GT4 Airbox restriction mod: How loud is it?

This is a mod I am considering.

 

You can undoubtedly hear the sucking of each indivual carb much more. It provides a deeper tone from the intake. With the right window down, I can understand how some might say it is obtuse. I really do not think it is that much louder, but rather the sound from the intake is very different once the insulation has been removed.

 

Mine came without insulation, so I can't give an honest comparison, but I don't find it too loud at all. It's a little quieter with the window up, better with it down, but it's certainly not obtrusive either way. No problem talking to a passenger, etc.

 

I took my airbox off my '78 GT4 a while ago to see how the sound changed and what if any improvements there were, this is what I recon:

1. A whole new dimension of sound is now available, the exhaust volume is of course the same, but the induction roar under load is spine-tingling! Think '60's F1 kinda sound.

2. Could be just my imagination, but I think it revs quicker and is more responsive.... however I do get more "pops and bangs" when it's cold.

I've covered the open carbs with a fine mesh which will help too much muck from entering them. Hoping to get some trumpets with a gause filiment to filter the tiniest particles from entering.

Be warned..... you will have several people referring to any car with "open carbs" as an "abused vehicle"!!!! Somewhat dramatic in my opinion.

Have a go, see what you think.

 

I would not run it without an airbox altogether, only because the airbox is a spark suppressor that keeps a flame shooting out of the carb top (happens all the time) from lighting something on fire in the engine bay. We had a guy here in MA 2 year ago that lost his 308 to fire because of this. He was rebuilding the carbs, and went for a drive with his son before he put the airbox back on. He was lucky to get both himself and his son out before the car burned to the ground.

I have removed the sound insulation from my GTB and it makes a world of difference. Better sound, better throttle response and more power. I don't find it too loud at all, and I'm a guy that would not put a Tubi on my car because they are too loud.

Birdman

 

Just get a Euro box! My series 1 US car has a euro air box (wide open)and I love the sound of the carbs. On really long drives on the highway it does get a bit much but for an afternoon of twisty roads it's great!

 

Quietness scale (my experience):

Stock Airbox > Stock airbox modified > box with top off > individual air filters > open air horn
The modified airbox, while a little fuller sound at idle and cruise, only really sings pretty loud when the throttles are opened wide.
As said, it's a whole new character to the sound.

 

I removed mine on my right hand drive euro car and it is slightly louder when window open and helps car breath slightly better. In your left hookers the noise will not be as great so noise should not be an issue. However I would recommend removing it to help breathability

 

Good point Birdman, not thought of this considerable "downside"!!! That's the odd pop and bang I get? Weren't Muiras prone to this combustion problem?

 

Pretty much any car can give the odd hiccup back through the intake, but carb cars seem more prone to it. When I was tuning my carbs and doing some tweaking of the jets, I personally observed how much flame can shoot out of one of those suckers, and if there are fumes in the engine compartment or a leaky fuel line or something, man, it can get ugly. I would never have thought it was a real danger until we had a guy locally lose his car to it. Seriously, keep something around the carbs. If not the airbox, then some individual K&N filters on each carb.

Birdman