Why do Mopar Engines Have a Different Sound From Chevys and Fords??

Believe it or not, there actually can be a specific sound to each engine design. Most of the differences are pretty minor, ie, most folks can't really tell the difference. But if you listen to a lot of engines I could see how you might be able to tell.

Harley went so far as to patent the "Harley sound". They even went after one of the Japanese manufacturers (I forget which one), when they changed their valve layout after doing some homework. The result was an engine that sounded an awful lot like a Harley engine, and a lot less like the Japanese metric cruiser that it was.

Anyway, the sound will be tied to the valve positioning, exhaust port design, even the piston and chamber design. And using an aftermarket cam or heads would change that sound a lot. Of course, most of what you hear has to do with the exhaust system and not the engine itself. Size of the exhaust, headers, type of muffler etc. But, each engine can have some subtle differences because of its design.