# Engine's roar **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** bronco, ford\ **Created:** [July 9, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553 "2010-07-09T20:33:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bronco\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bronco\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bronco_guy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/1 "2010-07-09T20:33:38Z")
We all know a four does not sound like an eight, but why doesn’t a four cylinder engine at 4000 rpm sound like a V8 at 2000 rpm. (Both engines should be firing the same number of detonations per minute) ---
**Author:** ![AL5000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@AL5000](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AL5000)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/2 "2010-07-09T20:56:19Z")
I doubt detonations per minute is the main factor in how an engine sounds. Displacement is probably bigger factor. ---
**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/3 "2010-07-09T22:06:50Z")
Most Harleys have what, 2 cylinders? My Goldwing has 6 cylinders. Sound doesn’t appear to be related to number of cylinders. ---
**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/4 "2010-07-09T23:04:31Z")
Lots of variables affect engine sound – number of cylinders, exhaust system, firing order, cylinder angle, displacement, turbo/super chargers, etc. Twotone ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/5 "2010-07-09T23:07:12Z")
Displacement, piston travel, valves, and intake/exhaust sound modifiers. Want your 4-banger to sound more powerful for free? Remove the intake resonator. Want it to sound like a race car? Remove everything on the exhaust behind the catalytic converter. The V8 guy will be amazed. And then he’ll go deaf. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/6 "2010-07-09T23:34:29Z")
Blip The Throttle On My Old (Former) 4 Cylinder VW Dune Buggy With A Holley Bug-Spray Carb, 1700 CC Jugs, And Tee-Pee Exhaust (With No Muffler) And The Sound Said, " Get Your Kids Off The Street ! " Maybe horizontally opposed was part of the fomula. Headers, exhaust pipe length or exhaust arrangement could be another. CSA ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/7 "2010-07-09T23:49:22Z")
Why Did The Old 650 Triumph Bonnevilles (360 ?) Sound Like Music To My Ears (Even Without Muffler) ? Could It Be That Some 2 Cylinder Motorcycles Have 360 Degree Cranks And Some 180 Degree ? I Think So. When I was a kid my 64 Honda 305 Super-Hawk (180 ?) sounded like all Hell was breaking loose (not very melodic) when I’d remove the mufflers and cruise the neighborhood. A cold day was like adding a super-charger to it. CSA ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/8 "2010-07-09T23:49:45Z")
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**Author:** ![doubleclutch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/doubleclutch/32/1281_2.png) [@doubleclutch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doubleclutch)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/9 "2010-07-13T23:04:53Z")
American V-8s usually 90 degree crank throws which allows a smoother firing order, but results in the exhaust exiting the manifolds in uneven intervals. Listen to a Ferrari V-8 with a “flat plane” crank shaft. They have a very distinctive howl that is nothing like the rumble that american V-8s produce. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/10 "2010-07-14T20:10:49Z")
> I doubt detonations per minute is the main factor in how an engine sounds In the 4 banger, it’s the difference between sounding like the PH in “my PHat ride” and an angry insect… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engines-roar/51553/11 "2010-07-17T02:36:16Z")
This is a very good explanation for the syncopated sound of a 90 degree crankshaft V8 that otherwise has an even firing order. When Cadillac released their first V8 in 1915, it had a flat plane crank similar to many WW1 airplane engines. Manufacturing techniques advanced to where Cadillac could release a 90 degree V8 crank in 1923 which then made the rumble sound but reduced vibration. A flat plane crank such as what Ferrari and some other racing cars use does not require counterweights which makes it lighter to enhance acceleration.