I got the opportunity to have a F430 open up on the highway next to me the other day. Even with my fairly heavily modified S4 that think left me like I threw my car in reverse which was expected.

Well, that exhaust note was the most intoxicating thing I have ever heard. What give it that signature sound? I have an engine of similar size (4.2L) and some exhaust mods. I have a milltek non-resonated cat-back with APR downpipes. I also have a fairly high revving engine going to 7,750 RPM's with my REVO software.

What makes these two engines sound SO different?

 

A simple explanation is the 180 degree crank vs. the 90 degree crank on your S4. The reason these aren't used on V8s is the vibration they generate vs. the 90 degree crank. I love the sound though, it's fantastic!

 

so the engine in the F430 is a flat 8. I had no idea.

 

No, it's a V8 haha. The 180 degree crank refers to timing on the exhaust and intake.

 

From wikipedia:

 

The unique sound is from the flat plane crank.

http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc...ne/smooth4.htm

 

got it now, why do companies such as Audi not use a flat crank for high revving NA engines like that the 4.2 in the RS4 and R8? Since they basically made that engine from scratch you think they would?

 

It's due partly at least to the vibration vs. the 90 that I was talking about.

 

The F430 engine vibrates like it is a 4 cylinder engine. It further adds to the character of the car though.

 

In laymans terms it actually makes the F430's V8 like two 4 cylinders as far as firing order than the smoother firing orders usually used.

It does help at the high rpm's that the Ferrari V8's like to live at but the cylinder filling at low rpm stil leaves something to desire as far as torque production goes.

The Lotus Esprit V8 is one of the few other V8's that use a flat plane crank.

 

Good information to know. The ferrari engine note is def. unique and to die for.

 

The flat crank and 5 valves per cylinder

 

Makes me wonder if 2 Toyota 20 Valve 4a-ge engines can sound like a ferrari.

2 x 1.6L 20 Valve 4 cylinders (factory ITBs)

Should make a 3.2L V8 with 5 valves per cylinder and Individual throttle bodies. All it needs is the flat plane crankshaft so it fires like 2 4 cylinder engines together.

 

Does this sound like a V8? It is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtyZosuPNE

flat plane crank, and basically a bespoke block with motorcycle cylinder heads. Pay attention the raw animal throttle response and 10,000 rpm plus rev limiter!

 

The 430 only has 4 valves per cylinder.