F355 / 360 V8s, how do they sound like that?

[ducati998]

I know it has something to do with the fact that they are "flat plane crank" V8's, however I don't understand it fully and as I am now finished school with nothing at all to do I would like to learn. does anyone know of a good site that explains this well.

[alondahan]

nobody knows :)

that's the Ferrari magic :D

[RC45]

Small displacement high revving.. ;)

[FoxFour]

Also , they spend time tuning the intake, then way the air goes in creates ,in part; the magic.

[lauwingho]

u can download some video................ i had 2 that is about 360............ then u can heard the sound of the great ferrari engine

[yg60m]

The Lotus Esprit V8 had a flat plane crank too but it doesn't sound as good as Ferraris V8 more like a 4 cylinders, it's a technic used in competition. :lol:

[sentra_dude]

Well, I think they pay very close attention to the length and shape of the intake and exhaust manifolds; and the number of values (5 per cylinder) has some effect. In addition, the high rpms of the engines has a lot to do with it.

Also, it's Italian. ;)

[gldnboy]

the 5 valves is a big part of it. it's 3 intake, and 2 exhaust, with the exhaust valves having VVT which gives improved performance at high revs, hence the enormous beautiful sound :D

[SFDMALEX]

Small displacement high revving.. ;)

I wouldnt say that Ferrari's have small engines.

[takata]

the flat crank V8 produces exhaust pulses that sound like that.
of kos not having a turbo (like lotus) and having an engine that revs high with suitable cam and intake design contributes to the music :)

[SFDMALEX]

Whats up with all the V8 talk? How will you explain the magic of ferrari V12's?

[takata]

we are talking abt the sound V8 makes ... no one comes close
the V12 .. ? nothing special compared to the rest

[frodefe]

it's primarily the muffler

[sickx]

There is much magic in intake/exhaust tuning. If you recall during the original Miata development, thousands of hours were spend analyzing/tuning the exhaust to make it sound *just right*...it has that slightly "braaaap" sound when cold, and then warms up to a mellow but unobtrusive growl.

But I agree with RC45--small displacement, high-rev engines (esp V-8s) have a unique sound.

[ChrisAW11]

Just throwing in my €0,02, I think the flatplane configuration contributes very much to the sound difference from usual crossplane garden V8.
Flatplane means you can actually rev them higher since there are no counter-balance weights involved, and in terms of engine sound you always got 2 cylinders getting sparked up at the same time (as opposed to the crossplane). Then of course the intake and muffler resonances get tuned to musical sounding frequencies I suppose. I know a link where they analyse an older Ferrari V8 and come to the conclusion that everything is very harmonic, but I suppose you need to have a lot of sound analysing experience (which I don't) to be convinced of that by only reading through it. Here's the link anyway:
http://www.ymec.com/hp/signal2/car1.htm

[zevolv]

the Ferrari's sound is from the insanely high rev limit and the very unique exhaust.

[sickx]

Yeah, but the S2000 motor is equally high rev-limit, and no exhaust in the world would make it sound like a Ferrari!

[sickx]

Ever heard a Ferrari with a TUBI exhaust? even more magic!

[hotgemini]

I think ChrisAW11 is pretty much on the mark, a flat plane (180 degree) crank produces a completely different sound to a 90 degree crank. A flat plane crank is where the big end journals are located at 180 degree intervals whereas a 'normal' crank has the big end journals every 90 degrees. I used to have a link to a website with mp3s of a flat plane V8 and a 90 degree V8.

Many people make the observation that flat plate V8s sound a bit like a pair of 4 cylinders singing in harmony, which makes a lot of sense considering most if not all inline 4s run a 180 degree crank pattern.

[RallyeNLD]

- high revs
- short exhaust system (compared to S2000)
- crank arrangement (ignition order)
- simple tuned to the right sound. Al lot of things can be calculated and engineered these days. Engine sound is often simply tuned by adding different damping material, size of backboxes, material of backboxes and restrictors in backboxes. There is a program though, in which you can set up your engine configuration and exhaust system en then hear the sound it should make (called GT-suite, can't get my hands on that program, anyone?)

[brijoel]

something maybe looked over, or i just didnt see, is the fact they use fairly agressive cams for a street motor, as well as in the form of dohc per cylinder bank. that combined with the pure harmonics of the motor as previously discussed, and the high rev limit from previously aforementioned reasons and it all equals out to an insane noise from a good high end exhaust pulse.

[SamuraiGti]

I have two videos of an Ferrari 355 with very good sound of it. But i don't have any place to upload it. These are small videos, i could send it to anyone who have some space to put it here =\

Msn: [email protected]

[TypeLT]

Yeah, first time I leared why is when I drove a 78' 308 GTS. I asked the owner why it sounded so good past 6000rpm, he said the flat crank. That was a fun car to drive, just right. It wasn't super fast but just fun to drive, and of course you get plenty of looks.

[XTwinTurboVR4X]

Ferraris have a very distinct sound for alot of reasons. One - FERRARI MAGIC :D OK, now the less important ones(more technical stuff) ferrari's have highly tuned exhausts, because they used standing waves to suck exhaust out of the cylinder using pulses. The length of the exhaust(always 4-2-1 design) is calculated by using a couple factors, and all exhaust pipes must be EXACTLY the same length, otherwise this effect doesnt work, you dont get the sweet sound, yada yada yada.... twin plane engines cant use this effect, because the manifold design prohibits it. With a twin plane you have 8 evenly spaced firing intervals for each 2 engine revs. Flat planes have 2 fires at a time, and with a v8 you would have 8 fires per 2 revs... now, if you REALLY understand this, be proud of yourself. If not, dont worry, most people wont understand half this anyway.

