[T32803]

When I was shopping I test drove 2 identical v6 auto 2LTs at different
dealers. Both had the stock exhaust, RS package, v6, and A8 auto.
Both had the same sounding exhaust notes piped into the cabin.
Both were equally awesome sounding.

When floored, you would hear a deep powerful note piped into the cabin
with a distinct ratcheting sound in the background as the rpms ramped
up. A deep roar with a distinct ticking. I was sold sold sold...

I ordered one in blue with the same specs. But after I drove the car
away, I noticed the exhaust sounds much softer/mellower with no
ratcheting/ticking sound in the background. Not nearly as loud either.
I'm disappointed with the lack of roar and ratcheting sound.

Things I ruled out:

1. I tried taking out the foam from the "sound tube" that pipes engine
noise into the passenger compartment through the firewall. That had
almost zero change to the sound. Still no ratcheting/ticking sound and
the roar is not there. Still subdued, mellow, and not as loud.

2. The "sound tube" hole through the firewall is not blocked. I shoved a
socket through it and it fell to the front driver side floor mat.

3. I ran the tank bone dry and tested with reg (87) and super (93) unleaded
gas. no change the sound

4. Tried launches with traction control off. no change.

5. Tried launches in both sport and touring mode. no change.

6. I slapped myself in the face (twice) to make doubly sure I was not
trapped in a nightmare. I seem to awake.

Can someone out there give me some suggestions?

[T32803]

This is my sound tube:


Does everyone with a v6 have this hockey puck shaped piece in their sound tube?
I ask because the "v8 sound tube mod" thread pictures don't have this hockey puck:


I am just trying to rule out the hockey puck as a cause.

[HyperBlue16]

Mine has it, now the ones you drove, were they used?

[cellsafemode]

The sound tube is connected to the intake, not the exhaust.

My guess is you test drove cars with npp and either your car wasn't ordered with it or you have it closed/disabled

[Dustya]

Yeah my guess would be NPP not all sound you hear is going to come from the sound tube mainly just your intake and some growls. I deleted my sound tube along time ago and it didnt make much difference most of your sound at wide open throttle is going to come through your back seat.. Fold it down LOL

[T32803]

I test drove a 2017 2LT v6 with RS and A8. The other was a 2018 2LT v6 with RS and A8. I looked at the window stickers. Neither had NPP listed as an option on the window
stickers. Both were new cars at the dealer ready to be bought. I ordered one because
I wanted blue and there were not blue.

[SS_Malibu]

Originally Posted by T32803

I test drove a 2017 2LT v6 with RS and A8. The other was a 2018 2LT v6 with RS and A8. I looked at the window stickers. Neither had NPP listed as an option on the window
stickers. Both were new cars at the dealer ready to be bought. I ordered one because
I wanted blue and there were not blue.

I’m sure you would notice if they were NPP Or not... but just in case.. did they have quad tip exhaust? Easy to tell the diff between NPP and Nom-NPP that way.

[GhostEye07]

Sounds like you test drove a Quad exhaust with the mode set to sport and you have a non Quad exhaust system or you do have the quad exhaust system and its been set to tour or stealth mode in your computer

[Reximus]

Originally Posted by Dustya

Yeah my guess would be NPP not all sound you hear is going to come from the sound tube mainly just your intake and some growls. I deleted my sound tube along time ago and it didnt make much difference most of your sound at wide open throttle is going to come through your back seat.. Fold it down LOL

I deleted my rear seat and the exhaust note comes through very nicely!

[T32803]

Both cars that I test drove were brand new with the window stickers still on them.

One was a 2017 2LT RS V6 A8 and the window sticker did not list an exhaust upgrade.
It had single exhaust tips. NPP would show 4 total exhaust tips.

The other Camaro I test drove was a 2018 2LT RS V6 A8 and the window sticker also did
not list an exhaust upgrade. It also had single exhaust tips.

When I test drove these 2 new cars at the dealer, the back seat was up on both cars and
the sound note was great on both. Something else must be amiss.

Are there any dealer prep steps that may have been missed having to do with the
sound tube? Is there any way the sound tube is blocked at the hockey puck or before
that piece? Maybe where it comes out of the air box? I wouldn't think the single tip
exhaust systems have any adjustments..

[HyperBlue16]

Originally Posted by T32803

Both cars that I test drove were brand new with the window stickers still on them.

One was a 2017 2LT RS V6 A8 and the window sticker did not list an exhaust upgrade.
It had single exhaust tips. NPP would show 4 total exhaust tips.

The other Camaro I test drove was a 2018 2LT RS V6 A8 and the window sticker also did
not list an exhaust upgrade. It also had single exhaust tips.

When I test drove these 2 new cars at the dealer, the back seat was up on both cars and
the sound note was great on both. Something else must be amiss.

Are there any dealer prep steps that may have been missed having to do with the
sound tube? Is there any way the sound tube is blocked at the hockey puck or before
that piece? Maybe where it comes out of the air box? I wouldn't think the single tip
exhaust systems have any adjustments..

One reason i asked if used, was in-case previous owners had put aftermarket air intakes on them or maybe, but not certain a dealer would do it before.

[T32803]

Thanks HyperBlue16..

It's just frustrating trying to track this down. I have really keen hearing and
the sound is not the same. To my surprise, removing the foam did very little
to the sound. It's definitely not louder without the foam. I think it sounds a
little less resonate without the foam (if I am using the term resonate correctly)
but that's it. If I could get the sound note I heard when I demo'ed the same
spec'ed cars i'd be all set. When I got the car home I even downloaded the
online window stickers of the cars I demo'ed from dealer's website. They
matched up minus the hyperblue upcharge.

[lt4camaro]

First of all the sound tube just resonates intake sound not exhaust. Do yourself a favor and take the sound tube out completely and seal up both ends where it was connected to the firewall and the intake inlet tube. Now you can hear the exhaust more with the windows up instead of the fake intake sound.

[BlackbeastSS2]

Originally Posted by T32803

This is my sound tube:


Does everyone with a v6 have this hockey puck shaped piece in their sound tube?
I ask because the "v8 sound tube mod" thread pictures don't have this hockey puck:


I am just trying to rule out the hockey puck as a cause.

The sound tube hockey puck as you describe it on the v8 is directly below the TB and is not where the V6 is. Different location. I took mine off completely. You can disconnect your hose after hockey puck and fish out a piece of foam they put in there to mute the sound even more. That may help you a bit.