I really hate that sound.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,402
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From: Napa Valley California
I really hate that sound.
I've built several cars over the years and have always had true dual exhaust and headers.
I know the new hype is adding an X pipe for performance and some people say it helps to reduce exhaust drone.
I really hate the sound from the new Mustangs, Challengers, and other cars that are louder and just slightly deeper than a Honda civic with a straight pipe.
I'm sure you all know the sound I'm speaking of.
My question is:
What effect, on the sound, will an X pipe have on my 3" true dual exhaust system with headers?
I'm talking about idle, cruising down the highway and when I decide to get into the throttle.
If you have an example, please share.
I know the new hype is adding an X pipe for performance and some people say it helps to reduce exhaust drone.
I really hate the sound from the new Mustangs, Challengers, and other cars that are louder and just slightly deeper than a Honda civic with a straight pipe.
I'm sure you all know the sound I'm speaking of.
My question is:
What effect, on the sound, will an X pipe have on my 3" true dual exhaust system with headers?
I'm talking about idle, cruising down the highway and when I decide to get into the throttle.
If you have an example, please share.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Im not a fan of the pseudo muscle car siund on the new ones and i dont like cars that one has to look at the tach to know the are running.
From my experences a cross over pipe always tames the sound some cases more than others,
Im also of the mindset its one of those things needed by guys hunting that 10th of a sec in the 1320
From my experences a cross over pipe always tames the sound some cases more than others,
Im also of the mindset its one of those things needed by guys hunting that 10th of a sec in the 1320
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 831
Likes: 54
From: Arlington TX
Everything I’ve heard (with before and after results) sounds tamer/smoother with a crossover pipe. You lose the distinguished individual combustion system sounds a bit due to the blending of the chambers. Decimal of each bank is lowered because it is working through more pipe and two mufflers.
-Stroke
-Stroke
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Combing the two pipes with an H pipe or an X pipe basically doubles the frequency and cancels out the deep base sound
also to a trained ear you can stand next to road racing track and shut your eyes and be able to pick out different engine manufacturers because of the firing order distinctive sound
so I have a 4/7 firing order swap cam in my 434 people at the track commenton how nice it sounds. That is actually making it like the same firing order as a Ford Motor. The modern vettes even have a different firing order and Mustangs have altered the degrees of the crank throws.
I have 3 inch pipes and a H pipe my present 396 sounds great
also to a trained ear you can stand next to road racing track and shut your eyes and be able to pick out different engine manufacturers because of the firing order distinctive sound
so I have a 4/7 firing order swap cam in my 434 people at the track commenton how nice it sounds. That is actually making it like the same firing order as a Ford Motor. The modern vettes even have a different firing order and Mustangs have altered the degrees of the crank throws.
I have 3 inch pipes and a H pipe my present 396 sounds great
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
The X helps reduce high pitch frequencies, drone or volume didnt change.Agree its a trend like when the H was a big deal in the 90s.
Not a fan of how newer cars sound either, meaning they seem to mimic an AMG/Euro car. Dig duals with no crossover esp if it has a cam, to each their own.
The different firing order is supposed to be a little easier on the crank (imo doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things). Make it yours and enjoy
Not a fan of how newer cars sound either, meaning they seem to mimic an AMG/Euro car. Dig duals with no crossover esp if it has a cam, to each their own.
The different firing order is supposed to be a little easier on the crank (imo doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things). Make it yours and enjoy
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
The X helps reduce high pitch frequencies, drone or volume didnt change.Agree its a trend like when the H was a big deal in the 90s.
Not a fan of how newer cars sound either, meaning they seem to mimic an AMG/Euro car. Dig duals with no crossover esp if it has a cam, to each their own.
The different firing order is supposed to be a little easier on the crank (imo doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things). Make it yours and enjoy
Not a fan of how newer cars sound either, meaning they seem to mimic an AMG/Euro car. Dig duals with no crossover esp if it has a cam, to each their own.
The different firing order is supposed to be a little easier on the crank (imo doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things). Make it yours and enjoy
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Combing the two pipes with an H pipe or an X pipe basically doubles the frequency and cancels out the deep base sound
also to a trained ear you can stand next to road racing track and shut your eyes and be able to pick out different engine manufacturers because of the firing order distinctive sound
so I have a 4/7 firing order swap cam in my 434 people at the track commenton how nice it sounds. That is actually making it like the same firing order as a Ford Motor. The modern vettes even have a different firing order and Mustangs have altered the degrees of the crank throws.
