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Does a cam change the volume of an exhaust note?

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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 01:15 PM
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Default Does a cam change the volume of an exhaust note?

I know that some cams, esp those with a lot of overlap, tend to add a lope to the idle, but will a car actually get louder (or quieter, I suppose) with a cam.

And I don't mean valvetrain noise, I mean exhaust note.

And for that matter, how about heads?

And for that matter, how about a stroker kit?

Thanks, folks.
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by black_knight
I know that some cams, esp those with a lot of overlap, tend to add a lope to the idle, but will a car actually get louder (or quieter, I suppose) with a cam.

And I don't mean valvetrain noise, I mean exhaust note.

And for that matter, how about heads?

And for that matter, how about a stroker kit?

Thanks, folks.
I went from Longtubes and ORYP with a cutout to just adding a 224/224 TR cam and my friends said my car sounded MUCH louder. I dont have a technical yes, but it makes since, more flow= more noise , but thats in no way a technical answer.

-morgan
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 02:42 PM
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Yes it changes notes. Don't have to be cam change. Mine changed note when I installed my SSF 3500. Tuning will change your notes.
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 03:00 PM
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alot louder. Almost umbearable....ALMOST
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 03:07 PM
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Just did H/C and when my wife first heard the car her comment was "that can't be street legal anymore" so for whatever reason yes it does get A LOT louder after H/C. I want to get back to the pre H/C noise level.
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 03:41 PM
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Well a cam allows ALOT more air through the motor. Thats why its louder. And a QTEC was my noise savior.
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 05:46 PM
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.
Of course ...
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 05:52 PM
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yep......more flow = more sound..........the larger the cam, the louder it will get
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 01:50 AM
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Divine music is what it is.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 04:44 AM
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click my 230 link. its pre/post cam
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:54 AM
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Mine got noticeably louder after the cam. I really would never want to go back. A stock LS1 sounds boring, IMO.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve Burger
so for whatever reason yes it does get A LOT louder after H/C.
The reason it gets louder is because there is a lot more air and fuel going into the cylinder and there for the power stroke has a more powerful explosion.

More powerful explosion=louder exhaust and more hp and tq
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 10:04 AM
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JRP, that thing sounds like a pair of Harley's with nasty cams...

Nice.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 11:39 AM
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Wow. Thank you everybody. That is quite encouraging. Yet another reason to go for H/C!

Great sound, JRP. It sounds meaner, but it's hard to tell how much louder. I'll take your word for it, though. And I assume the difference only gets better as you apply more throttle.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 01:05 PM
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Yes, after my X1 install, it went from being a stock car with a semi-loud exhaust to sounding like a race car. Definitely louder, there's a lot more violence going on in the cumbustion chamber with the bigger cam, more air, more fuel, more powerful explosion, hence, louder!

Freakin' cool too...
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 02:41 PM
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more air = more power = more exhaust volume
my 236 cam with .595 lift putting out 450rwhp is now fun/wild to drive
definitely more noise (good noise)
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by 4thGENRETARD
Divine music is what it is.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 10:08 PM
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definitely louder. But is also louder at idle and part throttle so i beleive the loudness has less to do with the more horsepower theories described above and more to do with the additionally cam timing allowing more sound to escape.
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 10:10 PM
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^ air carries sound waves
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Old Feb 13, 2004 | 10:15 PM
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Yes it will make it a little louder, even with my stock manifolds and y-pipe it get a little louder.
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