sgraber
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 posted on 25/2/06 at 03:52 AM |
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Opinion - Best sounding 4 cyl engine - and why?
The Setup -
Ok, so I was passed by 2 brand new Lamborghini Gallardos today. (Dealership by my work) They accelerated past me, and away from me, at a high rate of
speed. I had the windows down and the stereo off so I was able to soak up the sound. It's a sound that will live with me forever. The
'quality' of the sound was spectacular. Along with the obvious 12 cylinder spectacle, here is a high-pitched component and some other
harmonics and it all sounds like it emanates from a large, hollow resonator. Like an angry hive of giant mutant bees. And they were LOUD!
So the obvious question - Is it possible to make a 4 cylinder engine display a similar tonal quality? Why or why not? Then also, What's the best
sounding 4 cylinder engine you have heard and why do you think it sounded so good?
Eagerly awaiting your comments!
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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ch1ll1
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 07:26 AM |
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imho i like mk1 golf gti with the original full janspeed ( old skool)
just b4 it hits the rev limiter sound cool (screaming)
but i think the system have changed and sound different now
you could always try playing with your tail pipe
try rolling the edges that make it sound better,
[Edited on 25/2/06 by ch1ll1]
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pbs
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 07:56 AM |
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Lotus Twink or Ford BDA.
Build your own sports car for £250 my ar5e!!
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fesycresy
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 08:17 AM |
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Holeshot Racing Hayabusa Turbo
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The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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Triton
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 09:09 AM |
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RG500 with swarbricks.......awesome and enough to make your ears bleed
My Daughter has taken over production of the damn fine Triton race seats and her contact email is emmatrs@live.co.uk.
www.tritonraceseats.com
www.hairyhedgehog.com
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fesycresy
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 09:19 AM |
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There's a blast from the past.
Stan Stephen's 575 kit, Swarbrick pipes, sold it to buy my first house. Twat.
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The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 10:46 AM |
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Lotus-Ford Twincam (on twin 40s) or Rolls-Royce B40
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Guinness
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 11:02 AM |
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My ZZR1100! 'cause it sounds like a car engine until 7,000rpm, then it goes mental, screaming like a banshie to the line. I'll try to
record a clip later!
As an aside I am really disappointed in noise my road car makes. It's a BMW 4.4ltr V8 and it's as quiet as a 1.6 Focus. The exhaust is
standard and exits through a single 3" back box. I guess the standard exhaust has loads of silencers in it 
I'd prefer it to sound like this X5 http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/31/51F08AD2-A549-43F0-AD1B-E91F288808EB.htm
Mike
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Syd Bridge
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 11:05 AM |
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All steel full comp BDA on full song, music to the ears. Still a fantastic little engine by todays standards.
Only thing better is a proper small block v8 at 8k! Absolute heaven, raises the hairs on the back of your neck.
You'd have to rev a 4cyl to 20+k to get the same sound as a v12 at full yell.
Syd.
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smart51
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 12:12 PM |
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Best engine sound I've ever heard is an R1 at full throttle upto 12,000 RPM in 2nd then shifting into 3rd, 10,000 RPM, tull throttle.
Until I can put an F1 engine into a locost, that's the sound for me.
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jimmyjoebob
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 04:11 PM |
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Although super heavy, the old a series bmc lump sounds much fruitier than anything of its time with very little work!
As for non four cylinder engines, the weslake ford cologne v6 is by far the best sounding of the touring cars! Just amazing - if anyone can find a
sound clip of one on the internet, please provide a link!
If at first you don't succeed, hide all evidence you ever tried!
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ned
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 04:32 PM |
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i think the flat subaru four sounds nice, must be to do with the way the exhausts are hooked up a sort of throb/pur sound - just not quite as good as
a tvr though
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Peteff
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 05:16 PM |
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I thought I heard a Subaru outside the other day but when I looked out it was a bean canned Corsa running on 3 cylinders. I loved the sound my old Sud
1.5ti made with the Ansa single box system on it and twin 45 IDA's.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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sgraber
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 05:29 PM |
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One of the problems the little car engined 4-bangers have is that they just don't rev up fast enough when you blip the throttle. I agree that
bike engines sound much better than car engines, but aside from choosing the right exhaust, I think that removing weight from the flywheel would make
a car engine sound much more lively and powerful.
If you listen to the audio of that v12 BMW X5 (what a machine!) when Hans blips the throttle, it's an immediate rise in revs. Waaaaap, Waaaaaap.
The other point is that the induction system can sometimes be just as loud as the exhaust, so it's a combination of intake and exhaust, coupled
with a very quick revving engine that makes it sound great.
