The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What causes distinctive sound of 235 with dual exhaust?

Let me share some of my experiances along those lines. With many six cylinder cars thru the years I have had the later series motors (194/292) that have the six separate exhaust ports, and when you run a set of tubing headers arranged such that the front three cylinders flow thru one exhaust pipe, and the last three cylinders flow thru the other exhaust pipe (both running mufflers), they, thru my ears, have sounded just like the 216/261 series motors.

I have run both "split manifolds" and tubing headers with stock, straight-thru glasspacks, straight-thru steelpacks, and oval glasspacks on the 216/261 series motors. On the 194/292 motors I have run "split manifolds" and tubing headers with straight-thru steelpacks, chambered mufflers, and Flowmasters. Other than the noise levels and tone qualities they all sounded out the same RAAAP as produced by the 216/261 series.

I think the above mentioned Dad had heard/remembered and coined that memory as the classic dual exhaust sound of a 235 because of the overwealming popularity of that motor series in those times. When I graduated in '63 at our high school no other six cylinder cars had "split manifolds" or even headers other than Chevy 216/261 motors, and with the popular straight-thru glasspacks, you would think they could break out windows with their RAAAP!

I feel any of the sixes with the same exhaust grouping will sound the same (other than tone qualities produced by different mufflers, and pipe lengths).

I have heard one Chevy 4.3 V6 pickup (2000 or so) that has not had the familiar RAAAP. it sounded so much like a V8 that I crawled under it in a suit to check it out, and then demanded to see under the hood and only found six spark plug holes plugged with six spark plugs. Those 90 degree sixes dont have the constant 120 degree firing pattern due to their 90 degree block design and their compensated crankpin offsets, yet Dodge V6s (with similar[?] crank/block situation) do sound "classic"--no answer for that. I have never heard a 60 degree V6 with duals either (like a Ford Ranger-or 2.6 S-10 Chevy)--they should sound "classic". Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to be as unconfusing as possible--probably failed.