Can a tune improve sound?

[Solo500]

My mods include Flows, x-pipe, and just recently I installed JBA shorties.
The sound at idle and up until 3k rpm is noticeably quieter than before I installed them. After that it's a bit louder but nothing radical. My questions are... Is it time for a tune? Can a tune improve the sound?

I know it might just be wishful thinking... but I would expect headers (even shorties) to improve the idle sound, not decrease it. From what I personally feel, the exhaust flow is a lot more "even" so that's the only thing that would explain it for me. Well, just-in-case anyone is wondering, despite not being louder until higher rpm's; I love the shorties! The torque is enough to be recognized after being installed and the revs don't drop as quickly.

Thanks in advance for the answers.

P.S. I also installed urethane bushings in the front... what a difference! Time to do the rear!

 

[totheduals]

No your sound won't change. At least mine didn't anyways, and I can't see a tune being large enough to make that diff. Maybe if you were FI and had a terrible tune and got a real good one. But can't see it!

 

[Solo500]

Is there anything I can do to improve the idle sound besides cams?

 

[K2AHollywood]

catted or o/r?

 

[Un4GivN]

Get rid of those cats! There's where that mean aggressive rumble comes from, offroad mid pipes!

 

[Solo500]

It is offroad. :c

Maybe I should just tune the idle to be at a higher rpm?

 

[Un4GivN]

It is offroad. :c

Maybe I should just tune the idle to be at a higher rpm?

Can you get a soundclip of your car? I have never heard a QUIET mustang with o/r mids and flows.

 

[Solo500]

re:

I'll try to get a sound clip posted sometime tommorow.

[EDIT]: Sorry for any confusion... when I refer to after I installed them, I am talking about after I installed the headers. The idle sound was much louder with the x and catback vs the x, catback, and headers.

 

[cobrasvtcoupe25]

So its quiet up to about 3rpm, but what about 6,500 to 6,800? Is it screaming or what? Is it louder at high rpm with the headers?

 

[na svt]

LTs quieted my idle.

 

[kxt]

LTs reduced my aquarium bubble sound. Also I prefer an H pipe w/ chambered muffs.

 

[281CJ]

Yes a tune CAN change your tone. Its mostly due to the change in timing and a/f changes. If you already have had a tune you wont really notice it, but it can be a big change some times.

Example:

2000 Escort ZX2 stock computer ran on the dyno, 110whp 112wtq. Swap in the Ford Racing computer, 120whp 122wtq, and the tone of the car was so different that the dyno operator asked what we had done (he wasn't in the room when we swapped the computers). The only change(stock vs FRPP) was 13.2 A/F instead of 13.0 and 16* timing instead of 10*

When I had my Mach1 tuned the tone drastically changes from sounding beefy at idle to sounding smooth at idle and screaming up top and having a nicer rumble around 2k.

Most SVT/FR mustang tunes are already 12.8 a/f and ~23* timing, most tuners DON'T go over this because they don't dial back the knock sensor advance (should be 2-3 not 5 that it is stock, that causes early knock, it makes the car over add timing then dial it WAY back, this is also why some people aren't seeing over 19-21* when the log even if the program calls for more or even when stock) if you dial that back you can safely run 27-30* timing and keep the 12.8 A/F THEN you will hear a exhaust note change from that added 5 or so degrees.

There is really not reason a 4v with a good a/f ratio cant be running 27-29* timing, 30* or more if they have a really strong motor

 

[Nazman]

Yes a tune CAN change your tone. Its mostly due to the change in timing and a/f changes.

There is really not reason a 4v with a good a/f ratio cant be running 27-29* timing, 30* or more if they have a really strong motor

Yes, the tune could change the sound. If the AFR is way too rich (due to the headers) it will "muffle" the sound. The timing will also give you a more snappy/agressive sound on the top end.

Now, to the 30* or more coment, I would have to disagree there.

Based on over 100 dyno runs I have done with my combos I have not been able to see any gains above 28* of timing.

These have been with HCI motors, with extra CR and CIs.........making decent NA power (450+RW NA).

Naz

 

[Solo500]

Haven't really opened up the car since installing the headers so I don't know what the sound is like close to redline, for the mostpart I never shift that high. I don't want to have to fork out the money for dyno tuning so I still have the stock tune. I just want to regain the aggressive sound it had at lower rpms... do you think a handheld tuner could help? Maybe changing the catback? For some reason I think it's the flows that are quieting it downlow.

 

[bsmith782]

Headers quiet down mustangs for some reason. I had head this but never experienced it untill lately. I have bbk l/t's, o/r h pipe, american thunder catback. We just traded for a 04 with stock manifolds, o/r x, anf american thunder catback. The 04 is quite abit louder then mine. I know the mids are different but its way louder not just the tone.