That Certain Sound...A Quiz or an Enigma..No not the decoder!

[Snakey]

From a previous post of mine...

FWIW A lot is made of the distinctive sound...Agreed the TV8 does sound sweet but.. Does anyone actually know how that sound is created? (and before IanB says "start the engine mate!") I mean is it the firing order? or the single plane crank? I have heard all sorts of nonsense including the reason it has OHCams! Duh!

As there were no takers of an authorative answer...Would anyone care to speculate how this "distinctive sound" is achieved?

Here is your starter for 10...It will NOT be because of the OHCams.....

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[GDPR]

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The assymetric exhaust manifold design (they do not have identical dimensions and the outlet position is different therefore pulse pattern/phase) and the balance pipe size/position is my pet theory

[Stagdad]

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Some say that the highly inefficient exhaust manifolds have a lot to do with it.

Beat me to it Russ:P

[Tdm]

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Ian, could it be a re-mixed recording of "Red Robbo's" ramblings & rumblings in the 70's when he was encouraging BL workers to come out on strike once more. Maybe someone recorded then scrambled up all his rantings, put them on a microchip, made copies, and then hid a chip in every Stag engine made so that it would come to life as a reminder of what could be achieved in adversity every time the Stag engine was used.

They couldn't do it with the Buick engine as it was made in America.

[Snakey]

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could it be a re-mixed recording of "Red Robbo's" ramblings & rumblings

Stag's with a "Brummy" accent!!! or should that be a "Covuntry" accent! Fantastic...keep those theories coming.....

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[StagManiac]

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It is a function of many different factors. In no particular order, they are cylinder head port design, combustion chamber shape (really!), valve timing (important one, that), exhaust configuration... and so on.

But the TV8 definitely has a note all of its own. It is one of the reasons why I ended up with a Stag! The great looks, practicality, versatility, handling, etc. were just a bonus!

The RV8 has its fans, I know but it doesn't do it for me! It just sounds wrong and, as standard, is not free revving like the TV8 in good health should be. Maybe with a Holley/ Webercarb and a decent manifold...Plus there is the weight distribution issue...

EDIT - Oh, I forgot. The Stag engine has a dual-plane crankshaft. Engines with a single-plane crankshaft tend to sound like a really aggressive and fierce 4-cylinder inline engine. The Stag has crankpins that are opposed 90 degrees and 270 degrees - another contributor to that sound.

Paul

[Snakey]

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The Stag engine has a dual-plane crankshaft.

Interesting...From the Stag DVD I could have sworn the designer said it had a single plane crank to keep down cost........?

Good theories...bring em on.

Kryten..adjudicate please...

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[GDPR]

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Just off to the SEL club meet - so may judge later (dependent on SWMBO's mood on return)

[grahamb]

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see you in a little while then Russ

[GDPR]

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Mine's a Harveys......

[StagManiac]

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A fairly good write-up of the V8 - single- and dual-plane (or cross-plane)- can be found HERE (CLICKY) on Wikipedia.

Interesting question, by the way! I mean the original, "Where does the sound come from?" question!

Paul

[stustag]

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If you want to understand why the TV8 sounds different it is down to three factors firstly you have OHC which gives a different gas flow when compared to the OHV (RV8) or the more modern DOHC Hemi.

Second you have the timing and firing order and cylinder capacity, thirdly the exhaust design with only two silencers or mufflers followed by the tail pipes which effect the sound wave.

If you want to know more about the different crank configurations etc have a look at this fairly good site.

http://craig.backfire.ca/pages/autos/v8-engines

Stuart

[StagManiac]

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Excellent website, Stuart. Learned quite a lot already!

Paul

[brian0443]

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Great website Craig. Am I right in noticing that the Stag's firing order was not listed in his tables, making a very obvvious difference with the other V8s. Or is it time I packed up and went to bed?

Brian

[Arbman Al]

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kryten wrote:

The assymetric exhaust manifold design (they do not have identical dimensions and the outlet position is different therefore pulse pattern/phase) and the balance pipe size/position is my pet theory

Does fitting tubular manifolds make a difference to this 'sound' then?