4200 exhaust sound - spec or GS? Views pls before I have to make a decision….

MattWill

MattWill

Junior Member
Hi. I’m looking at a 4200. It’s got Larini back boxes which i don’t like & I‘d want to remove. As part of the deal I’ve have been offered a swap with Maserati originals from a GS but obviously the valves wouldn’t operate so it’d be ‘open’ all the time. I’m thinking I’m better off getting some original 4200 ones from eBay. But what do people think?
 
Keep the Larini's to sell privately as they are worth a small fortune, and will get snapped up faster than you can find a prosthetic hand. ! You could quite easily make a pair of GS valved boxes work with the valve with a bit of faffing. But it needs time and effort spending Or, buy a pair of 'modified' 4200 back boxes from Jaren metalworks off of eBay and pocket the significant change for future costs ...
Standard 4200 are just too quiet. its a crime to muffle the soundtrack to quite the extent Maserati( Ferrari ) did from factory. Whilst I totally understand not wanting a noisy car - Jason's modded standard boxes look & sound great. Its the sweet spot for tone, volume, no drone, and 'keeping it original' ...
 
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Thanks. Great advice. I like the idea of making the GS valves work (On the GS I think they open on starting and then again above 4000 revs?) is this possible and how can I get this done?
You‘re right though, it’s the low level drone of the Larini’s which give me a headache and I can’t live with. Sorry, I know I’m prob alone on this!
 
You are definitely not alone, I have exactly the same dilemma. I've recently bought a 4200 with Larini back boxes and whilst the sound is epic when giving it welly, the drone at 2k rpm annoys. Also I get on well with my neighbours and don't want to annoy them leaving for work early.

I was considering going back to standard boxes but with a forum x pipe. It's very difficult to find sound clips of just an x pipe though. I was hoping the x pipe doesn't add much volume at tickover, only more noise when giving it some. Don't know if an x pipe on it's own will drone?

I think we may be in the minority here though, wanting less noise from our cars.
I'll get my coat.......
 
TBH- an X-Pipe on it's own is barely noticeable. Much of the noise suppression on these cars is happening in the cats, believe it or not !
Making the GS boxes work with a handheld remote is the best you can practically hope for IMO. It has been well documented by members here if you wanted to see whats involved....https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/fiftys-manual-4200-build.28073/
 
Are the Jaren ones half way (in sound/volume) between the standard 4200 & the GS versions with the valves open? Anyone got a clip?
 
I just have unvalved larini rear boxes, the rest is stock.
I must admit during the first drive I was saying to myself, what have I done!
Yes there is a drone, however I find If I crack open the window a bit, it let's the drone disappear mostly.
Could not live with it if a daily driver.
Valved boxes are the answer.
I would go with the GS boxes personally and rig up the valves.
You could also have valves retro fitted to the larinis.
 
Sorry, not intending to jump on the OP's thread but if you had the valved GS boxes fitted and a manual valve control, would it not be a bit of a pain having to switch to open every time you wanted some power?

Looking at the GS tailpipes, all the flow goes through one small dia tailpipe when on quiet mode. I guess whilst being quiet, it would also severely affect performance with some revs on. If the valve was linked to throttle position or revs, like the Larini switch kit, it would make more sense, the cost of it being the problem.

Just my thoughts/ramblings
 
I have an xpipe fitted and the rest standard. It makes a big difference to the sound and adds more on the overrun. Doesn’t drone either. The muffler in the standard center xpipe does make it quieter. Mine’s a GS by the way. The valves are open all the time is sport mode.
 
MattWill said:
Hi. I’m looking at a 4200. It’s got Larini back boxes which i don’t like & I‘d want to remove. As part of the deal I’ve have been offered a swap with Maserati originals from a GS but obviously the valves wouldn’t operate so it’d be ‘open’ all the time. I’m thinking I’m better off getting some original 4200 ones from eBay. But what do people think?
Click to expand...

Whichever sports back boxes you have fitted you almost always end up with some drone. The standard boxes for GS and 4200 have a lot of sound deadening material in them to avoid it.