I have 3 inch pipes and a H pipe my present 396 sounds great
also to a trained ear you can stand next to road racing track and shut your eyes and be able to pick out different engine manufacturers because of the firing order distinctive sound
so I have a 4/7 firing order swap cam in my 434 people at the track commenton how nice it sounds. That is actually making it like the same firing order as a Ford Motor. The modern vettes even have a different firing order and Mustangs have altered the degrees of the crank throws.
I have 3 inch pipes and a H pipe my present 396 sounds great
I'm running a 3" system and H pipe in mine also.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
at cruise/wot it sounds more like an 80s 5.0 mustang note...more smooth like, same with idle you lose a little of the crackly valvey sound. The pitch changes some
No crossover has more of a gutsy hot rod tone to it
your X will still have some rasp to it on wot just not as loud thats all.
No crossover has more of a gutsy hot rod tone to it
your X will still have some rasp to it on wot just not as loud thats all.
Last edited by cv67; Nov 3, 2018 at 06:12 PM.
Tech Contributor
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I don't have an X or H pipe on my 78 L-82 355, just 2.5 inch duals with 1 3/4 LTh and it has a nice sound at mid to high RPM. I do have a 94 5.0 Mustang GT that went from the ford H pipe with ford mufflers to a complete magnaflow Hi flow cats with X pipe, magnaflow straight through mufflers, and BBK shorty headers and the X pipe changed the mid to high RPM pitch of the exhaust to a smoother European sounding V8 exhaust. I have had numerous comments made to me about ":man, does that V8 sound great at high RPM". I like the X pipe improvement in sound immensely on the Ford V8.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Nov 3, 2018 at 09:35 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
Likes: 976
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
at cruise/wot it sounds more like an 80s 5.0 mustang note...more smooth like, same with idle you lose a little of the crackly valvey sound. The pitch changes some
No crossover has more of a gutsy hot rod tone to it
your X will still have some rasp to it on wot just not as loud thats all.
No crossover has more of a gutsy hot rod tone to it
your X will still have some rasp to it on wot just not as loud thats all.
Pretty accurate description of the X pipe improvement.............^^^^^^
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
18436572 and you change it to 18736542
LRRLRLLR LRLLRLRR
I think that it sounds smoother, but even old time racers have asked me what kind of motor do I have under the hood. When you have historical trans am cars on the track you can here the difference between chevy and ford
LRRLRLLR LRLLRLRR
I think that it sounds smoother, but even old time racers have asked me what kind of motor do I have under the hood. When you have historical trans am cars on the track you can here the difference between chevy and ford
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
18436572 and you change it to 18736542
LRRLRLLR LRLLRLRR
I think that it sounds smoother, but even old time racers have asked me what kind of motor do I have under the hood. When you have historical trans am cars on the track you can here the difference between chevy and ford
LRRLRLLR LRLLRLRR
I think that it sounds smoother, but even old time racers have asked me what kind of motor do I have under the hood. When you have historical trans am cars on the track you can here the difference between chevy and ford
LRRLRLLRLRRLRLLR for the standard firing order.
LRLLRLRRLRLLRLRR for the 4/7 swap
They're the same LR sequence. I'm trying to understand how/why would the mufflers react/sound different?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,402
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From: Napa Valley California
I was mainly thinking about going with the X pipe because of the advertised performance gains.
Im not certain Inwould trade off the difference in sound for the slight performance.
Thanks
Im not certain Inwould trade off the difference in sound for the slight performance.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
if you believe in what the car rags have to say, the X pipe is superior to an H pipe.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I just installed a Pypes "X" system exhaust on a '74 463ci Firebird. I also have an "H" system on my 465 '71 Judge. Both sound the same, and they sound really good. Here is the sound clip from Pypes with the "X" system, and I can verify that this is the way they sound:
Lars
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 109
From: Las Vegas NV
Take what you have above, and expand the exhaust pulse sequence another firing period, and pick eight firings:
LRRLRLLRLRRLRLLR for the standard firing order.
LRLLRLRRLRLLRLRR for the 4/7 swap
They're the same LR sequence. I'm trying to understand how/why would the mufflers react/sound different?
LRRLRLLRLRRLRLLR for the standard firing order.
LRLLRLRRLRLLRLRR for the 4/7 swap
They're the same LR sequence. I'm trying to understand how/why would the mufflers react/sound different?
