Hi everyone - happy Easter!

 

This may be a daft question to put on here but I thought I'd ask it any way. What is it, in an exhaust system, that produces the distinctive tone? A friend of mine just changed the exhaust on his Fiat Stilo to a run-of-the-mill stainless jobbie but added Remus back boxes and now his exhaust sounds fabulous! I was wondering if the sound is in the tubing (i.e., diameter and/or bends) or the back boxes. I'd love to change the exhaust tune of my Zed to make it sound like a Ferarri 355 - IMHO the sweetest sounding car on the planet! :)

 

Silly question but I hope one of you knows the answer.

 

Cheers!

 

Danny

Hi Danny, how's life ?

 

My experience with the different exhausts that I have heard/had, is that 85% of the tone is determined by the backboxes and midpipe (aka X-pipe, H-pipe)

 

The tone gets deeper and more racy once you get rid of the cats.

 

Unfortunately you can't make a twinturbo sound like a 355, since the turbos muffle a lot of the sound.

On a NA it's a different story...I had a Greddy exhaust on my NA and it made the car sound VERY nice.

I also had that same exchaust on my TT and there was almost no difference in sound compared to the stock exhaust.

I now have a B&B Triflo (which you heard yourself) and I personally find it is still the nicest sounding exhaust for the TT ;)

 

-Eric

An exhaust has limited influence on exhaust sounds. It can only change the tone. Most exhaust sounds are set by the engine.

 

A ferrari sounds the way it does because its a V8. The exhaust does make a difference but the part that sounds nice is the V8 engine.

 

That is why you cant make a Z sound like a Ferrari because a Z is a V6 not a V8. That is why you cant make a Corsa sound like a Z, becuase Corsas are Inline 4 and a Z is a V6.

 

Stuart

I have replaced cars original engines with all sorts, from 4 cylinders to V8, and I find the exhaust makes a very big difference.

 

True a only a V8 sounds like a V8 but that same V8 can go from non descript to great all from a different exhaust. And then you can add other factors like firing order, flat plane cranks, number of valves, type of carb/injection etc and of you go again.

yup, agree. Listen to an old MGB - It was an ancient 4 cylinder OHV engine and it sounded lovely.

 

A specially tuned exhaust can sound great. Dont think you can make a 6 cylinder sound like a V8 tho. Then there are V8s and V8s flat plane cranks etc as said.

 

But at low rpm my Z sounds a bit V8 ish and at high rpm it just howls. I have cat back plain pipes about 3,5" dia into big Apexi cans with OTT outlets. But cant have everything and I aint going to change it. Brings out the kid in me in tunnels and high rise car parks!

Hey guys! Thanks a lot for your replies - as with most things "Zed" there seems to be no one set answer. Fortunatly (for my finances) my stock exhaust is not yet in need of replacing but having said that here it is now probably going to go tits up in the next couple of weeks ... ;) In any case, when I do decide to replace it I want something like Eric's B&B Triflo because it sounds awesome but also something that will produce one hell of a howl at high rpm's. Looks like it is back to the drawing board !

 

Cheers all and enjoy the weekend/weather!

 

Danny

Hi Danny,

how you doing ?. Past the MOT yet ?

 

I would suggest going to a powerflow stockist. Not only do they let you choose your tail pipes, but they also let you choose the sound/tone of the zorst.

Danny, if I were you I wouldnt go round drawing attention to yourself from the coppers with a loud exhaust, sureley driving a Z on "L" plates must be trouble enough!!!

 

Godd luck with your test mate, and remember MSM and the two second rule!!!!

 

Sorry mate, couldnt resist!!;)

My Z has a Jasma single ehxaust cat back, and it has a box in between the cats and the rear box, so i am going to have that removed to see if it makes a difference.

I've heard from guys who used Powerflow - that not all the fitters are good. One guy I was talking to the other day keeps having to go back to have it rewelded. So check them out first.

Why not try Predator in Welwyn Garden City, Herts. exhaust specialist - the guy who owns it has a Zed and fitted his own stuff. I intend going to see him.

Contact: Predator Motorsport, Gary Bigg, Tel:01707 334050.

I met one of his workers at Southend cruise last night seems good.

Try them.

Geoff.

Originally posted by b19rks

Danny, if I were you I wouldnt go round drawing attention to yourself from the coppers with a loud exhaust,

 

Dont forget now that you can be fined for having a loud exhaust. If you get something that looks stock and about right they cant really do anything. But when you start using 5-6inch pipes which look totally OTT, you can get an on the spot fine of £60.

 

Its happened to a few people on Scoobynet.

 

Stuart

Worth considering a Mongoose too; it's unintrusive under normal driving, apart from sounding deep, and sounds great when you boot it :D

 

Last thing you want is an exhaust that makes you sound like a boy racers !

Yeah agree on the Mongoose, I've got one and it looks the part without being over the top ;). I've only set one car alarm off :D

 

Pete

Originally posted by pete shrimp

I've only set one car alarm off :D

 

Pete

 

 

LOL...Every time my Dad parks his Alfa 166 behind mine, my 2x5" exhausts set his alarm off!! :D :D :D LMAO!!

 

Loud and Proud!!

 

Love it....:p

 

 

Robert.