Why does my 5th Gen SS (L99) sound so different from my 4th Gen Z28 (LT1)? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Rangore · 10-26-2015, 10:14 PM

Exhaust sound question.... Why does my 5th Gen SS (L99) sound so different from my 4th Gen Z28 (LT1)?

They seem to sound very different to me. Both had/have after market CAT back exhausts. The LT1 was a 350 and of course my L99 is a 376.

Avenging Orange · 10-26-2015, 10:46 PM

Not to be a smartass.....but they are two different cars.

Two different engines.

3rdgen3 · 10-26-2015, 10:53 PM

The biggest reason they sound different for starters, its a different engine family and totally different design. The only thing the LSx and LTx engines share in common is the 4.4" bore spacing. NOTHING else.

Other factors include, All aluminum engine's tend to give off an echo that's hollow sounding, and the MASSIVE in comparison intake valves smacking the seat gives off a noticeable sound pitch.

Oh, and dont forget the firing order change. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 SBC/LT1 firing order is another reason the revised firing order of 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 of all LSx engines will drastically change the 'sound' also, but it also makes the engines much smoother.

Theirs a few other factors at play also, all 4th gens have a single 'I' pipe exhaust with a Y-pipe (stock cars anyways) and all 5th gens are factory true dual.

Rangore · 10-26-2015, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdgen3

The biggest reason they sound different for starters, its a different engine family and totally different design. The only thing the LSx and LTx engines share in common is the 4.4" bore spacing. NOTHING else.

Other factors include, All aluminum engine's tend to give off an echo that's hollow sounding, and the MASSIVE in comparison intake valves smacking the seat gives off a noticeable sound pitch.

Oh, and dont forget the firing order change. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 SBC/LT1 firing order is another reason the revised firing order of 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 of all LSx engines will drastically change the 'sound' also, but it also makes the engines much smoother.

Theirs a few other factors at play also, all 4th gens have a single 'I' pipe exhaust with a Y-pipe (stock cars anyways) and all 5th gens are factory true dual.

Thank you. Awesome answer!! Exactly what I was wondering and easy to understand.

harner · 10-27-2015, 09:06 AM

Great info here. The 5th gen LS3 (LS in general, really) have a much higher pitch tone than the LT1's - stock. The solid roller 5th gens come close to the deep throaty sound of an old school SBC/LTx.

Jasper · 10-27-2015, 06:13 PM

Which one do you think sounds better? I'm curious. I've only done the muff delete on mine and i find it now sounds much more "raw" which I love but not throaty enough. It definitely still has a higher pitch than I like. Nothing comes close to that Stang sound I really am in love with. But that wasn't enough reason to go for a Ford. After test driving both, the Camaro was the obvious winner hands down.

J

Rangore · 10-27-2015, 09:42 PM

I can't say I like one over the other. They are very different to me.

Apex Motorsports · 10-28-2015, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdgen3

The biggest reason they sound different for starters, its a different engine family and totally different design. The only thing the LSx and LTx engines share in common is the 4.4" bore spacing. NOTHING else.

Other factors include, All aluminum engine's tend to give off an echo that's hollow sounding, and the MASSIVE in comparison intake valves smacking the seat gives off a noticeable sound pitch.

Oh, and dont forget the firing order change. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 SBC/LT1 firing order is another reason the revised firing order of 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 of all LSx engines will drastically change the 'sound' also, but it also makes the engines much smoother.

Theirs a few other factors at play also, all 4th gens have a single 'I' pipe exhaust with a Y-pipe (stock cars anyways) and all 5th gens are factory true dual.

Great answer.

These thing plus a pretty significant difference in displacement.

harner · 10-28-2015, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper

Which one do you think sounds better? I'm curious. I've only done the muff delete on mine and i find it now sounds much more "raw" which I love but not throaty enough. It definitely still has a higher pitch than I like. Nothing comes close to that Stang sound I really am in love with. But that wasn't enough reason to go for a Ford. After test driving both, the Camaro was the obvious winner hands down.

J

My 5th gen has a nice purr and sounds pretty refined compared to the older platforms:

I also loved the sound of my LT1. This isn't an apples to apples comparison by any means.

