nkx Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 why does a subaru sound like a subaru? i know its a stupid question, but its been bugging me lately. is it something to do with the angles between each rod bearing on the crank? this graphic i found on the usrm2 makes me think theres 180 deg between TDC of each cylinder, so it shouldnt sound any different than an inline 4..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 The sound is most likely due to the shape and size of the exhaust ports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSSLGECKO Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 It's because we (subaru drivers) are super cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
555Ron Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 The firing order is different on a boxer to an inline (i think). The motor is 2 banks of two cylinders at an angle of 180 degrees., kind of like a "vee" engine but the motor is flat. This means the exhaust system is very different to anything else, which goes part of the way to the distinctive sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 VW BMW (motorcycle) Corvair Subaru... Boxers Equal and opposite forces cancel each other out. So alot of noises that you would hear in other engines have equal counter forces, and the thats how you actually cancel noise, amoung other things. All the engines stated above are boxers, and thats why they tend to run forever as long as they dont overheat. They all also have dual exhaust, which helps too. and the fact that boxer engines are cool nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry DeMoss Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Another reason behind the "subaru sound" is that since it is a horizontally opposed engine you have a larger surface for sound to resonate from.I have heard this in theory and I have nothing to back this up.Cheers:drunk: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4WDFrenzy Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Because GOD wouldn't have it any other way!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 The headers are VERY unequal. That is the one and only reason why they sound like they do. If you install equal length headers, it sounds like a Honda. Has nothing to do with because its a boxer or not a boxer or firing order....its the exhaust system design. IF you took a honda engine, put 1 and 3 with SHORT tubes, and 2-4 on LONG tubes...then it would sound like a stock SUBARU turbo setup or an N/A with a Borla header on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Your going to have to prove that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I think it's due to it having a large bore for a small engine. I've had equal length "headers" and equal lenght tubes coming off the heads. It still sounded mean; not like a Honda or any other 4cyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 yes i agree...... nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soobme Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Ever listend to a VW Baja? Sounds just like our Subarus! EVER see a Baja with unequal exaust?!?! (I have built 14 of 'em and I havent) It's not the pipes, it's the (muisc of the gods!) boxer tone:cool: I have a flowmaster and res. tip on mine, and I LOVE IT!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby_boucher Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Ever listend to a VW Baja? Sounds just like our Subarus! EVER see a Baja with unequal exaust?!?! (I have built 14 of 'em and I havent) It's not the pipes, it's the (muisc of the gods!) boxer tone:cool: I have a flowmaster and res. tip on mine, and I LOVE IT!!!! Off the subject.....I was hoping to somday build a railer with a sube engine but have no base plans do you have any suggetions??? I alread have a VW front end for steering but am lost after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Off the subject.....I was hoping to somday build a railer with a sube engine but have no base plans do you have any suggetions??? I alread have a VW front end for steering but am lost after that There are kits to mount the sooby engine on a VW tranaxle... the vanagon people do it all the time. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 VW BMW (motorcycle) Corvair Subaru... don't forget porsche, and honda motorcycles (might just be the goldwing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 The headers are VERY unequal. That is the one and only reason why they sound like they do. If you install equal length headers, it sounds like a Honda. Has nothing to do with because its a boxer or not a boxer or firing order....its the exhaust system design. IF you took a honda engine, put 1 and 3 with SHORT tubes, and 2-4 on LONG tubes...then it would sound like a stock SUBARU turbo setup or an N/A with a Borla header on it. no, not true at all, a honda sounds like a honda because its an inline engine. lots somoother. thats like saying if you put open pipes on a honda motorcycle it will sound like a harley! and nothing is further from the truth. put equal straight pipes on it, and it sounds like a n airplane, not like a honda ever! on my xt6 engine, i have equal length headers, to a y into a 2.5 inch pipe, with a supertrap at the end. sounds more like a nascar than a honda. thats insulting. even the new engines sound like the old ea81s if you listen close enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simple monkey Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I thought the engines sound the way they do because of the individual cylinder fire. So if there was a V-4 engine ever, it might sound the same way, well almost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I thought the engines sound the way they do because of the individual cylinder fire. So if there was a V-4 engine ever, it might sound the same way, well almost. Nada. I listen to Wisconsin V-4's all day at work. Don't sound nothing like a Boxer, let alone a Subaru engine. If you install equal length headers, it sounds like a Honda. Also Nada. Had self built duals on my '82 BRAT with an EA-82 engine, equal length pipes. Ain't no-way it sounded like a Honda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Wrong. WRX that won STX in 2004-has stone mnt headers and 2.5" TBE w/high flow cat.....sounds just like a honda with headers and a high flow cat. 2.5 RS's sound completely different with the tuned vs stock vs borla vs TWE equal's on them. The RX sounds completely different with the TWE vs stock on it. It IS about header design. Think NASCAR....why do the Talladega/Daytona cars soudn different than when running at Charlotte or Bristol? The headers are different for short-med track vs superspeedway with the restictor plate. MUCH higher pitched and an annoying at the Super Speedways than at the shorter tracks w/out the R-Plates. Mustangs with stock vs shorty vs *incert other header design here* all sound different. It is the header design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ru_ Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 It' true it's all in the exhaust set-up. Given that this engine has siamese ports, you'd have to divide them some how to get a "true" equal legnth. Listen to a WRX with equal legnth....sounds just like a civic....of course it's a little deeper, cause it's a big bore and short stroke, but it does have the weed wacker sound to it. And normally subaru exhausts are rather large for the engine size ie 1.8 N/A subaru ea82 engine has what? 1 7/8 exhaust? civic is what? 1 3/8?? the smaller the exhaust is the more raspy it'll sound. Then it all comes down to valve timing, lift and other raz-ma-taz...but for the destinctive subaru "chug" that is all in the exhaust my friends.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justified Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 WJM is correct. And what honda motrocycle has a boxer? Newer goldwings have a small v-6 (1800cc).....sorry, thats another forum........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffast Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 there is definatle more depth to the er27's exhaust note than to any honda i have ever pulled up to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 there is definatle more depth to the er27's exhaust note than to any honda i have ever pulled up to the ER27 sounds weird...there was one at Nationals with a cat-back on it...sounded kinda like a cross between an SVX and a Porsche. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratsrus1 Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 Hey Guys This is Jerry, my hatch back dosen't sound like a subaru with those side pipes on it. My hatchbrat dosen't sound like a subaru also with those 3 inch exhaust stacks on it. I am old school i lkie the sound of horse power and the rumble. Some of you guys have heard my subies cool. Thanks Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyrally Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 ive been in and around imprezas and wrx's with tuned and equal length and stock headers, they all sound like some sort of boxer, granted, the stock wrx and other tuned length designs ezaggerate the sound, but even the stock exhaust and equal length headers sound a little off in their tone, you can hear the uneven beat of a boxer rumbling behind it all. ive also deen around subies runningg open ports, aka no headers at all. they still had a bit of a boxer rumble under all the noise. the exhaust note is aided by the plumbing after the engine, but the source is the internal engine design. thats why you can always tell a mustang from a comaro. mustangs always sound like they are drowning, no matter what headers style they use, its all in the design of the heads and the compression and the cams, ect... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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