328 exhaust noise

I have had my 328 for approximately two months now and love the car. I have a question regarding the sound of the exhaust as I go through the gears. Also, I have to mention is that the car has a Tubi which may be causing this noise I am hearing. When I shift through the gears and approach 3K - 4K rpms, I hear this "tinging" type noise. Hard to really describe but doesn't sound normal. Usually only makes the sound at the higher rpms. Car runs great so I don't think it is anything critical but just bugs me. Any thoughts on where to start looking or what it might be? Thanks.

 

I always thought it was the TRansmission gears I was hearing.. JJ

 

Do you have exhaust heat shields? My '78 308 carbed car does and the clamps
that hold the heat shield to the exhaust pipe can loosen and create a tinny rattle at specific rpms. Not a nice sound, but, a quick fix. Jim

 

I don't recall any unusual sound in 3rd/4th, and I have a Tubi on mine. I'll listen closer tomorrow.

The vibration idea might be worth exploring - loose clamp, screw, etc.

 

Several owners have reported this - do a search on "328 exhaust whistle".

 

I have a tubi and hear that noise as well. I was actually hoping the Tubi would get rid of the noise, but it didn't. Prior threads have suggested that it's an exhaust-related sound that can be cured by inserts/installing a non-stock exhaust. Not true in my experience.

The odd VW Beetle-like "ringing" sound (at least the one I hear) is not generated by the exhaust, but rather the air intake. I'm not nuts about it, but not sure there's anything that can be done. You can rest assured that it's normal, though.

 

Have you tried putting a different manufacturer's type of gas in the car? I run Chevron Techron 94 made in Canada and I don't seem to have that problem. I remember putting in a different grade once and noticed the engine pinging at higher rpm but now the problem has gone away.

 

Can you elaborate a bit on this? Where, specifically, do you think the noise comes from?

 

I'll try.... I've never been able to pinpoint the noise precisely, but it seems to originate from just over my right shoulder. It seems to be related to a certain resonance in the intake system between 3K and 4K RPM in any gear, particularly on partial throttle. I guess it would be hard to pinpoint the noise without asking someone else to drive and follow closely with another car. Doesn't happen at idle.

Just to clarify based on a prior post, what I hear is definitely not a "pinging" related to engine detonation. It is a "ringing" or "whistling" sound coming from the engine bay that sounds somewhat like that patented VW beetle sound, and it also sounds exactly like what came out of a performance cold air intake I had in one of my cars a while back.

Anyone else come to this conclusion, or am I totally nuts???

 

While someone else is reving the parked car to the point where you hear the "whistle" or "chirp" while standing behind the car, put your hand (or a piece of wood or something else) over the tail pipes, one at a time. See if the whistle goes away. If so, it's one of the original tailpipe baffles... pretty common with stock exhausts after a few years.

 

I agree. It is not a "pinging" like you just filled up with a poor tank of fuel but more like a "tinging" sound at the 3500 - 4000 rpm range. It also comes from the right side of the car. Does not make any unusual sound at lower rpms. I haven't had time to go under the car to see if something is just loose and rattling making this sound and maybe it is normal. When I take the car for its oil change I will have my mechanic take a listen and get his thoughts as well.

 

I too hear a similar if not the same noise in that RPM range that seems to be coming from the intake, not exhaust. Almost like something is loose. All 328's and 308 QV's I've driven have the same noise, I think its an air intake noise as well. Have you driven other 328's or 308's to compare? I've installed an aftermarket exhaust and don't notice any change other than exhaust note being more pleasant and a little louder than before.

Jeff

 

I have experienced this too. When I tach the car, shifting at/above 5k rpms, you really hear the tune. I had a friend, a real gear-head and diesel engineer, take a ride in my 328 to show him. All he did was grin from ear to ear, he didnt know but he liked it.

It doesnt bother me, maybe its the turbulent wind whistling through the intake?

To me its a whistling,ringing note, not a noise but a note. noise to me is disrupting to my ears. My opinion, and we all know bout those....

 

If he has a Tubi, those original baffles would be gone, yes?

 

In reading back over my posts, I want to clarify one point in case it isn't clear: I'm not saying that there isn't a whistling/chirping/buzzing/whatever that is caused by the exhaust inserts on the stock exhaust.

What I'm proposing is that there is another whistling sound that seems to be intake rather than exhaust-related. This is the sound that no aftermarket exhaust or stainless inserts will eliminate.

 

I think what you have here is Occam's Razor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_Razor ... I also think your hearing the beautiful pinging associated with the Ferrari's Transmission. Go rent Scent of a Woman. That is a great example of this noise your hearing. When he kills the car turn up your volume so you can listen to the trany spool up as it starts the engine. JJ

My car makes this same noise. I think its the Trany.. here is a video.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AYk-VzY27E&mode=user&search=

 

The exhaust whistle is distinctly different from what you describe above, which I call "gear whine."

 

ok I think its time to start video taping your mystery noise. Get out that digital video camera and start filming. All you need is the audio on high. JJ

 

On my '85 308 this shield was loose and rattling much like your description. Not sure if the 328 has the same item.
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Yep, missed that he had a Tubi, thanks.

 

That makes sense to me, Mike.

 

What I hear in that video sounds like gear whine to me too. Not the same sound! When the weather gets a little warmer, maybe I'll try to record it.... I will also investigate the loose heat shield idea mentioned above (though I would think that sound would happen within a much larger RPM range).

 

Did you ever figure out what this noise was?

Thanks,
Dan

 

Nope, never tracked it down. Had my mechanic tighten up exhaust bolts but it still makes the sme noise. It is not the whine as descibed in the one poster's video sample. Whe the car goes in for it's oil change next month, I will have him look again as I was not convinced he ever test drove the car to hear it for himself but just tightened up what he thought it could be.

 

Same here - my intake still whistles between 3 and 4k. I've taken to whistling along. If you can't beat em....