spessx

Hey Guys,

I was just watching some of the videos that were posted a few topics down. A person can't help but notice that nothing sounds quite like a Ferrari. They almost sound like sportbikes! What gives them that tone? Exhaust? Combustion chamber shape? Does anyone here know?

-s

eyescream

mostly a high revving engine and big displacement.

Slamnasty

Big displacement? Eh, not necessarily. 3.6 liters for a V8 isn't that big. And they've made something like a 2.x liter V- or Flat-12 before (back in the 50s).

I think the high RPM nature of their engines has a lot to do with it. The smaller combustion chambers probably also tune the sound to a finer degree.

All I know is I've never heard an Italian V8 that sounded like any other V8 from any other country. Only Italy, or Ferrari specifically, seems to be able to make that sound on cue. Kinda like BMW and straight-6s...

no_really

Actually, Ferrari engines typically are small displacement. In the late 60s and 70s they had sub-3L 12 cylinder engines. That many cylinders with the very short revolution time of a small displacement engine results in a scream that is undeniable.

Even their latest engines are rather small as high output engines go, the F50 only has a 4.7 liter V12, but with two turbochargers pushing what I am guessing is over 2 BAR. The largest Ferrari engine I am aware of is only a 343 cu. V8, compared to the Chevy LS1 with slightly more cu at ~348. I am guessing the sound comes from the total engine design - bore, stroke, valve timing, and intake and exhaust tuning. There was a video a while ago of a guy in Italy who built a scale model Ferrari that was only 3 feet long, with virtually everything built to scale, and when he started it and got on the gas, it sounded just unreal. If displacement was a factor, this tiny, less than 1 liter engine ought to sound like something totally different.

pSY trek

They sound smoother than most v8's(cross-plane) because Ferrari V8's have flat-plane cranks. Check out: http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_school/.../smooth4.htm#V8

-Stanley

eyescream

high revving = 360 Modena

big displacement = 612 Scaglietti, Enzo, 575M Maranello (the displacement is pretty big to me)

moparacker

The F50 isn't turbochargered....

climacus

Yep, flat-plane crank is the key to the Ferrari V8 sound. The Lotus Espirit V8 also has a flat-plane crank and it sounds amazing too.

no_really

[QUOTE]Originally posted by moparacker

shift_9k

The stock f-40 was turboed.