Tips on a good dyno run....

[Ray Ackerman]

I see some 03's are dynoing lower then others. I would like to add a tip. If you are driving to a dyno shop,you must let the car cool down. Trailer your car if possible.
The mod engine stays HOT for a long time let your car cool down for at least 3 hrs.
I have dynoed at 4 different dyno shops in the past.They will tell you don't worry we have a big fan that blows on the engine,that's not good enough let it cool down, 30 to 60 mins is not enough.
Dyno in the morning an hour after the shop opens,get there early open your hood,relax read a news paper or drop your car off the day before.

Also pay attention to the way your car is strapped down,i seen a LS1 car twist the rear end because the car was not strapped down right,I also seen a 03 strapped to the rear shocks,it was not pretty...The shocks was pulled out from the bottom.

PLEASE feel free to post your tips here........Lets see the HP Ford gave us...... :bna

[Chris Yates]

Ray,

And when exactly do you let the car cool for three hours when driving on the street? Letting your car sit for three hours might give you higher numbers but that's not consistend with what you will expericne on the street. I've dyno'd my car over 100 times now and the key to consistend data is making sure things like tire pressure, water temp, oil temp, intercooler temp (03) is consistent from run to run. This way when you test a modification you know the gains are not from other variables.

Thanks,

[Ray Ackerman]

Originally posted by Chris Yates
Ray,

And when exactly do you let the car cool for three hours when driving on the street? Letting your car sit for three hours might give you higher numbers but that's not consistend with what you will expericne on the street.

Thanks,


I'm not taking about street driving at all.I'm taking about making the best of your dyno run.
I know from experience a HOT car on a dyno will make less power,and that's my only point with this post.
Do you have something you would like to add about making the best of a dyno run?
I never let my car cool down for three hours on the street,I do at the track after 3 1/4 mile runs.After 3 runs the car is so HOT,it lowers my ET .5 or more. Just think of what the car will dyno after two or three 1/4 mile passes? Or after someone drives a hot car on a dyno.
Please reply with any hints to make the best of a dyno run. Not a :fryem:

[Chris Yates]

Ray,

Wouldn't you want dyno numbers representative of what you have on the street? I laugh when I see mags like MM&FF or 5.0 pulling the filter, packing ice all over the intake all in the name of a dyno number. If you are looking for the highest numbers how about slipping the operator an extra $20 and have him tweak the correction factor. ; ) Again, I don't think you should be looking at how to manipulate the setup to product the highest possible numbers but rather how can you isolate and normalize all the variables so as to ensure consistent test results.

Thanks,

[Ray Ackerman]

Originally posted by Chris Yates
Ray,

Wouldn't you want dyno numbers representative of what you have on the street? I laugh when I see mags like MM&FF or 5.0 pulling the filter, packing ice all over the intake all in the name of a dyno number. If you are looking for the highest numbers how about slipping the operator an extra $20 and have him tweak the correction factor. ; ) Again, I don't think you should be looking at how to manipulate the setup to product the highest possible numbers but rather how can you isolate and normalize all the variables so as to ensure consistent test results.

Thanks,

I agree with you about the Mags and ice on the intake, here is a post about my dyno. Notice I dynoed STOCK with paper filer/NO ICE http://www.svtownersassociation.com/svtoaforums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40

To answer your question, NO i don't want dyno numbers that represent my car on the street.(Hot Car) I want dyno numbers that represent my car at the track were the true numbers count.
Here's an example...

Cool Car= Car parked in front of dyno/car parked in staging line

Drive up do a burnout=1st run on a dyno,car is warmed up

Launch car(Drive it like you stole it) Car get's VERY hot=2nd run on dyno.
Do you see were i'm going with this?

Run what you brung......But know WHAT you brung.

[SSSNAKE]

Hey Ray,
I agree with you. When I go to the strip, I like to arrive early, Ice my car between runs, push my car up the staging lanes, and finally fire it up about 5 cars back. This way I can get the operating Temp. up to around 180 before I hit the strip. I'm not running Drag Race suspension so my ET is not as good as it should be. I do run 12.20's @ 119.4 mph consistently. When the track temp. and ambient temp gets up to 100+ my ET's do go down.