As others have said. Crack the window 3mm and the drone is gone. Not ideal but works.

The annoying thing with thw drone is it tends to appear at cruising speed rev range 30, 50 , 70 mph depending on the exact set up or when your revs are at a constant say 2400 rpm approx. You dont notice it when your accelerating through that rev range. If you drop it a gear so your revs are higher you can work round it.

The last two options you have apart from changing the boxes altogether are.

A custom X or H pipe with 2 small silencers fitted. This will dial out some of the drone and will move the point the drone kicks in hopefully so that it isnt in the rev range for cruising speeds.

You could also have the back boxes opened up and some sound deadening material added. You can dial out the drone altogether and drop the volume to a level you want. Any decent exhaust place should be able to do that for you.

If you go that route it will affect the resale value of your larinis should you sell them later.
 
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spkennyuk said:
A custom X or H pipe with 2 small silencers fitted. This will dial out some of the drone and will move the point the drone kicks in hopefully so that it isnt in the rev range for cruising speeds..
Click to expand...
You can fit the X pipe from a GranTurismo which has a much smaller resonator but it needs connecting pipes. A guy from Estonia does them.

I did that on my GS because I’m running 200 cell cats each side so going for a non resonated X pipe wouldve been too much.
 
Andy4200 said:
Sorry, not intending to jump on the OP's thread but if you had the valved GS boxes fitted and a manual valve control, would it not be a bit of a pain having to switch to open every time you wanted some power?

Looking at the GS tailpipes, all the flow goes through one small dia tailpipe when on quiet mode. I guess whilst being quiet, it would also severely affect performance with some revs on. If the valve was linked to throttle position or revs, like the Larini switch kit, it would make more sense, the cost of it being the problem.

Just my thoughts/ramblings
Click to expand...

Once you hit a certain rev range the valves open anyway regardless of if your in the non sport setting.

There really isnt any noticeable difference in performance as a result.
 
I’ve got an x pipe on my Coupe with the rest standard. The sound now reminds me of my old GS with the sport button off. Sounds nice on the outside but nothing too noticeable on the inside. More crack and pops but very very muted. I’m going to go down the route of opening the standard boxes and putting a straight pipe through and putting the sound deadening material back in.
 
Just following up on this thread. Someone has suggested I buy some standard backboxes from ebay, ask Jaren to refurbish them and remove a bit of the internal wadding to get a sound that doesn't have the drone and the loudness would sit between the standard and the GS exhaust which would probably be fine for me (and not silly money). What do people think?
 
MattWill said:
Just following up on this thread. Someone has suggested I buy some standard backboxes from ebay, ask Jaren to refurbish them and remove a bit of the internal wadding to get a sound that doesn't have the drone and the loudness would sit between the standard and the GS exhaust which would probably be fine for me (and not silly money). What do people think?
Click to expand...
Asked & answered- See my first post....!
I have them. I did an x-pipe first; too quiet. Then added Jason’s back boxes...
 
Are the Larinis valved or not?

Valved larinis are worth good money used circa £1200+

Not valved circa £750-£1000

GS boxes in good condition and depending upon the seller £600-1200

Are GS boxes loud with the valves always open?

If the rest of your exhaust is stock then they are not loud at all with valves open. If you have either x pipe or sports cats they are still not loud but there is more volume - they are only LOUD if you have both sports cats and unsilenced x pipe and they start to drone at 1800-2200 RPM until you close the valves

You can always fit a valve kit - it's not that hard most challenging part is getting a 12v switched positive to the remote box as there are none in the boot.
 
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FIFTY said:
For comparison here is mine with GS boxes 200 cell sports cats and X pipe... You can see a visible sound wave entering my garage as it barks then is suddenly muted by the vacuum from the engine closing the valves

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The standard GS always opens the valve upon startup to make the bark. Kind of ahead of its time in that case. My setup is quite similar to yours, it does drone around 2-2.2k RPM if you have the valves open but you change down a gear or set it back to normal mode it quiets down.

Also American GS come with a non-resonated X-Pipe standard, so it would not be too loud especially on a standard 4200.
 
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