This might be a dumb question but,,, I heard a Mustang go by me on the road the other day, and it just had that loud raspy Mustang sound to it. I actually liked the way it sound. Is that just the 4.6 or what? I'm sure someone knows what I'm talking about. It's just that loud mean rumble they have.

 

I have been told it has that sound has something to do with the iron block they have

 

More likely it has something to do with the exhaust system. The Mustangs (GT's and Cobra's) straight from the factory always had an agressive exhaust system that sounds great. It has a distinctive sound that you can recognize very easily that it is indeed a stang.

 

I've read that it has something to do with the firing order and the true dual exhaust. Can't remember 100% as it was a few years ago that I read that.

 

it's the h-pipe that makes it sound like that.my ls1 mustang sounds like a mustang not a ls1 because it has a h-pipe and flows

 

Could you please post a video with some sound? I'm very curious on what it sounds like. Thanks.

 

Putting an H pipe on an LS1 F bod wont make it sound like a Mustang. It's the engine's firing order and head design. LT1's have a deep bassy rumble like Stangs and do it with a Y pipe. Stangs have been using aluminum blocks for a number of years now too.

 

I've always wondered the same thing. I was always told it had something to do with the head design but I guess not!

 

OHC, firing order, exhaust system, and block material.

 

I think firing order has the biggest influence on sound, as well as size im sure.

 

Back in the day I was told H pipes too but not by anyone reputable

I will agree that its a hella sexy sounding machine.. its by far one of the most distinctive sounds Ive heard.

 

True duals with an H-pipe and Flowmaster 40 series mufflers. Almost identical to a mustang. That's as close as i've heard on an LS1. It's true that because of the firing order and design of the motor you will never get the exact sound. In my opinion there are many LS1 options (ahem GMMG ahem) that sound better anyway. Put a GMMG-equipped LS1 car next to a stock exhaust mustang and rev high...you won't even hear the mustang over the dominating GMMG tone. I'd be willing to bet there are some TD setups on this board that make even a heavily modded stang sound blah in comparison.

 

thing i've noticed tho the 5.0's and the 4.6's sound simular with flowmasters

so head design would be out the window ohv vs ohc

you always know that mustang sound

 

Also the location of the muffler and the length of tubing before and after the pipes has a huge effect on the sound too. Just look at how different a Vette sounds from an F-body. Or just how different Dumped true duals sounds from Td's out the rear. Actually I've heard a 4.6 stang with loudmouth on it and it didn't sound like a stang at all.. actually it sounded like crap.. lol.

Another thing too that I notice is that 95% of the stangs I see have the flowmaster cat back on them. so they will tend to sound the same as well.

 

it's the firing order more than anything else

 

Most mustangs and Cobras I hear sound absolutely awesome. I am very satisfied with my TD setup tho, considering it sounds dissimilar to every LS1 around here

-J

 

It is a combination of many of the above factors (firing order, iron-block, H-pipe, location of mufflers, true dual) that gives Stangs "that" sound. I've owned two 5.0 GTs and they were so easy tro make sound great. LSx engines are more of a challenge...

 

umm.... how about two different engines. Like everyone says, there is a list of reasons why they sound different.

 

But this is LS1tech, would you really think that the answer would be THAT easy...?

 

i do think that location of the mufflers make a big difference.