bigbird89

iTrader: (1)

I know that's a very broad question, but I specifically want to know what makes a Mustang exhaust note so melodic, while most sbc's sound more raspy.

I'm not really a fan of Mustangs, but everytime I hear one with an aftermarket exhaust, the sound is music to my ears.

I'm sure my Firebird will never sound like a Mustang, and I wouldn't really want it to anyway, but what makes the Mustang sound like that?

skyhigh4by

iTrader: (1)

possibly because they use either "x" or "h" pipe and not a y-pipe setup

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

yea, mustangs have a dual exhaust setup, so it will sound different that a single setup.

My original answer was going to be "the size of the tip and what color LED's are in it"

bigbird89

iTrader: (1)

I know the pipe configuration makes adifference, but even with a true dual exhaust, the sbc just sounds different. I think it must be something about overlap, or exhaust port configuration....or something.

Anyone else have any ideas?

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

They came with factory headers and true dual exhaust with a h-pipe crossover. :/ Wish GM did stuff like that, at least on the GTA's, Formulas, and IROC's.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

and doesn't the rustangs have a 4/7 firing order switch?

bigbird89

iTrader: (1)

If they do, that seems like it would change the exhaust note. Can't you do that to a chevy, too? A special distributor or something?

88IROC350TPI

It's the firing order that makes them sound distinct.

Small Block Ford: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Small Block Chevy: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

myvmax1

When you say mustang I assume you mean the 5.0's right? Well with the limited knowledge I have of them I can say that yes they do generally have a traditional dual exhaust, most of which are H-pipe from the factory. They also employ a different firing order, which there was a HO and a non-HO order. I believe they also have a shorter stroke than a Chevrolet 5 liter, all which might contribute to the smoother exhaust note your hearing.

Max,

EDIT: Just read the above, that kinda answered it. To the other question, I believe they have a 4/7 swap cam for the SBC. I read something about it giving less crankshaft deflection with notable gains in higher HP engines.

JaizRed

idle.
haha
Disregard this post.

Air_Adam

The two main factors are firing order and valve timing. Thats why LSx's have that weird sound... they have a unique firing order from almost everything else. Combustion chamber design plays into it too, but not as much as FO and valve timing does. The LT1 has all 3 doing for it, and thats why they sound so awesome.

bigbird89

iTrader: (1)

I think the firing order was the key I was looking for. When doing a 4/7 swap cam, do you just switch the wires on the distributor? That sound like it might be a good idea...

rayar

iTrader: (1)

It's not that easy. You will also need a special camshaft.

tazextreme3

I'm mainly replying to the above bold text. If you take the 351 and late-5.0L Ford firing order and renumber the cylinders like a Chevy, the firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Which is the same as the Chevy Gen III and IV (LS-series) V-8s. Just a bit of trivia I came across on hotrod.com
yep, new firing order becomes 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2

...............................That's what he said

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Just to add to everything else, induction is what really does it to me.
A fuel injected car always sounds domesticated to me. You can "louden" a fuel injected car, but it just sounds like a tame vehicle with a loud-speaker.

A carbed car (i'm not even thinking about bigger cams here yet), will always have a nicer growl to it. Even basic '80s chev trucks (small cam), will sounds nice, vs a cammed up FI mustang for example (1997 car year for example).

But a cammed up small block chev with a quadrajet? Oh boy, that sounds beautiful. A Q-jet's secondaries cracking open sounds pretty intimidating

rayar

iTrader: (1)

For some reason I missed that part. I tend to read through them rather fast.

online170

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...ustang+exhaust

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

ford firing order is only "different" because Ford counts the cylinders in a different order.... they may have a 4-7 swap. but so do the ls1's

tazextreme3

Yep, they have a 4-7 swap as well as a 2-3 swap compared to a gen I sbc. I mentioned that in post #14.

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

to better illustrate my above post here is a crappy paint illustration...(sorry its late and ive had a few drinks)

gm firing order 18436572
ford 18736542

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

you must have had a bunch of drinks cause neither one of those is even close to right!

gm:
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1

ford:
8 4
7 3
6 2
5 1

be careful...the sbf's all had the same firing order...actually, all ford v8's had the same firing order, except for one of the 351's, i believe it was the 351M that was different...

RED_DRAGON_85

ironic...

what you meant to say was
8 4
7 3
6 2
5 1

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

fixed...

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

actually my diagrams are right and my ford firing order wrong. #1 is on the opposite side of GM, gauranteed.... i am a ford technician(definetly not braggin just stating a fact).
15426378 is for the non h.o. 5.0 and 13726548 is the H.O. firing order(different cams)

while the gm order on gen I/II small blocks is 18436572.... gen III/IV hav a 4-7swap

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

alrighty...i'm not gonna argue then...and i'm willing to accept defeat, lol

i still think the gm one you posted is not correct...should be 1 3 5 7 on the drivers side and 2 4 6 8 on the passenger

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

haha well we are both wrong then... my GM diagram is wrong. 1357 drivers side and 2468 pass. side

oh well drunk posting FTL

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

bwahahaha

RED_DRAGON_85

im still not getting this though...
the firing order in a typical sbc is 1-8-4-3-5-6-7-2, which gives a definite pattern since the right bank is 1-3-5-7 and the left bank is 2-4-6-8.

however the ford order than you are posting makes no sense.
the engine would literally vibrate its self apart.
the banks are 1-2-3-4 and 5-6-7-8 respectively...

im confused

rayar

iTrader: (1)

GM # 1 is the front left(drivers)side Odd #'s on the left even on the right
Ford 1-4 is on the right(passenger) 5-8 on the left. It been posted before but it should look like this.

GM
8[ ]7
6[ ]5
4[ ]3
2[ ]1

ford
4[ ]8
3[ ]7
2[ ]6
1[ ]5

GM fireing order 18436572 Ford either 15426378 or 13726548

Ford 15426378 is identicle to GM 18436572. 13726548 looks to be both a 4-7 and 2-3 swap(in GM) if I am looking right.