Dyno of the MM

[AzMarauder]

Gang,

A lot of you have dyno'd your cars and I am wondering what procedure is used. I had my car to a dyno day gathering weekend before I left for a business trip to Germany. There were some "issues" that came up so I am not all that comfortable with my Dyno numbers. I also don't remember the numbers exactly .. as I don't have the info here with me.

Did two pulls with the stock tune. First pull had the car in 3rd gear, OD off. Car pulled until about 5k then fell on its face. (speed limiter) Got a 242hp reading. (remember I am guessing exact numbers but I am close)

So to avoid the speed limiter.. 2nd stock pull was in 2nd gear. 244hp.

Put in a modified tune. Ran in 2nd gear... 246hp.

Said what the heck.. let's do 3rd gear... maybe the tuner shut off the speed limiter. Turned 304hp and 377tq.

Problem with this run... the car downshifts when matted in 3rd gear. So I seriously doubt the 377tq and based on the numbers I see on this board... I am not sure about the HP number either.

So....

How does one dyno the beast ?

[mpearce]

Not sure if you've seen this thread or not, but it's a very good description of what goes on. Great read in my opinion.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14491

Hope this helps.

-Mat

[AzMarauder]

Not sure if you've seen this thread or not, but it's a very good description of what goes on. Great read in my opinion.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14491

Hope this helps.

-Mat
Matt,

Thanks... that makes a lot of sense.... seeing that the steps are taken to keep the car from downshifting etc. Two problems tho.....

Since I can't make those adjustments in my tune.... and I assume most everyone else can't make those adjustments either.... how on earth does the average guy get a dyno?

Where are all these dyno numbers coming from that everyone posts in their sig?

[cyclone03]

I had a reflash done by Dennis in Dallas @MVI,just for fun I had my car dyno'd a week later by a local tuner with the results everybody else was getting at the time.


Next year @MVII I had a Dyno tune done and Jason locked out all downshifts and locked the trans in 3rd so we pulled all the way down to 1500rpm.This is done with programming and you could not drive the car set up like this.

So my answer is only your dyno operator and tuner can set up your computer for this type of tune,unless you have the software to do it.

You need a dyno operator that knows how to dyno automatic trans cars.

[AzMarauder]

I had a reflash done by Dennis in Dallas @MVI,just for fun I had my car dyno'd a week later by a local tuner with the results everybody else was getting at the time.


Next year @MVII I had a Dyno tune done and Jason locked out all downshifts and locked the trans in 3rd so we pulled all the way down to 1500rpm.This is done with programming and you could not drive the car set up like this.

So my answer is only your dyno operator and tuner can set up your computer for this type of tune,unless you have the software to do it.

You need a dyno operator that knows how to dyno automatic trans cars.
Thanks....

Just sort of makes all the HP numbers suspect unless there is a standard convention for doing a dyno. Obviously standard trans cars are a lot easier. I was interested in how much difference the tune made ... but I don't think I've gotten a true reading. Also was interested in how this car stacks up against some of my others.

I don't think my dyno operator would or could go through the steps to change TC lockup and trans shifting. (not sure I would want them to) :D

I have other options to gauge what is going on with the car. I can put the stock tune in it and run it down the 1/4 mile... then put the aftermarket tune in it and repeat!

[Smokie]

I don't think my dyno operator would or could go through the steps to change TC lockup and trans shifting. (not sure I would want them to) :D !I had my car dynoed without the T/C locked by programming and it is possible to get good numbers if your dyno operator knows what he is doing. You will not get any good numbers below 3200 rpms.

The operator needs to turn off O/D take the car gradually to 3rd gear and after reaching about 3200 rpms GRADUALLY floor it to prevent downshift, you will get good numbers from about 3600 rpms to about 6200 rpms. Good luck.

PS: I have one run were the car downshifted to 2nd and I have a spike that shows 360 ft/tq.

[AzMarauder]

I had my car dynoed without the T/C locked by programming and it is possible to get good numbers if your dyno operator knows what he is doing. You will not get any good numbers below 3200 rpms.

The operator needs to turn off O/D take the car gradually to 3rd gear and after reaching about 3200 rpms GRADUALLY floor it to prevent downshift, you will get good numbers from about 3600 rpms to about 6200 rpms. Good luck.

PS: I have one run were the car downshifted to 2nd and I have a spike that shows 360 ft/tq.
Will the horsepower numbers be ok or are they affected by the downshift as well?

[mpearce]

From what I gather here, there are quite a few opinions on the board as to how a dyno should be done. Because I don't know much about it, I can only speak about experiences with my MM, and the vendor I chose to use. It doesn't get much more step by step in detail than that thread. But if you'd like, send him or any of the other vendors who dyno a PM and ask more specific questions

Lidio dynoed my car himself about 3 weeks ago, and I will be going back in 2 weeks for some more work and another dyno run. His shop is a bit less than 3 hours drive from my house. Because someone so good is so close, I refuse to entrust my MM to anyone else, especially with delicate things like tuning, and dyno time. I had some dyno video up recently, I'm not sure if you caught it or not. I could repost it if you'd like, but I'm not sure if it would help you out or not.
I myself, know nothing about tuning an engine. Nor will I pretend to. I personally wouldn't want to mess something up. I trust Lidios judgement, and the SCT products he uses. I have never had problems, complaints, or confusion as to what I had purchased or was supposed to do with what I had purchased after leaving his shop.