Now as far a street racing, I'm not really interested in a Dyno time. My street race usually consist of a quick launch from the stoplight. I'm usually out front and let off going into 2nd. The other driver blows by me and usually gets stopped by Smokey as he’s savoring his perceived victory.:kiss:

Why so many dyno runs Chris? Are you constantly upgrading or is that where you race? :confused: Dyno's are very hard on car parts. I've rather brake the SSSNAKE on the track, at least that way I could be braggin' about how I would have won if I hadn't broke.:rolleyes:

[Ray Ackerman]

Originally posted by SSSNAKE
Hey Ray,
I agree with you. When I go to the strip, I like to arrive early, Ice my car between runs, push my car up the staging lanes, and finally fire it up about 5 cars back. This way I can get the operating Temp. up to around 180 before I hit the strip. I'm not running Drag Race suspension so my ET is not as good as it should be. I do run 12.20's @ 119.4 mph consistently. When the track temp. and ambient temp gets up to 100+ my ET's do go down.

Now as far a street racing, I'm not really interested in a Dyno time. My street race usually consist of a quick launch from the stoplight. I'm usually out front and let off going into 2nd. The other driver blows by me and usually gets stopped by Smokey as he’s savoring his perceived victory.:kiss:

Why so many dyno runs Chris? Are you constantly upgrading or is that where you race? :confused: Dyno's are very hard on car parts. I've rather brake the SSSNAKE on the track, at least that way I could be braggin' about how I would have won if I hadn't broke.:rolleyes:

That's the way to do it :cool:
And one nice thing about getting to the track when the getes open is you get to run right after the track is prepped. When my Bullitt was stock the best 60' was 1.83 with aset of nitto's.(The prep don't last long on T & T night with cars running street tire's) :fryem:
We could start a whole new post on the subject about bad track prep :D

[Chris Yates]

SSSNAKE,

Why so many times on the dyno? Because I can objectively test the various modifications I make to my Cobra (see the latest issue of the Enthusiast). The dyno is actually less stressful than the same WOT 4th gear run on the street (referring to a dynojet). I've also been down the 1/4 well over 125 times.

Thanks,

[anachist]

Chris .. why do people want to get the best dyno numbers they can? Because that is the TRUE number.

If I go in with a dirty air filter and my engine running hot and leave the A/C on and run on the dyno like that, it isn't a true indication of what the car is producing. :cbra:

[Chris Yates]

anachist,

"TRUE Numbers" Ah, I don't think so. Is the "true" arrived at with 50psi in the rear tires? Is the true number with an iced intake @ 25 degrees? What you are looking for are dyno number to "pimp" around to everyone else.

Dirty Air Filter - Yes, those are "true" numbers based on the fact you drive around the street with a dirty air filter. How about this, why bother dyno testing with an air filter to begin with. That will give you a higher number, but is it indicative of the power you will have on the street.

Thanks,

[anachist]

I dyno'd my car exactly how I drive it .. and I actually do run with 40psi in the tires as a daily driver. It gets much better milage and handling.

The true numbers are what a cars potential are.

Turbo'd cars dyno with higher boost levels and also regular boost levels to see the POTENTIAL.

Just like when people go to the track, some of them bring slicks with them. Are you saying their 1/4 mile times aren't real cuz they used slicks?!

Everything in this world gets rated at for it's peak numbers, even though at times it might not 100% of the time be performing at those numbers. CPU's respond to heat by losing performance, hence cooling, same with engines.

I've never seen anyone look at a dyno run the way you do. Dyno's are just an indication of your cars potential, doesn't mean that you can look at the hp and tell people you can run 12.54 in the 1/4. You can see what works and what doesn't work, etc. Identify problems and trouble-shoot, tune the fuel.

It can also show where your restrictions are. With an 03 Cobra, if you remove the air filter you get 20whp. That's insane. So that's a good idea that if you improve your induction that you can get better numbers. Some people have done that and had little effect so that can tell them to not bother changing what they have.

[Chris Yates]

anachist,

"I dyno'd my car exactly how I drive it "

Now you're finally getting around to my point of view. Now that you are dyno testing your car under "real world" conditions take notes on your coolant temps, oil temps, tire pressure and you'll see consistency from run to run. Then when you get around to testing a modification you'll know where to attribute the gains/losses.

Thanks,