exhaust note question

[c12ashhh]

hey guys,

after sifting through sound clips of exhausts on v6 4runners, i've come to the conclusion that i can't get the sound/note i want. but before i give up my search for an exhaust and stick with my stock muffler, i just wanted to confirm with you guys. i have a v6, but i love the way v8 motors sound through a borla or flowmaster. after listening to all different kinds of exhausts on V6 4r's in sound clips (magnaflow, borla, trd, flowmaster, vortex, etc), it seems that none can produce that deep low rumble that a v8 w/ an aftermarket exhaust can. can those of you that have actually heard these different exhausts on '03+ V6 4R's confirm this? here's an example of the sound i want... http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/sound.html ... listen to the flowmaster 50 SUV (i was thinking of getting one of those mufflers welded in, but i heard a sound clip of it on an older V6 4R... not quite the same as on a V8). if it's just not possible to get that kind of sound with my V6 motor, i'd rather stick with stock. please confirm or advise. maybe i'll just chop my resonator off if i don't get an exhaust. thanks!

 

[Casper]

It is the design nature of the engine that will not allow you to develop an exhaust no matter how much you spend, that will make a V6 sound like a v8. Its just not going to happen.

Sure, you can get slight tonal characteristics that the two can share but at no point with a v6 will you ever get that classic v8 noise. The v6 could sound slightly like a v8 until the rev's rise where the tone will change...

Save your money and stick with stock if thats what you are lookingn for.

 

[c12ashhh]

It is the design nature of the engine that will not allow you to develop an exhaust no matter how much you spend, that will make a V6 sound like a v8. Its just not going to happen.

Sure, you can get slight tonal characteristics that the two can share but at no point with a v6 will you ever get that classic v8 noise. The v6 could sound slightly like a v8 until the rev's rise where the tone will change...

Save your money and stick with stock if thats what you are lookingn for.

looks like i'm sticking with stock then... boo... shoulda got a v8! well i do like the 1-2 mpg advantage i have over the v8. i really don't like the sound of what they have for the v6 right now... i know a lot of ppl like the magnaflows but from the sound clips, they seem to make the v6 4r sound HIGHER pitched than stock, a bit farty like a rice burner! definitely not what i'm looking for!

how will my 4r sound differently if i chop the resonator off? just louder, or is there a change in tone?

 

[Casper]

The resonator should change tone to a bit deeper but a bit louder...it might also become slightly more Raspy.

 

[jdub24]

The resonator should change tone to a bit deeper but a bit louder...it might also become slightly more Raspy.

^^ Agreed. I've taken the resonator off of 3 of my vehicles in the past. Each one of them sounded way more raspy than they should've. The only vehicle it sounded cool on was my 5.2L V8 Grand Cherokee with a Flowmaster muffler, it was raspy though. My brother used to joke that it sounded like a nascar......Again, it had a V8 though....

I've put the Borla exhaust setup on my 4R 6cyl, and I don't think it sounds like a farty rice can in the slightest. It's got a nice deep grumble at idle and normal speeds. WOT doensn't sound like a monster truck, but it definitely doesn't sound like the average 16 yr. old's AutoZone special either......Do you have the 4.0L V6 or the older 3.4L V6? I think that may make a tonal difference too.

Just my .02

 

[c12ashhh]

^^ Agreed. I've taken the resonator off of 3 of my vehicles in the past. Each one of them sounded way more raspy than they should've. The only vehicle it sounded cool on was my 5.2L V8 Grand Cherokee with a Flowmaster muffler, it was raspy though. My brother used to joke that it sounded like a nascar......Again, it had a V8 though....

I've put the Borla exhaust setup on my 4R 6cyl, and I don't think it sounds like a farty rice can in the slightest. It's got a nice deep grumble at idle and normal speeds. WOT doensn't sound like a monster truck, but it definitely doesn't sound like the average 16 yr. old's AutoZone special either......Do you have the 4.0L V6 or the older 3.4L V6? I think that may make a tonal difference too.

Just my .02

hey thanks for the info. i've got the 4.0L V6. do you have sound clips of yours?
here's a sound clip of a magnaflow on a 4th gen V6: http://members.lycos.co.uk/chiefiji/vids/Picture 033.mov
here's a flowmaster on a 3.4L: http://pnw4runners.com/exhaust/randy_flomaster.wav
i was looking to put a flowmaster on mine, but after listening to those, i thought the first one sounded nice but like a subaru car, and the second one kinda sounded like a ricer. are those an accurate depiction of what the v6 sounds like w/ muffler/exhaust? maybe there's some rumble and oomph that the recorders aren't catching?

 

[daverunner]

flowmaster..the sh%#

For what its worth, I've got a 2000 sr5 3.4 with a 40 series flowmaster....everyone says it sounds like a 5.0 mustang when i pull up.

 

[jdub24]

hey thanks for the info. i've got the 4.0L V6. do you have sound clips of yours?
here's a sound clip of a magnaflow on a 4th gen V6: http://members.lycos.co.uk/chiefiji/vids/Picture 033.mov
here's a flowmaster on a 3.4L: http://pnw4runners.com/exhaust/randy_flomaster.wav
i was looking to put a flowmaster on mine, but after listening to those, i thought the first one sounded nice but like a subaru car, and the second one kinda sounded like a ricer. are those an accurate depiction of what the v6 sounds like w/ muffler/exhaust? maybe there's some rumble and oomph that the recorders aren't catching?

I don't have any sound clips of mine recorded. If I did, I wouldn't have anywhere to host it at anyway....

Besides, I really think that internet sound clips don't do exhaust notes justice. Unless you've got some wicked speakers hooked up to your computer, everything's going to sound kind of hollow in my opinion.

My advice for you is to seek out some 4Rs in your area that have had exhaust work done on them. That has helped me decide on most of my last few cars which exhaust to get, I've researched online, but I've hunted out other cars of the same make in my area with exhaust work done. The main Toyota dealership here actually has the dual Borla exhausts installed on a lot of their 4runners. Go to your local dealer and see if they have any 4Rs with that exhaust installed or not. Act like you want to test drive one and just listen to it. Just some ideas......However, I'm not sure if those dealer 4Rs are V8 or V6....

 

[sharp4runr]

I too have the V6 with Magnaflow exhaust and I'm loving it. I wanted an exhaust that wasn't too loud but had a sporty sound to it. I've had a 4banger with an exhaust and I wasn't looking for that same sound if you know what I mean.

Well the Magnaflow on the V6 is perfect for me. Nice and throaty at low speeds but cruising at 50-65 mph it is actually very quiet. You hear a low gurgle but not an annoying drone (for me). Exhaust sounds are subjective so someone else may find it annoying but I definitely like it. I'll try to get a vid but don't hold your breath...

 

[Koz]

I too have the V6 with Magnaflow exhaust and I'm loving it. I wanted an exhaust that wasn't too loud but had a sporty sound to it. I've had a 4banger with an exhaust and I wasn't looking for that same sound if you know what I mean.

Well the Magnaflow on the V6 is perfect for me. Nice and throaty at low speeds but cruising at 50-65 mph it is actually very quiet. You hear a low gurgle but not an annoying drone (for me). Exhaust sounds are subjective so someone else may find it annoying but I definitely like it. I'll try to get a vid but don't hold your breath...

Same on the V8!

Koz