If I were to guess, my MM was dynoed in 3rd gear with the TC locked, from about 1300rpm to about 6400 rpm using the unleaded 100 octane gas I can get in Cleveland. My dyno numbers are in my sig. I feel those are pretty good numbers for just having a chip, gear, weld in mufflers, and 100 octane.

-Mat

[AzMarauder]

From what I gather here, there are quite a few opinions on the board as to how a dyno should be done. Because I don't know much about it, I can only speak about experiences with my MM, and the vendor I chose to use. It doesn't get much more step by step in detail than that thread. But if you'd like, send him or any of the other vendors who dyno a PM and ask more specific questions

Lidio dynoed my car himself about 3 weeks ago, and I will be going back in 2 weeks for some more work and another dyno run. His shop is a bit less than 3 hours drive from my house. Because someone so good is so close, I refuse to entrust my MM to anyone else, especially with delicate things like tuning, and dyno time. I had some dyno video up recently, I'm not sure if you caught it or not. I could repost it if you'd like, but I'm not sure if it would help you out or not.
I myself, know nothing about tuning an engine. Nor will I pretend to. I personally wouldn't want to mess something up. I trust Lidios judgement, and the SCT products he uses. I have never had problems, complaints, or confusion as to what I had purchased or was supposed to do with what I had purchased after leaving his shop.

If I were to guess, my MM was dynoed in 3rd gear with the TC locked, from about 1300rpm to about 6400 rpm using the unleaded 100 octane gas I can get in Cleveland. My dyno numbers are in my sig. I feel those are pretty good numbers for just having a chip, gear, weld in mufflers, and 100 octane.

-Mat
Hi Mat,

I'm not saying the procedure you reference is bad or wrong.... just difficult to understand what mods get what results if the cars are all dyno'd differently. As for asking the vendors... I did send an email to the vendor from which I got my tune... asking the same questions I asked here. No reply.:alone:

I too know nothing about modifying the tune.... and wouldn't want another set of fingers in the tuning equation (the dyno shop).

I did find it odd that I would gain nearly 60 RWHP off a tune tho. (only mod done to my car) Thus my questions concerning how folks did the dyno!

:D

[SergntMac]

Since I can't make those adjustments in my tune.... and I assume most everyone else can't make those adjustments either.... how on earth does the average guy get a dyno?
Well Hell, I don't know why I didn't mention this before DOH, it's what I did, but...

Anyone using a 4 stage flip chip, or, hand held programmer that can store additional tunes, can build and store a "dyno" profile. This would be their present tune, with all the changes in place for an accurate dyno test. When you change tunes, this profile can be updated too, so when you want to get dynoed, just flash this profile into the EEC, or, flip your switch, and go.

AZ, the important thing about a dyno test, is that it is a test, and just one test of many you can perform to monitor performance. It's merely one way to see/verify improvements from mods. X RWHP/X RWTQ before, X RWHP/X RWTQ after, and check AFR. Your actual power totals are not as important as the changes between before and after. BTW, no two dynos will report identical performance on the same car, and no two pulls from the same car will be identical, which is why I do three pulls and average the numbers.

Also keeping in mind that some mods do not show much gain at all in dyno testing, is why it's not the only test for performance. As you suggest, 1/4 mile times are as revealing and trustworthy as any dyno numbers. Sadly, some people make a contest out of it, I've been to some "dyno days" where that's all it was about, who's on top. That's not it's true purpose, but it works out that way.

Pick you favorite dyno shop, develop a relationship with the operator, and use those numbers as your base performance. When you travel around and dyno elsewhere, you'll get different numbers. Don't sweat this difference, is means little. Just monitor your own performance.

Like I said in the other thread, when I dyno my MM, I drive it from a dead stop and let it run through the gears. The final numbers are off due to spikes from shifting, but I don't care about final numbers. All I'm interested in is what's going on throughout the pull.

[AzMarauder]

It's merely one way to see/verify improvements from mods. X RWHP/X RWTQ before, X RWHP/X RWTQ after, and check AFR. Your actual power totals are not as important as the changes between before and after. BTW, no two dynos will report identical performance on the same car, and no two pulls from the same car will be identical, which is why I do three pulls and average the numbers..
Good info Mac... That was all I was looking for in my Dyno. Tho I must admit the folks at the dyno played the same ... who is on top game... and it was humorous that my MM scored higher than a Cobra and Roush. But I just wanted to see net increase from stock to modified. Only reason I wondered how it compares to what others have posted... is so I can decide which direction I want to go in my modification trail. I need to decide which businesses I want to tap for my mods and of course which S/C path I want to follow. So it helps to understand who dynoing which way so I have some comparison.

Of course I can get caught up in the old MY HP is HIGHER than your's thing... but not for long. I tend to decide how I want to build my car and take what I get. My Fairlane runs dual quads... and I don't have it sorted out yet. I was at the track, fighting an off the line stumble... running 13.5s and had someone come over and say... "put a single 4bbl on it... 780 or so... and some 4:56 or 5:13s in it and you will be cooking." I just smiled and said.."This car will run as fast as I can manage with the dual quads and 3.90 gear set... when I can't get it to run any faster with this setup... it won't run any faster...." :D