V8 exhaust sound on 2.3

**74stang2togo** · 07-24-2009

Short Answer: Not gonnna happen.

Long Answer: While you can make it sound better, there is no way to duplicate the sound of a V8 with a 4-banger. To get a truly mean sound out of a 2.3 you need to keep the pipe size small (2" or 2.25") keep the muffler simple (glasspack or turbo muffler, nothing baffled or with sound cancellation technology, and for goodness' sake, don't get a fart cannon!), and remember that it's going to sound like a four-cylinder car with an aftermarket exhaust no matter what your choice in muffler is. Take comfort in the fact that if you choose wisely, it won't sound like a Honda Civic with a fart cannon.

lammy · 07-24-2009

hey there 74stang i have a q.-i don't know too much about the 2.3 yet,but do they have roller or hydro cams with roller/hydro lifters?-i'm just wondering because that would produce a different tone than the foreign designs-i'm not saying it would produce the v8 sound but it won't make it sound like a rice burner either right?

SM90Stanger · 07-25-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by lammy

hey there 74stang i have a q.-i don't know too much about the 2.3 yet,but do they have roller or hydro cams with roller/hydro lifters?-i'm just wondering because that would produce a different tone than the foreign designs-i'm not saying it would produce the v8 sound but it won't make it sound like a rice burner either right?

You have a roller-cam in you stang. 91-93 all did.

lammy · 07-25-2009

good deal-making a cam swap should be a snap then-thanks

SM90Stanger · 07-26-2009

So what kind of cam would you put in that would be better than the roller cam?

lammy · 07-27-2009

what i meant by swapping cams i meant replacing it with the next step up roller cam-lunati and comp cams have a couple different grinds to choose from-nothing big just trying to get a little more power out of it without going gung ho with turbo stuff

TOM RENZO · 08-03-2009

I run a 3" down pipe into a 3" high flow cat. Then 2 1/2 " pipes back to a 2 1/2" mustang tail pipe. No muffler. Sounds real mean 400+ HP. Will never sound like a V8 but when i am in front of a 5.0 mustang by 3 cars WHO CARES.

scott2.3 · 08-04-2009

you can deff trick people, it wolnt be perfect v8 sounding but if.... you get a header and run 2.5 all the way back and put a MONZA resonator tip at the end it will sound pretty mean! (no muffler) magnaflows sound real good on these cars. also retarding the timing will help.... a cam too will give it that lope at idle

TOM RENZO · 08-04-2009

Retard the timing???? NO NO that would kill HP and GAS milage. I think his 2.3 is crank trigger and that is kind of not possible timing is fixed.

scott2.3 · 08-07-2009

if its retarded just a touch it really gives the same performance and just a bit of a more powerfull tone.... what year is his i didnt look? i did that on my 88 and it was sick! on the DIS system i dunno if its possible.... still figurin out all the electrical on my 93

93foxbody2.3 · 08-16-2009

I got 2.25 straight pipe from the heads to the muffler, then a turn down. No cats. Sounds pretty good.