[CMonakar]

I think part of the Ferrari sound is created by the short stroke length that their motors have. This can be illustrated by comparing the 355 to the 360. The 355 has a higher strung sound than the 360. Both cars have the same basic motor with the same bore (85mm), but the 360 has a longer stroke (79mm v 77mm).

[Gnome]

The high rev limit has no effect on the sound at low revs. Ferraris sound special at all revs!

As mentioned many times already I think the intakes and exhaust systems are important.

[adlinyusman]

The high rev limit has no effect on the sound at low revs. Ferraris sound special at all revs!

As mentioned many times already I think the intakes and exhaust systems are important.

Nope, not all revs. Just above a certain range of revs. below 3500rpm, it's a baritone burble, loud enough to have you shout your words across to the passenger next to you. Once it goes above the magic number, all hell breaks loose and your feet starts to wabble under the magic that is the ferrari V8. It sounds loud and goes even louder. As a mechanic once told me, "why do you need a good soundsystem? You have one in the back."

Will try to post some vids of my car when i have the time.

[devin120]

Im new to this site but all it is is at 4,500rpm the exhaust valves open up to a straight out 4 pipe other then then 2 used under 4500 idling. For real sound you need a Tubi or Capristo exhaust... the stock sound at idle is somewhat pathetic...

[adlinyusman]

i am using the Tubi Style exhaust system. And at idle it's really really loud.

[Tomerville]

As everyone else said, it is a mixture of High Revs, and Exhaust/Intake. The use special coatings in the down pipe to straigh pipe with virtually no cat nor muffler.

[RenaultFreak]

basically what ppl have said: it's a combination of ignition timing, head shape, exhaust shape and intake performance what gives the Ferraris the best overall sound in this planet :twisted:

[AMG E55]

They sound really low untill you hit about 3500 rpm then they becasue more high pitched

[caneswell]

Its in the firing order of the flat plane crank. That distinguises it from the lumpy lazy usual V8s. That and high revs!

Also the have a separate valve in the exhaust itself which opens above 3500 to give power and sound and closes bellow it to pass EU noise restrictions!

[chaos]

Ever heard a Ferrari with a TUBI exhaust? even more magic!

now your talking 8)

[chaos]

videos can be found at http://www.scuderiasystems.com/M-Media.htm

[itsthepham]

Not magic not blah blah blah blah - its called ANSA - its a company - they are the OEM supplier for Ferrari for 40 some years ..OEM supplier of the Muffler Muff's . thats how they get there sound - its in the way the exhaust is set up .. tiny pipes with a good muff - ..

[jereomen]

Does the ferrari have an equal length header? I know when I installed long tube equal length header on my 383 camaro it made a world of difference in the sound of the car.

[Dave1]

All that the above poster mention and the fact that the 360 produces 110BHP per litre. The CS sounds even better as that producing 120BHP per litre (I think). A good example is the BMW M3 CSL, The standard BMW straight six's sound poo (drone) because of there low compression ratios put the CSL sound alright because massive compression ratio 12:1 and like the 360 around 110 bhp per litre. You think the Ferrari V8's road cars sound good? Go and watch an F1 grand prix and listen to their V10 f1 engines unbelievable!!! IMO F1 car's engine sound better now then they ever!!

[homemade wrx]

if I had to guess it would be a combo of the small bore/displacement, and tuning of the intake and exhaust. wouldn't say high revving because at 3k rpms they still have "that" sound

[jorge]

Small displacement high revving.. ;)

I wouldnt say that Ferrari's have small engines.

I think the engines from the F355 & 360 are small considering they are V-8´s, but the new F430 has 4.3 liters (a lot bigger than the others) and from the first video i saw of it, it´s gonna sound every bit as good as it´s predecessors.

I think the main ingredient is high revs :)

[Skylinefreak]

Okay, may I piss in everybodies coffee???

I hate the sound of a Ferrari V8. That is not the sound a V8 should make. Its really awefull. Rather give me the V12 or a good ol' American V8 or rather the Gallardo or Carrera GTs V10

[dingo]

^ then I don't think you belong on this site....a real car enthusiast cannot dislike the sound of a Ferrari V8. I think you must be sick, better to see a doctor and check your ears out.

[FPVPSI]

LoL...i can't belive your for real Skylinefreak...It's impossible to dis-like the Ferrari 8...perfection as far as im concerned... :D ... but thats your opinon and im fine with that... 8)

[astonmartinandy]

Granted everybody has their opinion and that's cool, BUT, a Ferrari V8 is one of the most intoxicating engine sounds I have ever heard in my life :twisted:

[coombsie66]

I actually am not wild about the flat plane crank V8 sound. I prefer the normal V8's. But the sound of a 360 CS flat out at 9000rpm does sound pretty good! :wink:
There are quite a few flat plane V8s about (lotus esprit V8, tvr tuscan race car, tvr cerbera non speed 6) and i just dont think they sound that good.
Each to their own i spose. :)

[DanielW]

Small displacement high revving.. ;)we have a winner

[Skylinefreak]

I'm really sorry that I don't conform with the masses about the Ferrari V8, but as FPVPSI said, opinions differ...