Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

This is a noob question, but I am looking to get rid of the stock twins on my bnr32 and go single turbo.
The car is mostly a street car and sound is important for me since it's a big part of the driving experience.

I've watched a lot of videos of different setups, I've noticed not all single turbo setups have the exhaust sound I'm looking for and I really love the sound RB26s with T78 or T04z turbos, but I don't need that much power and I want something more modern and efficient. I'm looking to make between 500-600whp.
Can I get the same exhaust sound from cars with those turbos with something for modern like a GTX or G series turbo?
Does the actual turbo influence the exhaust sound much or is it mostly the manifold design?
Does twin scroll influence the exhaust sound a lot?

Any help would be appreciated.
Vids of the sound I'm looking for:

 

 

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/480937-rb26-turbo-setup-sound/
Share on other sites

Whether or not it is external gate and whether or not the gate is plumbed back in would have to be the biggest contributor to the noise.

Beyond that I can't help you. As I would be 100% oriented in the other direction from your priorities. How it works matters >> than how it sounds.

I think some of the big turbo cars have 3.2L with front facing manifolds to fit the turbo as it doesn't sit between the strut tower.  This effects sound dramatically.  Also the TI exhausts seem to have a certain note.

As above go with what works and get a good fab guy.

4 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Whether or not it is external gate and whether or not the gate is plumbed back in would have to be the biggest contributor to the noise.

Beyond that I can't help you. As I would be 100% oriented in the other direction from your priorities. How it works matters >> than how it sounds.

Yeah I’m definitely not a fan of the screamer pipe sound.

I’d like to have performance and sound

The other thing to keep in mind is, how something sounds on youtube is not necessarily how something sounds in real life.  Also, what you are listening to said youtube on will have an effect on it as well... If you can't listen to it in person, I wouldn't put much value on a youtube clip.  

  • Like 1

There are so many other things that are going to effect that sound, other than the turbo. Your choice of manifold will make a huge difference. A good quality manifold can make an RB26 come to life. The size and design of your exhaust will make a massive difference, hell even the material its made from, ie. Mild steel/stainless steel/titanium - they all sound different. Cam selection, head work, etc. Even intake pipe - I made the exact same turbo on my car sound very different just going from a 3" stainless intake to a 4" carbon fibre intake. And then again going from the 4" carbon to a 4-6" carbon. Huge difference.

 

Watching a video on YouTube and just picking the same turbo hoping to get the same sound is a good way to find disappointment. And I'm not bagging you out here, because I agree that sound is a massive part of the enjoyment you get from driving a car, especially as a daily. While I would always choose performance over sound, I'll admit to hoping I enjoy the sound when it all comes together. But you gotta be aware that there's a good chance you won't get the sound you're after just by choosing the same turbo - you would have to copy virtually the entire setup.

After watching the videos you posted, I would say the turbo has very little to do with the sound youre wanting. A good quality manifold will get you 75% of the way there. Then speak to a good fabricator that understands how exhaust design influences sound and performance, and get them to build you a full exhaust system. Then pick the rest of the build based on quality and performance. 

9 minutes ago, Unzipped Composites said:

After watching the videos you posted, I would say the turbo has very little to do with the sound youre wanting. A good quality manifold will get you 75% of the way there. Then speak to a good fabricator that understands how exhaust design influences sound and performance, and get them to build you a full exhaust system. Then pick the rest of the build based on quality and performance. 

Yeah I agree, I’m not looking to buy the same turbos I’m looking to achieve a similar sound with a modern more efficient turbo. I think the reason most of the videos I’ve seen with these turbos have the similar sound is because these turbos are often sold in kits including a manifold and downpipe.

Based on what I have seen so far in other people’s setups, it seems like parts of the exhaust with multiple pipes, the manifold (and downpipe if using twins), have much more of an effect on the timbre of the sound than single pipes like a test pipe and catback do.

Any insight into what to look for in a manifold to get this sound? Is it just equal length tubular manifold or is there more to it? I’m assuming twin scroll would also affect it.

I doubt twin scroll effects it significantly- but potentially a little bit.

Any decent performance manifold is going to give you a good sound. 6Boost is a safe bet, FullRace, Sinco, I think even Hypertune make them for 26's these days. Just don't get anything China.

 

It sounds like what you're after is going to be pretty easy to achieve, you just don't want to go too big with the exhaust and you will want a couple of good straight through mufflers so that you dont get that tinny sort of ring. Any good fabricator is going to know how to build you an exhaust that sounds proper.

  • Like 1

The sound gets better with more power/exhaust flow so all those things affecting flow contribute.

So depending what you choose like Capacity, compression ratio, camshafts, exhaust mani, turbo size, exhaust size, external gate  and muffler choice, the tune and power levels make the sound.

At that level experiment with kakimoto or hks or some aussie combo, the problem i found was that at low engine speed the drone is annoying with big pipes so i made a helmholtz resonator pipe which quitens drone on cruise.. each to there own but works and sounds sweet for me...

 

Edited by AngryRB
1 hour ago, AngryRB said:

The sound gets better with more power/exhaust flow so all those things affecting flow contribute.

So depending what you choose like Capacity, compression ratio, camshafts, exhaust mani, turbo size, exhaust size, external gate  and muffler choice, the tune and power levels make the sound.

At that level experiment with kakimoto or hks or some aussie combo, the problem i found was that at low engine speed the drone is annoying with big pipes so i made a helmholtz resonator pipe which quitens drone on cruise.. each to there own but works and sounds sweet for me...

 

Shouldn’t be ANY drone with ANY size of exhaust with decent mufflers, if there is, it’s time to look at your setup.

A Kakimoto exhaust is a sure way of having something excessively loud and make no grunt for the setup. Best place they’re for is the bin!

