3.8L vs 3.6L exhaust question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bionick · 01-22-2014, 10:53 PM

I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question.. Lol.
I'm on YouTube looking at exhaust videos of of the 4th gen 3.8L camaro.
Here's my question. Why do the 3.8L's sound so much meaner than the 3.6L's? I mean I found a lot that sound just like a v8 IMO. I've personally never heard a 5th gen 3.6 that sounded so close to sounding like a v8, even with a full exhaust with headers, cat back, and all that. Maybe somewhat close, but nothing like what an SS sounds like.
I know one is a 3.6 and a 3.8 but what's making it sound so much more aggressive?

'11CamaroLS · 01-22-2014, 11:19 PM

I know what your talking about, this is just a guess but I'm gonna say the direct injection plays big part in the sound. You can hear the ticking at idle, there's a lot of psi of fuel which I can see can affect the overall tone of the engine. Plus we red line at 7k rpm and 4th gens are 6k, so the exhaust tone up high will sound higher pitched. Besides being only .2 liters difference in size there's prolly not lot in common between the two engines lol

Jason@JacFab · 01-22-2014, 11:34 PM

Most of the change in sound is because the 3.8 is a 90 degree engine where as the 3.6 is a 60 degree. This seems to have a big impact on engine sound.

Another big advantage to the 3.8 is that there are headers available for most applications, where is the LFX 3.6 there are no headers available due to the cylinder head design.

bionick · 01-22-2014, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacnJsn95

Most of the change in sound is because the 3.8 is a 90 degree engine where as the 3.6 is a 60 degree. This seems to have a big impact on engine sound.

Another big advantage to the 3.8 is that there are headers available for most applications, where is the LFX 3.6 there are no headers available due to the cylinder head design.

Yes that's correct but the LLT models can have headers and it still doesn't sound as aggressive as the 3.8's. I didn't know about the 60/90 degree thing. Thanks

bionick · 01-22-2014, 11:42 PM

Is the 60 degree better or what?

LBreezie · 01-22-2014, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacnJsn95

Most of the change in sound is because the 3.8 is a 90 degree engine where as the 3.6 is a 60 degree. This seems to have a big impact on engine sound.

Another big advantage to the 3.8 is that there are headers available for most applications, where is the LFX 3.6 there are no headers available due to the cylinder head design.

Which is a positive.

Airmaster · 01-23-2014, 12:02 AM

Didn't the old 3.8L have pushrods? I believe that would be a big change. OHC V6's just don't produce the same great melodies that push-rod V6's can. My old 3.0L truck sounded meaner than my Camaro....

The V6 in the Camaro has a tech-y sound if that makes sense. Sounds more intelligent but alas wimpier and tinny.

Mark114 · 01-23-2014, 12:03 AM

The 3.6 LLT and LFX have 4 valves per cylinder. The 3.8 is a conventional 2 valves per cylinder. That is probably most of the difference. The rest will come from how the exhaust is piped through the manifolds, cats, resonators, and mufflers.

I've owned and driven the 4th Gen 3.8 and the 5th Gen 3.6. I think the 3.6 sounds fine and will take the extra HP/TQ that go with it every time.

Jason@JacFab · 01-23-2014, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bionick

Is the 60 degree better or what?

Here is an interesting article you can read about cylinder bank angles:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...angles-feature

bionick · 01-23-2014, 12:10 AM

Cool thanks guys

01-22-2014, 10:53 PM	#1
bionick Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 931 View My Garage	3.8L vs 3.6L exhaust question I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question.. Lol. I'm on YouTube looking at exhaust videos of of the 4th gen 3.8L camaro. Here's my question. Why do the 3.8L's sound so much meaner than the 3.6L's? I mean I found a lot that sound just like a v8 IMO. I've personally never heard a 5th gen 3.6 that sounded so close to sounding like a v8, even with a full exhaust with headers, cat back, and all that. Maybe somewhat close, but nothing like what an SS sounds like. I know one is a 3.6 and a 3.8 but what's making it sound so much more aggressive? __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 416 LS3 \| FED stage 2 heads

01-22-2014, 11:42 PM	#5
bionick Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 931 View My Garage	Is the 60 degree better or what? __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 416 LS3 \| FED stage 2 heads

01-23-2014, 12:02 AM	#7
Airmaster Go Gators! Drives: Camaro Jeep Abarth 944 325i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: CT Posts: 844	Didn't the old 3.8L have pushrods? I believe that would be a big change. OHC V6's just don't produce the same great melodies that push-rod V6's can. My old 3.0L truck sounded meaner than my Camaro.... The V6 in the Camaro has a tech-y sound if that makes sense. Sounds more intelligent but alas wimpier and tinny. __________________ '13 Camaro, '97 Wrangler, '12 500 Abarth, '85.5 944, '06 325i Suspension Mods: BMR and JPSS Sways, BMR Poly Bushings, BMR strut tower brace, BMR control arms, BMR toe arms, stock springs and struts Engine Mods: All bolt ons (haha) Brake Mods: Brembo SS caliper swap front and rear

01-23-2014, 12:10 AM	#10
bionick Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 931 View My Garage	Cool thanks guys __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 416 LS3 \| FED stage 2 heads

01-22-2014, 11:19 PM	#2
'11CamaroLS Drives: 2011 Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 473 View My Garage	I know what your talking about, this is just a guess but I'm gonna say the direct injection plays big part in the sound. You can hear the ticking at idle, there's a lot of psi of fuel which I can see can affect the overall tone of the engine. Plus we red line at 7k rpm and 4th gens are 6k, so the exhaust tone up high will sound higher pitched. Besides being only .2 liters difference in size there's prolly not lot in common between the two engines lol

01-22-2014, 11:34 PM	#3
Jason@JacFab Drives: 2016 1LT RS Camaro; 72 Chevelle Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Point, OR Posts: 5,685 View My Garage	Most of the change in sound is because the 3.8 is a 90 degree engine where as the 3.6 is a 60 degree. This seems to have a big impact on engine sound. Another big advantage to the 3.8 is that there are headers available for most applications, where is the LFX 3.6 there are no headers available due to the cylinder head design.

01-23-2014, 12:03 AM	#8
Mark114 Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,758 View My Garage	The 3.6 LLT and LFX have 4 valves per cylinder. The 3.8 is a conventional 2 valves per cylinder. That is probably most of the difference. The rest will come from how the exhaust is piped through the manifolds, cats, resonators, and mufflers. I've owned and driven the 4th Gen 3.8 and the 5th Gen 3.6. I think the 3.6 sounds fine and will take the extra HP/TQ that go with it every time.