Improving Automatic Exhaust Sound

[CamaroFred]

Originally Posted by RedHotRuby

It's the mufflers, change them and the difference will be night and day. You'll love it. Keep those trash cans and you'll always hate the sound.

When you're ready:
Axle Back Exhaust - American Thunder Series

That's a matter of opinion.

Story: Back in 1975 my brother and I chipped in to buy an old Plymouth Fury Police car. Just for parts. 383, TF727, Dana rear end.

It had these big-ass mufflers, still in good shape, so we saved those.

My brother had a '72 Plymouth GTX 440. Blueprinted motor, 12.5:1, big solid lifter cam, hi-rise with a double pumper Holly, headers, the whole sha-bang. B&M TF 727 w/3500 stall, 4.10 screw, H60X15 tires.

So we welded the big-ass mufflers to flanges to fit the headers and added downpipes. With the thought of dropping them when we got to the strip we headed north on I94 to Great Lakes Dragaway.

He's tripping along at the then 70 limit and the motor is going like 3200 RPMs. He passes a trooper as soon as we cross the border into Wisconsin.
"What's the problem officer?" "Your car is too loud." "No, it isn't" "Start it up." "It's running." "Well, then, rev it up" Shoosh, Shoosh. All you could hear were the tappets. "Okay then, just don't let me see you again."

Sometimes it's good to be quiet.

[Gunmetal Speedster]

Originally Posted by rontammy0

Just get a set of solo hi flow cats. They have a nice growl while leaving all your stock components in place. Plus they give you a bump in power. Get the ls3 cats. The l99s have a flex line on them to take up the vibrstion from the afm .But they leak over time ...since your afm is tuned out your good to go.Plus when you do get your catback it will sound even better.

Until you're ready to modify the catback, this is really your only option. However, I think you should just do a muffler delete. Can be done for around $120 at most shops and it will sound much better.

[Dmpsix]

You have the AFM tuned out, so then might as well get headers while you're at it.

Exhaust note starts in the front of the car and works it's way back.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21289

In just the videos alone, there's a huge difference when it's non headers versus having headers. Now imagine what it sounds like in person!

[WeflyhereSS]

just put long tubes screw the stock exhaust

[onegoofydad]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I appreciate the link to all the exhaust clips!

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by rontammy0

The paddle shifters do nothing for sound on a stock exhaust.

Got to wonder about that a little . . . if the actual gearchanging is accomplished more quickly with the paddles, the sound of each shift happening will lose the slightly lazy upshift sound of a stock automatic. Whatever amount of lag between paddle movement and shift execution is unimportant as far as the sound of each upshift is concerned.

A tune that sharpens the shifting would help even more, a "loose" torque converter could be a step in the wrong direction soundwise.


Norm

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Got to wonder about that a little . . . if the actual gearchanging is accomplished more quickly with the paddles, the sound of each shift happening will lose the slightly lazy upshift sound of a stock automatic. Whatever amount of lag between paddle movement and shift execution is unimportant as far as the sound of each upshift is concerned.

A tune that sharpens the shifting would help even more, a "loose" torque converter could be a step in the wrong direction soundwise.


Norm

Believe me.....i use the paddle shifters alot with this car....before mods...during mods and after. With the quiet stock exhaust all it does is rev higher on the downshift. Until you change out some portion of the exhaust...muffler delete....cats or whatever you wont change the sound to make it growl. I was using paddle shifters to disengage the afm for a fews years before my tune. Also gear changing doesnt shift any quicker when accelerating with paddles...it does how ever let you drop a gear quickly to and start in the right gear when doing other things.