My personal thought is that a 4-banger car engine with a set of bike throttle bodies, a very light flywheel, a decent equal length tube header and a
large-ish flowmaster muffler would sound pretty good. Plus it has to be a high-compression engine to get that cool popping sound...
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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Dale
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 06:03 PM |
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I have been trying to find a decent sounding tone for my engine but not a whole lot of luck so far. Lots of power but sounds like a pissed off
tractor trying to whistle.
Dale
Thanks
Dale
my 14 and11 year old boys 22
and 19 now want to drive but have to be 25 before insurance will allow. Finally on the road
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DIY Si
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 12:46 AM |
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Have to argee with the A series vote. They can be made to spin high and fast (well for the A series). Mine will rise to 9,500 rpm within a couple of
seconds. But not for long though. Easily hits and runs at 8,000 in all 4 of the gears too. I'm reckoning somewhere around 110 Db from the
exhaust and 100+ from the intake at full chat!! I can be heard easily from 3 miles away from where I live. The neighbours love it when
I'm on earlies!
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cornishrob
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 09:36 AM |
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rather expensive option but the 2.0 I V-tec used in the 2001-2005 (probably later but i know they were made in those yeads) honda civic type
R's
With the v tec system and on full song at 8800 rpm they scream, and when fitted with an open induction filter the noise is like a fighter jet.
If you combined this with a tuned for noise exhaust i think you would get something which would turn a few heads.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 10:37 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by DIY Si
Have to argee with the A series vote. They can be made to spin high and fast (well for the A series). Mine will rise to 9,500 rpm within a couple of
seconds. But not for long though. Easily hits and runs at 8,000 in all 4 of the gears too. I'm reckoning somewhere around 110 Db from the
exhaust and 100+ from the intake at full chat!! I can be heard easily from 3 miles away from where I live. The neighbours love it when
I'm on earlies!
How us Imp boys used to love out running 1293 Minis with only 998cc -- 10,000 rpm in the blink of an eye.
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akumabito
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 10:51 AM |
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Heheheh, it may not have the supercar sound everyone is after, but the good ol' VW Beetle flat four sounds pretty awesome with the right exhaust
system!
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DIY Si
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 11:33 AM |
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Was that a normal 998 or a detroked S unit? And mine's got 1338cc anyway. Big bore/semi-short stroke jobbie. Just a shame it doesn't get
on cam until 3,000. Makes a speedy get a way tricking if it's raining. But then i do have roughly 130bhp at the wheels And a 48 IDA sticking
through the bonnet
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NS Dev
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 01:28 PM |
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Oh there's a few nice sounding 4 cyls about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As Syd said, all steel BDA at full chat 11,000rpm takes some beating, but I can name two more that I reckon are better, just down to big
displacement!!!!
No. 1 - Opel Manta 400 2.4 litre 16v, absolutely AWESOME noise!!
Here's a couple of links, in the first vid the car overtaking is actually a "Mancona" 400, i.e. a manta with an ascona front end,
sounds awesome tho!!!
Mancona Vid
Also download the "Manta Magic Preview" from this link, it's got some awesome stuff on it!
Manta Magic
And coming a close 2nd is the Millington Diamond 2.5 litre, again an awesome 4 cyl sound.
[Edited on 26/2/06 by NS Dev]
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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physician
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 03:48 PM |
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i have build a b eries honda engine, 1.8l ls-vtec engine with big cams and compression on 4 throttle bodies.. a 215 hp at the wheel engine.. sound
like a bike engine, but in 1.8 liter.. amazing sound and response.. you think it is a bike coming... but no.. it's only a normal looing civic..
i like that sleeper....
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 26/2/06 at 10:18 PM |
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no point asking me
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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britishtrident
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| posted on 27/2/06 at 11:00 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by akumabito
Heheheh, it may not have the supercar sound everyone is after, but the good ol' VW Beetle flat four sounds pretty awesome with the right exhaust
system!
Only beetle I ever like the sound of was the Mick Hill/Doug Niven super saloon.
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andyps
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| posted on 27/2/06 at 11:37 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by sgraber
Ok, so I was passed by 2 brand new Lamborghini Gallardos today. .............Along with the obvious 12 cylinder spectacle, here is a high-pitched
component and some other harmonics and it all sounds like it emanates from a large, hollow resonator.
Sorry to be a pedant, but the Gallardo is a V10, so a comparison can be made with 5 cylinder engines. The one in my Fiat Coupe sounds pretty good. For
a 4 cyl engine anything which revs well can sound great so the Honda v-tecs are pretty good. Also used to love the Alfasud I drove when I first passed
my test.
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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