I have recently become enamored with V8s but I have a questionq

[sportyaccordy]

OK so I've been Youtubing various V8 vids and I noticed something.

American V8s sound so rough, like their exhausts are spitting out a mix of water and air.

European V8s sound phenomenal, even in an open header condition.

*Most* 60 degree V6s & pretty much all inline 4s sound the same... whats the deal w/V8s?

I will post some examples at home.

[GoCougs]

Lots of reasons - firing order, crank style, head design, exhaust design, etc.

[SVT32V]

OK so I've been Youtubing various V8 vids and I noticed something.

American V8s sound so rough, like their exhausts are spitting out a mix of water and air.

European V8s sound phenomenal, even in an open header condition.

*Most* 60 degree V6s & pretty much all inline 4s sound the same... whats the deal w/V8s?

I will post some examples at home.

Most European V8s are OHC and mulitvalve and generally on the small side.  Most US V8s have large displacement and pushrods as a start.

IMO, the audi v8 sounds the most US like. Also most v8s from Japan and Europe are in luxury cars so the exhaust is not designed to be so loud.

Even more modern V8s like the 32V northstar or 32V mustang have exhaust tuned more towards the classic US v8 sound.

Find a 32V mustang with a bassani x-pipe and cat-back revving at 7 grand and it sounds every bit as exotic as Euro V8s.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's all about the FLowmasters

[SVT666]

It's all about the FLowmasters

Not the FLOWMASTERZZZZZ!!

[GoCougs]

Most European V8s are OHC and mulitvalve and generally on the small side.  Most US V8s have large displacement and pushrods as a start.

IMO, the audi v8 sounds the most US like. Also most v8s from Japan and Europe are in luxury cars so the exhaust is not designed to be so loud.

Even more modern V8s like the 32V northstar or 32V mustang have exhaust tuned more towards the classic US v8 sound.

Find a 32V mustang with a bassani x-pipe and cat-back revving at 7 grand and it sounds every bit as exotic as Euro V8s.

Cams and push rods though won't affect exhaust sound, though.

The Tundra V8 and Titan V8 sound quite Americanish to me.

The Audi and BMW V8s sound very, very unAmericanish. M-B V8 sounds somewhat Americanish.

The Mustang GT 4.6L, both small and OHC, sound the most American of them all.

[Soup DeVille]

OK so I've been Youtubing various V8 vids and I noticed something.

American V8s sound so rough, like their exhausts are spitting out a mix of water and air.

European V8s sound phenomenal, even in an open header condition.

*Most* 60 degree V6s & pretty much all inline 4s sound the same... whats the deal w/V8s?

I will post some examples at home.

A 4-valve head will be able to flow much more effectively with a cam with less overlap and duration.

[Eye of the Tiger]

A 4-valve head will be able to flow much more effectively with a cam with less overlap and duration.

The 2-valve needs more more displacement for low RPM, to make up for the compromise of lift and overlap for high RPM.

[Soup DeVille]

The 2-valve needs more more displacement for low RPM, to make up for the compromise of lift and overlap for high RPM.

I suppose that's true, although I never really looked at it that way (since most American V8s don't really lack for displacement compared to a European offering)

[Vinsanity]

The Tundra V8 and Titan V8 sound quite Americanish to me.

No kidding. Every time a Titan with an aftermarket exhaust drives by, I always mistake it for an F-150 or something until I see it.

[Soup DeVille]

No kidding. Every time a Titan with an aftermarket exhaust drives by, I always mistake it for an F-150 or something until I see it.

I think that's 90% intentional and 10% the product of their job. (Until recently, how many non-American V8s would be found in something as plebian as a pick-up?)

[SVT666]

Most European V8s are OHC and mulitvalve and generally on the small side.  Most US V8s have large displacement and pushrods as a start.

IMO, the audi v8 sounds the most US like. Also most v8s from Japan and Europe are in luxury cars so the exhaust is not designed to be so loud.

What about the Merc V8's?  With free flowing exhaust they can be easily mistaken for American.

Even more modern V8s like the 32V northstar or 32V mustang have exhaust tuned more towards the classic US v8 sound.

Find a 32V mustang with a bassani x-pipe and cat-back revving at 7 grand and it sounds every bit as exotic as Euro V8s.

Absolutely.  My last Mustang was like that.  It had a nice deep rumble  up to about 4500 rpm, but above that it would scream like a banshee up to redline.  Bassani X-pipe and Magnaflow Magnapacks gave it that sound.  It was a very nice combo.