Don't listen to any of those suggestions. Steer clear of Jap exhausts. Judging by the Vids you want something on the louder scale?

Muffler size is the key. I have a 3.5" exhaust on my car and its quiet and has absolutely no drone & could be easily daily driven & it gets no attention by the boys in blue

I don’t think muffler or catback have anything to do with the sound I’m after. Yes they make a difference in the final sound, but what specifically I am after (as shown in the videos I posted) is a fundamental change in the timbre of the sound. In my experience catback does not change the timbre much, or at least not in the way that I’m looking for.

8 hours ago, SnekDoc said:

I don’t think muffler or catback have anything to do with the sound I’m after. Yes they make a difference in the final sound, but what specifically I am after (as shown in the videos I posted) is a fundamental change in the timbre of the sound. In my experience catback does not change the timbre much, or at least not in the way that I’m looking for.

It does, and they do. You know that 'timbre' means sound quality, right? Catbacks and mufflers make a massive difference to the sound quality of a performance car. 

22 minutes ago, Unzipped Composites said:

It does, and they do. You know that 'timbre' means sound quality, right? Catbacks and mufflers make a massive difference to the sound quality of a performance car. 

It means quality in the sense of tone quality (a sin wave would be perfect tone quality with no distortion or other frequencies in the tone). I think a better word for it would be texture or color of the sound. I agree that mufflers and catbacks make a big difference in the sound, but based on the different setups I’ve heard I don’t think the catback portion of the exhaust is responsible for the aspect of the sound I am after.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Major thread necro but how bad of a job is it to DIY? Looking at it online it looks like if you reuse your ring and pinion as long as those are in good condition it should be fine to just pull the axles/front cover and replace the diff that way? Or should I be replacing everything and doing preload measurements/gear mesh testing like the factory service manual mentions for the rear diff?
    • in my list I had the R33 GTR as the best Skyline. Infact I had all GTR's (33>34=32), the NSX, the GTO, the 300ZX, the 180SX, the S15 better than the FD RX7. I had the MR2 and the A80 as 'just' better. I also think the DC5R Integra looks better but this is an 01 onwards car. I also think the FC>FD. It's almost like aesthetics are individual! The elements @GTSBoy likes about the FD and dislikes about the 180 are inverse in my eyes. I hate the rear end of the FD and it's weird tail lights that are bulbous and remind me of early hyundai excels. They are not striking, nor iconic, nor retro cool. The GTO has supercar proportions. I maintain these look much better in person (like the NSX) especially with nice wheels and suspension which is mandatory for all cars pretty much. Some (or all) of these you have to see in person to appreciate. You can't write a car off until you see one in the flesh IMO. Like most people we probably just like/dislike cars which represent certain eras of design or design styles in general. I also think the 60's Jag E type looks HORRIBLE, literally disgusting, and the 2000GT is nothing to write home about. FWIW I don't think the Dodge Viper Gen1's have aged very well either. You can probably see where I rate bubbly coupes like the FD. I know we're straying now but the C4 and C5 absolutely murder the Viper in the looks department as time goes on, for my eyes. Wouldn't surprise me if people who love the FD, also love the MX5, Dodge Viper, Jag E Type, etc etc.
    • I used to hate R31s, and any of the other Nissans that led up to it, and any of the Toyotas with similar styling, because of the boxiness. They were, and remain, childish, simplistic, and generally awful. I appreciate R31s a lot more now, but only the JDM 2 door. The ADM 4 door (and any other 4 door, even if they are unique compared to our local one) can eat a bowl of dicks. The Aussie R31 is also forever tarnished by their association with stereotypical bong clutching Aussie R31 owners of the 90s and early 2000s. I think the Nissans of the 70s (other than 120Y/180B/200B) are far superior looking to the 80s cars. The 240K era Skylines are boss. The same is broadly true of Toyotas. Hondas don't ever register in my thinking, from any era. Mitsus are all horrid shitboxen in any era, and so also don't register. Subarus are always awful, ditto. Daihatsus and Suzukis also don't generally register. They are all invisible. I think the SW20 MR2 looks fiddly. The 3000GT/GTO is like that but way worse. Too many silly plastic barnacles and fiddly gimmicks ruined what could have been a really nice base shape. Kinda-sorta looks like a big heavy ST165 Celica coupe (and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing). I think the 180SX is dreadfully bland. It's not bad looking. But it has no excitement to it at all. It's just a liftback coupe thing with no interest in its lines, and bad graphical elements (ie wide expanses of taillight plastic on the rear garnish). The S13 Silvia is a little better - getting closer to R32 shapes. But still....bland. S14? Nope. Don't love it. S15...a little better. Probably a lot better, actually. Benefits from not being like a shrunk in the wash R34 (where the S13 was a shrunk in the wash R32 and the S14 looked like a Pulsar or something else from the stable on Nissan mid 90s horrors). The Z32 was hot as f**k when it came out but hasn't aged as well as the A80. Keep in mind that I think the R33 is the most disgusting looking thing - and out of all the previous cars mentioned is objectively closest to my precious R32. It's just....real bad, almost everywhere you look. And that is down to the majority of what was designed in the 90s being shit. All Nissans from that era look like shit. Most other brands ditto. In that context, the FD absolutely stands out as being by far the best looking car, for reasons already discussed. Going behind the aesthetics, the suspension alone makes it better than almost any other car.  
    • If they just called it the "Mazda Tiffany", it would have been spot on.
    • Yup but for me its the HR ! Cut my teeth on the old holden 6s in the day ! And here's me thinking in the day it was also the 300ZX and the Mitsubishi GT3000 ! All, as well had good lines, but always seemed to need finishing off, style wise.
×
×
  • Create New...