Sound

I know the answers to this question will be subjective, but here goes. What combination of displacement, heads, carbs, exhaust, etc., more closely replicates the sound of a real Speedster back in the days when they were running Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen? I suppose this is directed to you guys who have been around for awhile, like me.

I'd imagine it is the state of tune, red line and the header muffler system. Perhaps the number of cams, too.

From the sound bytes I've heard I'd say a pair of dual throat carbs certainly help a lot in achieving the sound. I imagine if you get an exhaust system very similar to the original one you'll definitely get in the ballpark. I'll be using the Tri-Mil (which is 1-1/2") and I hope it approximates the sound as much as it does the looks.

Warren; I checked your photos and your car already has the Tri-Mil exhaust so in that respect you're already on the right track. You can get yourself a pair of 40 Weber or Dellorto carbs and that will get you even closer.

Warren -

Just do what I do - tell people that the sound of your engine is a replica of the original sound, but better!

Peace - Out!

One of the neighborhood kids walks into my shop, checks out my speedster and says....

" Hey man, what kind of sound system does it have?"
I look at the hardware stuck through his ears and nose.....

" Young fella, when you own a car like this, you listen to the sweet music of the engine."

(Sometimes it's great to be getting old!)

Alan, truer words have never been spoken.
As for the sound itself, hand a trumpet player from a jazz band a tuba and tell him to roll an "R" into the mouthpiece.
Sweeeeet.

That's the reason I don't have a radio in my car.....I've found that I don't need it!

...and one time at band camp...

You know, you guys are right. They put a stereo in mine, but I've never had it on. Don't think you could hear it anyway.
Ricardo - Don't know if I am going to play around with this car or have another one built. I just fell in love with Jim Wards' car. Am I nuts?

No you're not! Jim's car is absolutely gorgeous!! If you have the dough spring for the gold and get a new IM! I wish I could. I just wanted to add regarding the sound that I drove my car today on the expressway and was hitting 80 mph speeds in some stretches and with only dual Kads, a VS Mexi-crate 1915 and a VW Mexico/EMPI header with dual tailpipes, when hitting 3,500 rpms and up the motor sounds similar to a healthy 356 mill. At idle though it's definitely tame. I hope all that changes when I get to install the Tri-Mil and all the goodies in my car come October (big valve CB 044 heads and manifolds are getting ported).

Yes Warren, you are nuts. But most of the people on this forum are at least one bubble off plum. Otherwise we'd all have 8 year old Chevy Corsicas.
ed

...or AMC Pacers!

Ricardo - Why are you waiting until October?

Well Warren, you gotta give some time to the head porter to do the job right...he told me end of September/beginning of October. You know how it is with head porting; it's not mechanical work it's an art...

Gotcha!