do pontiac engines sound different than chevy/ford engines? Or is it the same tone.

I know you can tell small block and big block chevy tone a bit. But I was wondering, is Pontiac a unique sound as well?

If you were blindfolded could you tell the difference between a Chevy big block and pontiac 400??

I'm just curious

First Guess: The sound of the fuel burning in the cylinders isn't a bit different between Chevy Big Block, Pontiac, Olds, MG, Toyota, whatever--except for the displacement and the RPM involved.

Everything after that-valve timing, port shape, exhaust manifold/headers, exhaust tubes, muffler, tailpipes, etc., has it's own effect on the characteristics of the noise emitted.

Change the exhaust systems, and two Pontiac 400s will not sound the same.

I can tell a difference between a BBC and a Pontiac in the way they sound under hard acceleration...like the dragstrip.

I always thought that the engine with the most distinctive sound was the Olds V8...it had almost a burbling sound to the exhaust.

I know the high compression motors I have built(13.5/1) had more of a "crackle" sound than my pump gas 463(9.9/1). I really like the sound of my 3" Pypes exhaust and Xcellerator mufflers. When I added the X it seemed to mellow the tone somewhat. http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_cool.gif -Jim

I have always been able to tell the difference in the sound of a 427 vette between a 428 ford for example. I think chevy engines have a pretty distinct sound like the 427 with solid lifters and the ls6 454 both have distinctive idles,,,, so does a 426 hemi. i think its much harder to distinguish between small block and more mass produced engines, but some of the special ones always seem to stick out above the rest

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hot67bird:
do pontiac engines sound different than chevy/ford engines?
I'm just curious </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They sound pretty good if you ask me!
http://heath5.homelinux.net/firebird/lopey_bird.wav

The old nail head Buick had a very unique sound.

i love how pontiacs sound

I know that back in the '70's and before that I could tell the difference between the different stock cars going down the road. Mopars always had a real distinctive sound to me. My buddys Roadrunner has a Mopar sound to it even with headers and a far from stock cam. I'm not sure but I think the X-pipe made my TA sound less "Pontiac" than it did. It sounds more like a built 5.0 Mustang to me now. Kind'a odd. It's all about resonance frequency I wouldn't doubt that if you change the cam, heads, and exhaust enough you can lose that "original" sound.

Chamber shapes can affect the sound. The biggest influence winth the Pontiac is the exhaust crossover in the heads/intake. If you "fill" the crossover, the sound changes dramatically, making it sound a lot like BBC.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mr. P-Body:
Chamber shapes can affect the sound. The biggest influence winth the Pontiac is the exhaust crossover in the heads/intake. If you "fill" the crossover, the sound changes dramatically, making it sound a lot like BBC. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wouldn't doubt that your right on that. http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_wink.gif I forgot about that crossover.

Pontiac engines definetly sound different. I can always tell a Pontiac engine from a Chevy engine. The pontiac tone is deeper than a chevy.

I asked this question when I was new to the board was well... check out the responses.

http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc...676070321#1676070321

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mr. P-Body:
Chamber shapes can affect the sound. The biggest influence winth the Pontiac is the exhaust crossover in the heads/intake. If you "fill" the crossover, the sound changes dramatically, making it sound a lot like BBC. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


....maybe the BBC sounds a lot like a Pontiac... http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...on_biggrin.gif http://pysales.com/images/evil.gif

All of the old V8s had their own sound,you can hear a Olds 455 comming from a mile away,Pontiacs have their own sound,it is one of their strong points.Great sounding engines,a Tri Power with the accelerator mashed to to floor is always a good thing.Fill the crossovers and they sound even better.Most BBCs sound like crap to me.454s sound worse than 427s.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dragncar:
All of the old V8s had their own sound,you can hear a Olds 455 comming from a mile away,Pontiacs have their own sound,it is one of their strong points.Great sounding engines,a Tri Power with the accelerator mashed to to floor is always a good thing.Fill the crossovers and they sound even better.Most BBCs sound like crap to me.454s sound worse than 427s. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don,t know about that some or most BBCHEVYS sound great.
Almost as good as a worked Pontiac Engine http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...on_biggrin.gif