hupp

This may be a somewhat odd question, but here it goes:

My shark has always had a interesting exhaust note when cruising between 2500 and 3500 rpm. The exhaust sounds similar (and I use the term similar lightly) to a Harly Davidson with stock pipes. No miss, and pulls good, just wondering -- Is this normal? Is this inherant to the 16 valve cars?

My exhaust set-up includes a Borla stainless from 928 intl with cat installed (cat in good shape).

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Scott,
My 84S sounds like you're describing. I have the stock exhaust. I hear people talk about the deep, throaty, burbling exhaust note like it's a great thing. I'd prefer smooth, deep with finesse. I guess you can talk yourself into anything though.
Along the lines of Scott's question, if this sound is part of the OB Y-pipe/single pipe design, can we change to x-pipe and dual exhaust when we want a new exhaust system? How hard would this be and would the sound be less like someone trying to clear his throat?
Thanks,
Dave McK.

rjtw

I have an '83 with stock exhaust and it most definitely does not sound like a Harley. It has a deep, rich, smooth, but never intrusive sound across its entire rev range, only changing its character above about 4000 RPM at full throttle where it has a wonderful addition of a sticatto roar. It is not loud or blaring; it doesn't sound like some Camaro or pickup truck, it doesn't bother the neighbors, but it still makes its presence felt as well as heard without ever interfering with the occupants' comfort on even long trips. It's great for a sports GT (though obviously not appropriate for something more luxurious). I wouldn't dream of changing it.

I can understand why Scott's may sound different (aftermarket axhaust) but not Dave's. I also don't have anything unusual in the 2500-3500 range - the sound is a very smooth progression up the RPM band -- only coming on at even higher RPMs (and even then only if you're on it). Differences in subjective interpretations?

Rick

Ketchmi

That is the most common resonant frequency range, it's possible that a baffle is broken loose and rattling or moving to change the sound.

hupp

Maybe the Harley comparison was not the best. The exhaust does not get louder with resonance or rattle, the character is just different.

At idle, deep, rich "bwahwahwahwah"

When accelerating..."bwahhhhh to raspy mean and awesome" up the rpm range.

When leasurely cruising on the interstate...low "gargle" kind of sound. Just wondering if the "gargle" was normal or not?

zoltan944

that doesn't sound right for a car with a cat. the 16v have less fuel burned and some of the sounds you describe could be accurate, but def not with a cat installed.

John Struthers

If the Cat is a high flow/hi performance it really doesn't impede sound -at our sound
recognition level, anyhow-. Pattycakes the Wunder Weissach has a hi-flow cat, 2 1/2" pipe,
A huge Thrush cylindrical resonator, and a 15" flat oval Flowmaster.
Without the Thrush pipe resonance was so bad that the vibe traveled all the way to the drivers upper seatbelt mount and it would rattle/vibrate to the point of rage! I had checked all the mounts, the heat shields for cracks and missing mount hardware, the hangers for hardware and rubber hardness.
Removed everything from the spare tire well, zip-tied all wiring, checked antenna and wheel well
mount/hardware, tool tray same-same, and rear quarter -interior- panel mounting hardware.
You'd need to have the wave propagation folks explain what happens under there...
I would like duals as well but we are lacking a formed 'tunnel' in the pan and as you know we don't have a lot of clearance.
It could be done (maybe even neatly with nothing hanging down) but without that tunnel clearance
heat and resonance will probably be a bit of an issue. Larger diameter pipes would compound that clearance, vibe, heat issue.
That loping, Hardly Abelson sound is uncommon above idle. The normal running note always has a hiddenstutter -like an overlap... comprende 12 string guitar?-. I could listen to Hardley's wind up slowly all nite long-.
I'm surely biased but I think Pattycakes is ...shall we say authorative on the exhaust note scale, but still several clicks below the NASCAR sound.
FWIW
Somewhere around 115 -120 mph it gets, well, awful quite and at 130mph plus its so quiet that it's spooky.
However, at 70-90 mph on the road the smooth rumble/roar try's hard to put me to sleep.

jpitman2

My 83 Euro 16V has a strong note - in fact it can be very tiring in stop start traffic, at its most penetrating ~1600rpm. Past 2000 its very quiet until near 4000 when it gets to sound mean and wants you to go faster! This has a big front muffler and the round one in the lr corner, both pipes on the left, looks like std Euro kit.
jp 83 Euro S AT 50k

928BC

With the Cats removed and stock mid/rear muffler installed, my OB sounds a little harlyish @ idle, but quiet. 2500 -3500 rpm it just begins to sound angry no harly note at all. above 3500 Oh Yea Bwaaaahhhby

BeerFish

I have the test Y to a non-factory single 2.5 with a cat and a rear ansa muffler. I have always had a peculiarly quit exhaust? It sounds great at idle up to about 2300 rpm then it becomes very quiet and admitedly... whimpy? I was driving with Flyindogs and at every light, straight-away, etc his was WAAAAAYYY louder than mine, granted he has headers to a 3 inch back!! Grrrr. But in my opinion his is extra loud, worse than I would like.

I am posting this just for comparison sake.

Especially since someone else... above.... has completed my new kit which is soon to arrive!! Hee Heee Heeeeee!!!