V6 exhaust note

[jamieboy]

Looking for a bit of advice.

I've had a de-catted stainless exhaust on my RZ for about five years now, and loved the sound. The exhaust note was fairly loud and full sounding up to about 3500-4000rpm, when it really started to howl. Which was great.

The car's just been in to get the cambelts changed, and now sounds totally different. It now just sounds a bit rough and bellowy. There isn't the same change in the note as the revs increase, it just shouts louder.

I took it back to the main dealer in Edinburgh who did the service, and they reckon everything is OK - "if it sounds different then it's probably because it's running better".

I'm not convinced - any ideas?

[AJLintern]

Maybe the cam timing is slightly different? If one of the pulleys is out by a tooth, it would probably still run but sound different due to the valves opening at a slightly different time. I've just been changing the cam belt on my 75 V6, so it's all quite fresh in my mind, though I expect rather different to the layout in an RZ - lovely car by the way!

[jamieboy]

Thanks for that - you were absolutley right.

I took it back to the dealer this morning, and asked them to have another look. The timing on one camshaft was out by a tooth, so they've now fixed it.

I was about to type "you'd expect better from a main dealer", but then I realised....

[Alfa Mad]

Exactly, there are specialists in Scotland who would do a better job for less....
At least its a happy ending

[lanciachris]

I have this fear about my sprint

Specifically on another alfa forum someone said 'i had my cambelts changed on my 33, now my car has a bubbling type sound between 2000 and 3000'... my sprint has that, and has always had it I think - only did about 50 miles in it before the belts were changed. It certainly seems to go well enough though.

Is it possible to check the timing without getting horribly involved on the boxer?

[wowbagger t.i.p]

If you are looking for a good Alfa specialist in Scotland, I would recomend CP Garage services in Dundee. They do a good job and don't charge a fortune.

[jamieboy]

Yep, there are a few good independents.

I've used McLennans at Loanhead before and they were really good. I would have gone to them for this, except they were booked solid for weeks and I didn't want to waste any of the few sunny days we get!

Chris - my 33 never sounded entirely happy at lower revs, so maybe they all do that. It's all a bit subjective though - one man's bubbling sound is another man's rorty. Or something.