engine sound dampening
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
There are only 4 ways to deal with that problem.
1. louder exhaust
2. rotate the radio dial clockwise
3. ear plugs
4. sell the performance car and buy a luxury car
Really though, just learn to love it.
1. louder exhaust
2. rotate the radio dial clockwise
3. ear plugs
4. sell the performance car and buy a luxury car
Really though, just learn to love it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
It's the luck of the draw with these engines man. Sold both the LS1 and LS2s due to excessive engine noise. Other local owners with identical cars were silent by comparison. Was told it was normal. During my research found GM had the worst engine tolerances by far, hence the 'luck of the draw' comment above. To add insult to injury, I also had piston-slap on both 
. With the new '12 GS, I paid somebody to check (bought out of state, sight unseen) the car thoroughly, and in particular run engine until fully hot. Finally, this car has the normal engine noise, and I'm happy with it. But it's far from silent due to the aluminum block. Listen to several other Vettes so you know how they should sound like. Then determine if your car is really worse than average. LS3s aren't as bad as previous iterations for what I've seen, and finally, piston slap was eliminated with deeper piston skirts. I have a dry-sump engine, but nothing is done differently other than just one guy handling the robots, instead of several folks working on a single engine on an assembly line. No individual part mating, which would eliminate a lot of excessive noises. I also don't know if engine tolerances were tightened on the LS3 or not. One of the experts might chime in.
Bottom line is if you're embarrassed by the noise, like I was with the first 2, just sell it, and choose better next time. Read of folks changing everything from rockers to pushrods with hardly any difference. By the way, the LS3 already has sound-absorbing foam (a heavy one) under the fuel rail covers. And these engines also make a normal 'clacking' below 2K rpm when cruising, so you know. Good luck man.
. With the new '12 GS, I paid somebody to check (bought out of state, sight unseen) the car thoroughly, and in particular run engine until fully hot. Finally, this car has the normal engine noise, and I'm happy with it. But it's far from silent due to the aluminum block. Listen to several other Vettes so you know how they should sound like. Then determine if your car is really worse than average. LS3s aren't as bad as previous iterations for what I've seen, and finally, piston slap was eliminated with deeper piston skirts. I have a dry-sump engine, but nothing is done differently other than just one guy handling the robots, instead of several folks working on a single engine on an assembly line. No individual part mating, which would eliminate a lot of excessive noises. I also don't know if engine tolerances were tightened on the LS3 or not. One of the experts might chime in. Bottom line is if you're embarrassed by the noise, like I was with the first 2, just sell it, and choose better next time. Read of folks changing everything from rockers to pushrods with hardly any difference. By the way, the LS3 already has sound-absorbing foam (a heavy one) under the fuel rail covers. And these engines also make a normal 'clacking' below 2K rpm when cruising, so you know. Good luck man.
Last edited by JCtx; Aug 30, 2012 at 12:48 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: DFW
I had a 02 Z28 and the motor was rebuilt due to piston slap when new. It just blows me away that this noise is "OK" by GM standards. The fit and finish of this car is on the boarder line of crap. The european cars have diesel motors that make less noise than mine, theres something wrong with that picture. Just frustrated I guess..
