_video.html

The Crown vic is the same..'cept it has a smaller supercharger (90cubic inches vs. 112 correct me if I'm wrong) and SOHC...

[CRUZTAKER]

Another thing that affects the rumble of any type of engine is backpressure and the travel within the muffler. When you install a low restrictive muffler you change the timber and the backpressure of any exhaust system. Remove the resonator, install high flow catalysts and you do the same thing. So any change, you change the sound. Also don't forget the length of the system. It is also has an effect.I agree, but didn't know how to say iy it....

I have followed both threads regarding the application of glasspacks to alleviate the need to rumble. Why not add a set of headers, cats, ...AND glasspacks? I've got some rumble, I can only imagine what the glasspacks would sound like.

[studio460]

Why not add a set of headers, cats, ...AND glasspacks?
That's EXACTLY what I plan to do!

[Marauderjack]

Also the FOUR cats act to even out the exhaust pulses and quiet the exhaust note!! ;)

I put a cat-back system on my daughter's '97 Mustang and for kicks I started it with no mufflers or tail pipes and it was amazingly quiet!! It had SIX cats on it and I guess it was pretty restricted?? :confused:

I had a '92 Mustang 5.0 and gutted the cats before installing a hi-flow x-pipe with cats and it was really different sounding!! The down side was the empty cats rang like bells when accelerating......SOUNDED REAL BAD!!! :o

With no cats and glass packs I bet you'd be surprised how our little 281 CI engines would sound??!! ;) Just not the way this car should sound IMHO!! :rock:

Marauderjack :D