Can you tell the difference? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MightyFine69 · 09-26-2009, 12:59 AM

This is a not really a question pertaining specifically to our year truck, but is an interesting one none the less.

Can you tell the difference in the exhaust note of a fuel injected engine vs. a carburated engine? Given similar exhaust systems.

Do they typically sound different? This is something I have been wondering about for a while. Just wanted to see what everyone else on here thought about it.

texanidiot25 · 09-26-2009, 01:12 AM

Depending on the style of fuel injection, possibly a little smother sounding (given that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders), but other than that, I don't see how it would.

You are meaning if you kept the same motor and swapped the carb for EFI?

MightyFine69 · 09-26-2009, 09:40 PM

Yeah, maybe. I was just wondering about this the other day, if there was any difference in the tone or something. I don't know why this question came to me, but I thought it might be interesting to hear what other people think about it.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-26-2009, 09:55 PM

I hear a bit. But like texan said it could just be that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders. To me, fuel injection doesnt sound as raw as a carb set up? Im not sure if anyone else understands what im talking about.

clinebarger · 09-26-2009, 10:17 PM

fuel injected engines idle at a lower rpm. Gen III engines have a differant firing order and do not sound like the old engines. And converters mellow the tone.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-26-2009, 10:23 PM

I knew that. Im talking about the same motor with fuel injection swap.

unclewatts · 09-26-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wideopenracing15

I hear a bit. But like texan said it could just be that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders. To me, fuel injection doesnt sound as raw as a carb set up? Im not sure if anyone else understands what im talking about.

I think you answered your own question and yes, I know what you mean. Because FI controls the fuel to each cylinder better than a carb, It's going to sound smoother and more midrangy. Just MHO.

clinebarger · 09-26-2009, 10:58 PM

I didnt see anything about a fuel injection "swap". i was guessing he was hearing late model trucks with loud exhaust having a differant sound

texanidiot25 · 09-26-2009, 11:16 PM

Late model chevy motors have a different firing order, that's why they sound so different, even when cam'd out.

vectorit · 09-26-2009, 11:29 PM

I guess if you had an ear for it, you could possibly tell an EFI between a carb motor at idle. (Not me)

But, for me the tell tale give away is the throtle response.

To me, I experience a ever so slight "slower" response when a throtle is stabbed in a carb'd engine. Where as an EFI engine at the same RPM when stabbed, has a much more aggressive fuel delivery.

I'm mainly talking about my experience with my Harley's, than I am about a V8 but I think it's pretty much the same.

mclairmo · 09-27-2009, 02:25 AM

I've never had the opportunity to hear the exact same vehicle with acarb and then EFI. Has anyone? I think that's the only way to tell since newer EFI cars have many other components and different tuning that could change the exhaust note, like a catalytic converter, different mufflers, etc.

pumpkin · 09-27-2009, 10:30 AM

No difference. My son converted his 406 in the 72 3/4 ton from carb to fuel injection. It sounded exactly the same.

09-26-2009, 12:59 AM	#1
MightyFine69 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 97	Can you tell the difference? This is a not really a question pertaining specifically to our year truck, but is an interesting one none the less. Can you tell the difference in the exhaust note of a fuel injected engine vs. a carburated engine? Given similar exhaust systems. Do they typically sound different? This is something I have been wondering about for a while. Just wanted to see what everyone else on here thought about it. __________________ 1969 3/4 ton 4x4 33's with no lift, gotta love it! A man and his truck, it's a beautiful thing.

09-26-2009, 01:12 AM	#2
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: Can you tell the difference? Depending on the style of fuel injection, possibly a little smother sounding (given that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders), but other than that, I don't see how it would. You are meaning if you kept the same motor and swapped the carb for EFI?

09-26-2009, 09:40 PM	#3
MightyFine69 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 97	Re: Can you tell the difference? Yeah, maybe. I was just wondering about this the other day, if there was any difference in the tone or something. I don't know why this question came to me, but I thought it might be interesting to hear what other people think about it. __________________ 1969 3/4 ton 4x4 33's with no lift, gotta love it! A man and his truck, it's a beautiful thing.

09-26-2009, 09:55 PM	#4
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Can you tell the difference? I hear a bit. But like texan said it could just be that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders. To me, fuel injection doesnt sound as raw as a carb set up? Im not sure if anyone else understands what im talking about.

09-26-2009, 10:17 PM	#5
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: Can you tell the difference? fuel injected engines idle at a lower rpm. Gen III engines have a differant firing order and do not sound like the old engines. And converters mellow the tone. Last edited by clinebarger; 09-26-2009 at 10:18 PM.

09-26-2009, 10:23 PM	#6
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Can you tell the difference? I knew that. Im talking about the same motor with fuel injection swap.

09-26-2009, 10:58 PM	#8
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: Can you tell the difference? I didnt see anything about a fuel injection "swap". i was guessing he was hearing late model trucks with loud exhaust having a differant sound

09-26-2009, 11:16 PM	#9
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: Can you tell the difference? Late model chevy motors have a different firing order, that's why they sound so different, even when cam'd out.

09-26-2009, 11:29 PM	#10
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Can you tell the difference? I guess if you had an ear for it, you could possibly tell an EFI between a carb motor at idle. (Not me) But, for me the tell tale give away is the throtle response. To me, I experience a ever so slight "slower" response when a throtle is stabbed in a carb'd engine. Where as an EFI engine at the same RPM when stabbed, has a much more aggressive fuel delivery. I'm mainly talking about my experience with my Harley's, than I am about a V8 but I think it's pretty much the same. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

09-27-2009, 02:25 AM	#11
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Can you tell the difference? I've never had the opportunity to hear the exact same vehicle with acarb and then EFI. Has anyone? I think that's the only way to tell since newer EFI cars have many other components and different tuning that could change the exhaust note, like a catalytic converter, different mufflers, etc.

09-27-2009, 10:30 AM	#12
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: Can you tell the difference? No difference. My son converted his 406 in the 72 3/4 ton from carb to fuel injection. It sounded exactly the same.



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