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I have a stock L48 in my 1976 Corvette. The exhaust is stock ram horn manifolds, but the rest has been modified to 2,5" dual exhaust w/ cat converter removed and magnaflow mufflers.
I am satisfied with the performance of the car, but I would like a more crisp V8 sound. Is that at all possible with a stock engine? Will it help me to install a set of headers? Or do I need to modify the engine?
If so what do I need to do? I want to modify as little as possible, as the engine runs great, and if it aint broken....
Appreciate any good advice
I too had a 74 L48 that sounded like roadkill that wasn't quite dead, but I found a way to remedy the situation. Supercharged LS3 and a set of Magnaflows cured the wimpy sound issue
I really like the idea, but it's probably going to be a little more work that just installing headers or a top end kit
Originally Posted by Patro46
I too had a 74 L48 that sounded like roadkill that wasn't quite dead, but I found a way to remedy the situation. Supercharged LS3 and a set of Magnaflows cured the wimpy sound issue
Seems every time I hear a sound I like it turns out the car is running dual 2" pipes. I can't recall ever hearing a sound I really liked from 2.5" or 3" exhaust. It just gets loud and drony.
I have 2.5" and have thought about putting 4x 2" tips on it. Dunno how that would sound?
I just installed a 2.5" system with the N11 off-road mufflers and they sound just about perfect to me. Nice, low rumble at idle and able to hold a conversation while cruising easily around town. However, they really open up with a crisp growl if you get on it a bit.
It's all about the mufflers. The more straight through the louder it will be.
I just went the other way. I installed max flow mufflers (2 1/8" straight through glass pack) in my side pipes, and it was way too loud. Like Harley Davidson loud. I just went back to the regular glass pack mufflers (1 7/8" straight through glass pack) and it is much better.
There are different kinds of magaflow mufflers. Perhaps their customer service people can recommend a step up.
Or go to a Vett drive/rally and listen to what the others have.
My neighbor's '70 base engine sounds a lot better then it really is. I was surprised that it was only the base engine (300? horse) after I heard it.
Seems every time I hear a sound I like it turns out the car is running dual 2" pipes. I can't recall ever hearing a sound I really liked from 2.5" or 3" exhaust. It just gets loud and drony.
I have 2.5" and have thought about putting 4x 2" tips on it. Dunno how that would sound?
The Corvette Central system I bought was 2.5" to the Magnaflow mufflers. The exist reduced to 2" then a stock 2" chrome extension.
On my 496 it sounded like a motor boat. You could hear what I would call back pressure trying to escape the pipe and this was at idle.
I had a shop cut the reducer off and made it 2.5" all the way though.
Dual 2.5" dual exhaust and magnaflows and it doesn't sound like a V8?? I'm so confused at how this can be possible...
I'm with Zwede on drone being unacceptable but I don't understand the comments on 2" sounding better and 2.5" and 3.0" being unacceptable. (Maybe the drone RPM drops as diameter going up so you hear it more at typical low rpm driving RPM with the larger exhaust diameters?) -My 2.5" dual, no cats, headers, Magnaflow-type exhaust sounds great, but the drone drives me crazy. -My understanding is that an H-pipe or X-pipe plus turbo-style mufflers are somehow a near magic recipe for eliminating drone around cruise RPM. I sure hope so because I'm planning on spending money for both to get rid of this stupid drone. I honestly love how my vette sounds, with the exception of the drone.
X or H wont get rid of the drone its the mufflers; if the pipe is too big like you said it will drone more
No, offense; you've always steered me in the correct direction, but I have to ask: How certain are you of that? 70%, 90%? -I've heard quite a few people claim that adding a H/X pipe got rid of drone for them...
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Get the longest cased turbo you can fit under there you'll be happy again
Any specific recommendations (I've only got 2 1/2" and have no desire to EVER upgrade beyond that)? -Again, I don't mind the total NOISE when I get on it (I kinda like it); I just don't want any low RPM drone.
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; 06-05-2017 at 04:32 PM.
Not intending to derail the thread, but this caught ny eye. What is that you have where the spare normally is? Looks like an electric fan? Curious what it's for
Your L48 is a low compression engine. They sound kind of dull. High compression engines sound a lot crisper especially with the right cam and ignition timing. I think that is what you are referring to not hearing out of yours. A built engine would sound good through your exhaust.
NVG...tried them all in a few different cars never stopped drone a bit
No crossover at all will get a little more crackle through the exh an X will kill it off
Corsa does a good job and stamping out the drone has kind of a higher pitched european tone, has some snap crackle and pop to them dont know if the C4 muffs can fit on the C3?! They dont drone a bit
Your L48 is a low compression engine. They sound kind of dull. High compression engines sound a lot crisper especially with the right cam and ignition timing. I think that is what you are referring to not hearing out of yours. A built engine would sound good through your exhaust.
NVG...tried them all in a few different cars never stopped drone a bit
No crossover at all will get a little more crackle through the exh an X will kill it off
Corsa does a good job and stamping out the drone has kind of a higher pitched european tone, has some snap crackle and pop to them dont know if the C4 muffs can fit on the C3?! They dont drone a bit
but don't C-4 Corvette's from the factory have a Y pipe exhaust? I thought it was physically impossible for Y pipe exhausts to drone....
06-05-2017, 09:54 AM
How to get the crisp V8-sound
same as the C3 systems