[SVT32V]

The 2-valve needs more more displacement for low RPM, to make up for the compromise of lift and overlap for high RPM.

The multi-valve engines need more valve area and revs to make up for their lack of displacement.

[SVT32V]

Cams and push rods though won't affect exhaust sound, though.
A lopey low rev cam will certainly sound like an old low rev big displacement V8
The Tundra V8 and Titan V8 sound quite Americanish to me.
By design and the fact they are quite big at 5.6-.7 liters, the sound of the titan is definitely overdone to emulate the US v8 sound.

The Audi and BMW V8s sound very, very unAmericanish. M-B V8 sounds somewhat Americanish.
MBs are waht 6.3 liters, just like a giant vette engine, no surprise there.

The Mustang GT 4.6L, both small and OHC, sound the most American of them all.
Each iteration sounds more retro, the first 4.6 32V was much more exotic and bubbly sounding, the new edges were definitely tuned to have the more retor sound and it is carried further on the S197s.

Listen to the 32V 4.6 with an X-pipe at high revs it doesn;t sound liek a big block.

[Soup DeVille]

The multi-valve engines need more valve area and revs to make up for their lack of displacement.

Oh god, not this debate again...

[sportyaccordy]

Oh god, not this debate again...

I will search for 4.6 + Bassani

[Colonel Cadillac]

I really want my first car to have a V8 before they die out with the next gasoline price crisis. If it has a V8, I am definitely beefing up the exhaust.

And 6-cylinder engines sound much better than 4's. My mom's old Allroad's 2.7T sounded much "softer" (less grunt noise) than her A4 with the 2.0T. On that note, I looove the new 2.0T--so much low-end torque.

[S204STi]

What about the Merc V8's?  With free flowing exhaust they can be easily mistaken for American.
Absolutely.  My last Mustang was like that.  It had a nice deep rumble  up to about 4500 rpm, but above that it would scream like a banshee up to redline.  Bassani X-pipe and Magnaflow Magnapacks gave it that sound.  It was a very nice combo.

There is nothing quite like the sound of an uncorked Mustang at redline.   I love it.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

There is nothing quite like the sound of an uncorked Mustang at redline.   I love it.

+1 as a Chevy guy I have to agree! You can tell it's a 'Stang from the instant you hear it.

[sportyaccordy]

I really want my first car to have a V8 before they die out with the next gasoline price crisis. If it has a V8, I am definitely beefing up the exhaust.

And 6-cylinder engines sound much better than 4's. My mom's old Allroad's 2.7T sounded much "softer" (less grunt noise) than her A4 with the 2.0T. On that note, I looove the new 2.0T--so much low-end torque.

6 cylinder motors might have the best sound...

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w272/futuresixtytwo/?action=view&current=Title02.flv

[Raza]

I don't know about I4s either.  My Passat and Jetta sound nothing alike.  And many V6s sound incredibly different from one another.

[VTEC_Inside]

Have to admit that I've often contemplated buying a Mustang just to enjoy a healthy V8 while they are still around.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Anything with a turbo automatically sounds wicked cool.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Anything with a turbo automatically sounds wicked cool.

Shwooosh

I have to say, I am pretty proud of my mother. She hasn't had a naturally aspirated car since 1997; they're all turbos

[Soup DeVille]

6 cylinder motors might have the best sound...

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w272/futuresixtytwo/?action=view&current=Title02.flv

Bahhh. "Best"

Find yourself a video of a BRM 1.5 litre supercharged V-16.

[SVT666]

6 cylinder motors might have the best sound...

http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w272/futuresixtytwo/?action=view&current=Title02.flv

Nothing sounds as good as a V8.  V12s are close behind.  But any V8 beats any V6 any day.

[MX793]

V6s, much like I4s, can be hit or miss when it comes to sound (ever hear a late 80s GM 3.1L pushrod with a shot muffler?)  I'm not sure I've ever heard a V8 that didn't sound good (unless it wasn't running properly).

[MX793]

Nothing sounds as good as a V8.  V12s are close behind.  But any V8 beats any V6 any day.

The 2.0/2.4L Dino motors are sex.  As was the SVT Duratec 25.  They certainly can hold their own against the V8s in my book.

[YO]

agree

The 2.0/2.4L Dino motors are sex.  As was the SVT Duratec 25.  They certainly can hold their own against the V8s in my book.

[Vinsanity]

The 2.0/2.4L Dino motors are sex.  As was the SVT Duratec 25.  They certainly can hold their own against the V8s in my book.

I had a custom dual exhaust made for my old 2.5L Duratec Cougar, and it sounded a lot like a V8 Mustang