Can you make a classic vw engine sound like a Harley?

12 Comments

1. schizophreniabeatsdiningalone says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   Never happen. Bad enough Type I’s leak oil like Harleys…..
   I actually like the sound of the dual CherryBomb Turbo II’s on my Type IV-converted Bug. Sounds great along with the whistle through the Dellorto carbs.
2. cherry64impala says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   DUH! take out ur cats and maybe even ur headers
3. Charley says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   Hahahaahah ~ Still Laughing ~ Hahahahah
   I believe that if you want something to sound like a Harley ~ Well It can ONLY be a HARLEY . Hahahaha
4. droopydog says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   you cant, Harleys have a 45 degree engine configuration, both pistons fire on the same rev of the engine and then exhaust, this gives it the "lumpity lumpity" exhause note.
   VW "Boxer" engines are at 180 deg. and have a balanced firing order, so you can put loud pipes on them, but it wont sound like a Harley.
5. Paras says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   No!, Harley has its own sound, a beatle will never sound like a harley, no matter what headers you take off, or put on.
   Maybe an older subaru opposing cylinder, 4 cyl engine can sound a little more like it, but mothing sounds like a Harley, accept, a Harley.
6. JT says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   For goodness sake why? would you want a Beetle to sound like a stone crusher giving birth to young.
7. :not_the_usual1 says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   We’ve put actual salvage Harley pipes on a 1700cc with headers and a moderate cam in the back of a Bug-based dune job. The motor wasn’t anywhere near being stock.

   It is an interesting sound, but not **quite** Harley-esque. So much of the Harley sound is a result of a some unique mechanics of their motor design. Bugs don’t like too much cam and stay streetable, so it’s hard to get a real heavy "lope" and not kill driveability.

   The source link will take you to a page that explains that if you’re interested.

   BTW - we ditched the pipes and bought a couple of old-school Cherrybomb’s. They sounded great. Real unique and throaty for a flat 4. Summit Racing also sells a wide variety of glass-packed mufflers in some unique sizes. Cool old school.
8. eldonweasel says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   This quite a simple solution. GM had the same problem with the new HHR. The car looked like it had a great big engine but the sound that came out of the muffler was(is) too weak. The solution was during the ads for the HHR to play the sound of a ‘vette or deep rumpling engine. So when people(suckers) bought a HHR it just did’nt sound right. So record a Harley and place a speaker(a whoffer) near the muffler and fool everyone.
9. Phoenix says:

   July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   no, sorry man, but you can get a stinger exhaust they sound really cool.
10. andy w says:

    July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    Harley is v-twin you won’t get ur flat 4 to sound anywhere near it! I suppose you could disconnect two ht leads so its sounds a bit more lumpy but it would drive like a bag of s**t!!
11. Motorpsycho says:

    July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    Take out a spark plug. It will sound like crap just like a Harley.
12. thechaleman says:

    July 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    The closetest you can get would be a merged header with the phat boy muffler.

    My 72 bug is pretty thumpy and loud with only a hi-po 1600 motor.