Rangore · 10-29-2015, 11:15 AM

Nice videos!

v6sonoma · 10-30-2015, 03:04 PM

I would say another MAJOR difference is the L99 has cylinder deactivation and can be running on 4 cyls. That alone will change how it sounds. Due to that most exhausts are designed to cancel out a lot of the less desirable noises.

Rangore · 10-30-2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

I would say another MAJOR difference is the L99 has cylinder deactivation and can be running on 4 cyls. That alone will change how it sounds. Due to that most exhausts are designed to cancel out a lot of the less desirable noises.

True...if it's active. I use the Range device so no AFM. My question was V8 to V8 comparison. I thought the answer above...3rd post I think...was a great explanation.

10-26-2015, 10:14 PM	#1
Rangore Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Ed Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,220	Why does my 5th Gen SS (L99) sound so different from my 4th Gen Z28 (LT1)? Exhaust sound question.... Why does my 5th Gen SS (L99) sound so different from my 4th Gen Z28 (LT1)? They seem to sound very different to me. Both had/have after market CAT back exhausts. The LT1 was a 350 and of course my L99 is a 376. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Edition - No longer owned: 2010 Camaro 2LT, 1993 Camaro Z-28

10-26-2015, 10:46 PM	#2
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	Not to be a smartass.....but they are two different cars. Two different engines. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

10-26-2015, 10:53 PM	#3
3rdgen3 10-bolt Destroyer Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - AGM, LS3/6M Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Canukistan Posts: 860	The biggest reason they sound different for starters, its a different engine family and totally different design. The only thing the LSx and LTx engines share in common is the 4.4" bore spacing. NOTHING else. Other factors include, All aluminum engine's tend to give off an echo that's hollow sounding, and the MASSIVE in comparison intake valves smacking the seat gives off a noticeable sound pitch. Oh, and dont forget the firing order change. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 SBC/LT1 firing order is another reason the revised firing order of 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 of all LSx engines will drastically change the 'sound' also, but it also makes the engines much smoother. Theirs a few other factors at play also, all 4th gens have a single 'I' pipe exhaust with a Y-pipe (stock cars anyways) and all 5th gens are factory true dual. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3/TR6060: Cam, Headers, Exhaust, Intake, Gears, Twin Disk, Suspension, Tuned - 475rwhp, 443rwtq

10-27-2015, 09:06 AM	#5
harner Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NEPA Posts: 450	Great info here. The 5th gen LS3 (LS in general, really) have a much higher pitch tone than the LT1's - stock. The solid roller 5th gens come close to the deep throaty sound of an old school SBC/LTx. __________________ SOLD! 9/1/2020 2018 ZL1 A10 Hyper Blue - Rotofab CAI, Gibson catback @SurefireDetail OEM ZLE tails/third brake light, Gen5DIY reverse LEDs, front Amber LEDs, SMG laser LED side markers, SMG smoked reflectors 1994 Trans Am LM7/CPT 4L60E/9" 1987 IROC 2006 Silverado

10-27-2015, 09:42 PM	#7
Rangore Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Ed Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,220	I can't say I like one over the other. They are very different to me. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Edition - No longer owned: 2010 Camaro 2LT, 1993 Camaro Z-28

10-27-2015, 06:13 PM	#6
Jasper Drives: 2011 Summit White Camaro SS (LS3) Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Welland, Ontario Canada Posts: 542	Which one do you think sounds better? I'm curious. I've only done the muff delete on mine and i find it now sounds much more "raw" which I love but not throaty enough. It definitely still has a higher pitch than I like. Nothing comes close to that Stang sound I really am in love with. But that wasn't enough reason to go for a Ford. After test driving both, the Camaro was the obvious winner hands down. J

10-29-2015, 11:15 AM	#10
Rangore Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Ed Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,220	Nice videos! __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Edition - No longer owned: 2010 Camaro 2LT, 1993 Camaro Z-28

10-30-2015, 03:04 PM	#11
v6sonoma Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 8,108 View My Garage	I would say another MAJOR difference is the L99 has cylinder deactivation and can be running on 4 cyls. That alone will change how it sounds. Due to that most exhausts are designed to cancel out a lot of the less desirable noises. __________________ Mods: BBK Intake, BBK LT's and High Flow Cats, Corsa Cat-back exhaust, Hurst short throw shifter, SLP skip-shift eliminator. 7/1/09 Placed order for IOM/IO int/ SS/RS 6M 9/26/09 Took delivery!