So Argy heads sounds different? Like Chevy with swapped firing order.


Hyvinkää, FI

The stacked ports allow each intake tract or runner to be closer to the same length than other designs which in turn could be a player on the sound.  Runners being the same length will have each cylinder making the same torque value whereas different length runners (ie. scrub) will have the torque values being averaged based on the highs and lows that are being generated between the various cylinders.

Just food for thought.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

There was a discussion in Hot Rod about firing orders a year or two ago. Interestingly I don't think they mentioned the Ford Flathead/Y-Block firing order. Of course nearly anything in that magazine is referenced off the ubiquitous sbc... What about the unique stacked intake port system of the Y? Would that effect the sound?

Paul

I agree the unique sound has something to do with the firing order. Kind of like the sound of a VTwin Harley vs the Jap Vtwin. The Harley runs off a common crankpin, while the Japs use an offset crankpin arrangement for a more vibration free running engine. I wouldn't trade my Harley vibes or my y-block sound for anything.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

I think the "sound" is sort of in the ear of the beholder - like Aussiebill says - it may just be the leaks. I noticed that when I got the bird exhaust all buttoned up and the engine rigged so it doesn't idle retarded, it sounded more like my Dad's old 352 Galaxie LTD (too quiet).

There is an article on the web - by David Vizard - who isn't just a chebbie guy but a pretty bright engineer. It describes the steps used to design and build street exhaust systems that don't subtract horspower - and don't act like a cop magnet. It's got some good advice I think.

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/engines_drivetrain/exhaust/0505phr_exh/index.html

What he mentions is that our v8's are configured as two v4's in line - not two fours side by side. The two cylinders per side that inevitably end up firing 90° apart cause the engine -side for side - to sound more like two three bangers with one big cylinder on each side. THUMP, thunka , thunka, THUMP... so to speak. To smooth it out would require some 180° headers that only can be made to fit race cars.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

I,ve allways thought you could recognize the Y block sound by the leaking exhausts !!! ha ha. regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I don't know if it's still common practice,but at one time most of the Nascar teams ran their engines with the Y-block firing order.That includes other brands,not just Ford.In doing so they gained torque at lower RPMs,smoothness at high RPMs and durability.

I've always figured the unique Y-block sound is because of a combination of the somewhat unusual breathing characteristics and the firing order.Headers and aftermarket intakes sure change the sound of a Y,but it is still a unique sound.Even when the firing order of another engine is matched to the Y,it does not have the same sound.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Here again, the other firing orders fire the four corners and then the inside. If you look at them all, 1, 5, 4, and 8 fire in sequence, though not always in the same sequence.

351 and 5.0 HO: 5-4-8-1

289 and 302 (chevy also follows this scheme, though numbered different): 8-1-5-4

And, of course the Y-Block and flathead: 1-5-4-8


Lawrenceville, GA

Henry nailed the firing order with the flathead .By firing the  4 outside cylinders ,then the 4 inside cylinders , this gives the great sound and adds to the harmonics of the motor . I was told last year that Crane Cams will mill up  ( $30 extra )a C%#V cam so you can do the 4-7 swap and make it sound like a Y-Block . Was also told that the Y firing order also helps with more torque and more power .????

Regards Lon

yblocksdownunder

And speakinig of Y Block sound, last night at the track a couple guys came up to me in the pits, and one of them said, "we've been arguing about what engine you have.  He says it's a Y Block, I say it isn't."  I said, "he's right".  The first guy was amazed that a Y would run 11.90s in a full sized car, so I showed them the engine.  They liked it.  The second guy said he knew it was a Y by its sound.  He has a '55 Bird, but I don't know how he recognized the sound unless his Bird has open headers.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"