Unique sound of the RV8
Discussion
Why does the RV8 sound like no other engine..?
I understand the whole crossplane/flatplane crank differences, but even the Yank crossplane V8's don't sound like the RV8.
I always think the RV8 sounds like a butcher's meat slicer, with that "ssssSSSSShhhing!" kind of sound - almost like all the cylinders sounds "together" in different harmonics, rather than "one-after-the-other" with a primary "thumping cylinder", like most other crossplane Yank V8s...
Does anyone know why this is?
Is it something to do with joining the banks together in the Y-piece, or is it totally related to bank-degrees and crank design..?
Dom
I understand the whole crossplane/flatplane crank differences, but even the Yank crossplane V8's don't sound like the RV8.
I always think the RV8 sounds like a butcher's meat slicer, with that "ssssSSSSShhhing!" kind of sound - almost like all the cylinders sounds "together" in different harmonics, rather than "one-after-the-other" with a primary "thumping cylinder", like most other crossplane Yank V8s...
Does anyone know why this is?
Is it something to do with joining the banks together in the Y-piece, or is it totally related to bank-degrees and crank design..?
Dom
Ive had a 400SE, the Chimaera, numerous SD1s.
Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
dbv8 said:
Ive had a 400SE, the Chimaera, numerous SD1s.
Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
I agree. I spent a lot of time in the US and hear loads of V8 but nothing sounds as good.Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
(OK, Shelby Mustang sounds pretty good but........)
Pvapour said:
someone once told me it was because the engine design is 'Over square' 
not sure what that meant or even if it was true but I know I like it 
Bore bigger than stroke. not sure what that meant or even if it was true but I know I like it Before the war in the UK, cars were taxed on their piston area, which was suposed to represent their RAC Horsepower, at £1 per RAC hp. To get more swept volume, (cc) and power for your money, they made the stroke longer. So vintage engines were long stroke, slow reving engines. The 1930 Ford A was an over square engine, but the UK model was sleeved to get the horse power down from 23hp to around 18hp. In comparison the similar Austin was 12hp. Alvis called their model the 12/50 to show 12hp RAC and a mighty 50 bhp. To increase the revs, you need a shorter stroke, to reduce the piston acceleration. So you then get square and over square engines.
Most modern engines are over square. Not sure how that effects the exhaust note, as valve area and timing would come in to play, firing order and exhaust system would be a larger part.
davepen said:
Pvapour said:
someone once told me it was because the engine design is 'Over square' not sure what that meant or even if it was true but I know I like it
Bore bigger than stroke. not sure what that meant or even if it was true but I know I like it Before the war in the UK, cars were taxed on their piston area, which was suposed to represent their RAC Horsepower, at £1 per RAC hp. To get more swept volume, (cc) and power for your money, they made the stroke longer. So vintage engines were long stroke, slow reving engines. The 1930 Ford A was an over square engine, but the UK model was sleeved to get the horse power down from 23hp to around 18hp. In comparison the similar Austin was 12hp. Alvis called their model the 12/50 to show 12hp RAC and a mighty 50 bhp. To increase the revs, you need a shorter stroke, to reduce the piston acceleration. So you then get square and over square engines.
Most modern engines are over square. Not sure how that effects the exhaust note, as valve area and timing would come in to play, firing order and exhaust system would be a larger part.
i have always wondered from what you have said and my understanding (and to be pedantic) should it not be 'over cubed'
love little bits of automotive history like that which explain engineering direction.
OK -
this is the sort of Yank V8 sound I mean, I know it's a little old - but you know the type of sound I mean...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5vn6hIb6j8&p=0...
Dom
this is the sort of Yank V8 sound I mean, I know it's a little old - but you know the type of sound I mean...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5vn6hIb6j8&p=0...
Dom
RichB said:
Pvapour said:
from what you have said and my understanding (and to be pedantic) should it not be 'over cubed'
No because they are called cylinders for a reason 
well I never I was thinking more of the relationship between the stroke v cylinder size v cylinder spacing hence the cubed comment, looking back at it that is clearly not the case
dbv8 said:
Ive had a 400SE, the Chimaera, numerous SD1s.
Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
Agree. It was the noise that clinched the Chim as the car for me, not to mention the looks, rarity, performance, Britishness, interior....... Ive made and modified my own exhaust systems and there have been different notes, levels of volume, with and without balance pipes, different designs of manifolds and silencers but the RV8 is always easily recogniseable.
I still have yet to hear a V8 i prefer. In fact its the best sounding engine of all.... fact.
One thing I have noticed is that the un-worked 4.0 / 4.6 Rover units found in the 1990's Range Rovers, although still recognisable, are very much silenced from the TVR power developed ones.
I also find it amazing how different the power, charactoristics and noise can be from say the hundreds of different 4 pot engines available.
quattrophenia said:
One thing I have noticed is that the un-worked 4.0 / 4.6 Rover units found in the 1990's Range Rovers, although still recognisable, are very much silenced from the TVR power developed ones..
That's a fair point. I remember the Rover 3.5 Coupe back in the 60s and in no way did it sound like a V8. Also, and I can't remember, does the MGB V8 or the Morgan Plus 8 sound anything like a RV8 TVR? I don't think so, I certainly don't recollect thinking, "wow those MGBV8s sound good." 
Someone once explained the 'musical' sound as relating to a paradiddle, a series of left- and right-hand drumbeats that match the left and right firing of the cylinders in the RV8. The firing order, 18436572 matches the LRRLRLLR sequence of beats in the single paradiddle.
Quite how that works when a single exhaust system is involved, I don't know, but it's a nice explanation.
Quite how that works when a single exhaust system is involved, I don't know, but it's a nice explanation.
I believe it is down to the firing order(as previously mentioned) and partly the exhaust. I read the distinctive sound is due to the banks it fires on, for example on full cycle it will fire on the Left bank one after the other, and also on the Right. This Is different to the rest of the cycle as it fires L then R. The two firing on the same bank creates an uneven pressure in the exhaust and the distinctive sound. Might be a load of rubbish though
It tugs at that ancient gland at the back of the brain that used to do with things like "ugh, make fire" which was triggered by the mammoth nearby as it natural rumblings remarkably close to the V8 (as we no know and as proven on the web and I cannot find the link.....). This rumbling got the hunters all excited and fired up and ready for action as they set off to get the Sunday joint. The gland fell into disrepute with the rest of the glands who thought such a base reaction was so troglodyte but it hung in there until the twentieth century where it was found a use for again.
It in our genes.
It in our genes.
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