MTFCA Forum

I know there is some controversy regarding the use of combustion chamber or spark plug mounted explosion whistles, but does anyone know if they work off of intake vacuum? Maybe a silly question, but as much as I like "bells and whistles" those things are expensive and I'd rather hook one up to an intake manifold than the combustion chamber if that's possible.

Tadpole wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:26 am

I know there is some controversy regarding the use of combustion chamber or spark plug mounted explosion whistles, but does anyone know if they work off of intake vacuum? Maybe a silly question, but as much as I like "bells and whistles" those things are expensive and I'd rather hook one up to an intake manifold than the combustion chamber if that's possible.

Two different design configurations. The explosion whistle has an orifice that a blast of air travels thru to make the whistle sound. They will not work off of vacuum. Most whistle vacuum style wolf whistles use a small fan that uses vacuum to rotate the fan. This creates the shrill noise that when controlled by the valve creates the 'wolf whistle' sound. This type whistle will not work on compressed air.

Thank you Brent, that is exactly what I needed to know.

DO NOT install a combustion chamber explosion ‘whistle’ unless you desire to join the Two Piece Crankshaft Club...
Don’t ask me how I know

"Modern" wolf whistles may be opereated via a vacuum or via pressure.

It's a matter of which direction the rotor is installed.

Don't know if "vintage" wolf whistles have the above option.

I had an explosion whistle once, nothing but problems.

I tried one once. Motor ran rough. I know others that run them with no problems.