Meaner sounding engine
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 136
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From: San Antonio, TX
You could try a tuner like an edge or SCT. A custom or canned tube will definitely change the way your engine sounds... My volant CAI came alive with a tune... Considering you have an S&B already, I would highly recommend you get a tuner to prevent you from running lean with those mods. Edge has options in the tuning now for you to select and tune the S&B CAI.
Already got the edge upgraded to the gryphon with 87 custom performance tune. :-)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 136
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From: San Antonio, TX
Stangconv was being sarcastic refering to the noisey injectors on the early 5.4 and probably the dreaded cam phasers.
So what is it that your looking for? This will help us make suggestions.
Meaner sounding up front without changing the exhaust leads me to think you want to hear more of the air being sucked in. Because other than that the engine really doesn't make any other noise. The sounds you hear up front are air being sucked in (muffled by factory CAI and you already changed this), coolant flowing through lines, and the sound of the accessories spinning, moving parts in the motor (which is barely noticeable but kind of neat to hear), and of course all injectors make some ticking noise (some much louder than others lol). Even longtube headers won't make it louder/meaner under the hood. At best you will get a faint sound difference from them under the hood but they will change your exhaust note making it much louder and usually deeper. Cams will give it a mean idle and more power but here again its audiable through the exhaust and sounds amazing. Superchargers whine and turbos whistle which will give you eargasims much like a cams idle will.
So what is it that your looking for? This will help us make suggestions.
Meaner sounding up front without changing the exhaust leads me to think you want to hear more of the air being sucked in. Because other than that the engine really doesn't make any other noise. The sounds you hear up front are air being sucked in (muffled by factory CAI and you already changed this), coolant flowing through lines, and the sound of the accessories spinning, moving parts in the motor (which is barely noticeable but kind of neat to hear), and of course all injectors make some ticking noise (some much louder than others lol). Even longtube headers won't make it louder/meaner under the hood. At best you will get a faint sound difference from them under the hood but they will change your exhaust note making it much louder and usually deeper. Cams will give it a mean idle and more power but here again its audiable through the exhaust and sounds amazing. Superchargers whine and turbos whistle which will give you eargasims much like a cams idle will.
Thank you BLOWN FORD, I guess I will have to lean towards the cams or longtube headers, which investment do you recommend?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 136
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From: San Antonio, TX
I really don't want a louder exhaust or interior noose, as Blown Ford said, I want better idle or up front noise, like more air sucked into the intake. We'll see, either cams or headers, haven't made my decision yet. Thanks for your input.
12 Second Truck
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 133
From: NC
Cams will give you a nice rough idle but the sucking sound you are looking for is pretty much what it's going to be with the CAI you have. Honestly it's a meaningless sound but it is a sound and has it's appeal.
