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Jim G finds an ACTUAL power gain via microcomputer

1028 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Ross, Jul 2, 2005

JimGnitecki

Discussion Starter · Jun 30, 2005

From a "Chevy High Performance" magazine article that just appeared in my email:

"
The Dyno Doesn’t Lie

The idea was to see what kind of real-world horsepower gains we could generate with only a few simple bolt-ons. Enlisting the help of Mike Taylor and his stock ’99 LS1 SS Camaro, we baselined the SS on the Morgan Motorsports chassis dyno in Reseda, California. Initial numbers revealed an impressive 305 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque. Next we plugged in the Hypertech Power Programmer III (PP3) into the data link connector and waited 10 minutes for the non-reformulated gas (non-RFG) tune to upload into the LS1 computer (see sidebar “Gas Is Gas...Right?”). Back on the dyno, we immediately witnessed the horsepower jump to 312 with the new lb-ft figures reading at 328.
"

So, the hard reality, at least in the case of this particular 99 Camaro that uses an LS1 that is at least very similar to the engines our 03 and 04 SSRs have, was only 7 hp gained and 6 ft lb of torque.

The above aticle was the first one I happened to find that actually TESTED the difference on an independent dyno.

I would have liked to also see the ENTIRE dyno curve, but they didn't show that.

Be wary reading those "up to 20 hp" claims that various manufactuerers of these devices make. Insist on proof before giving them the money.

Jim G

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· #2 · Jul 1, 2005

Well, at least the numbers didn't go down. I've seen a chip shootout where that happened. In my experience, (and I do this stuff every day for a living) just installing a chip, exhaust or intake alone doesn't produce NEARLY the results you get with the combination. On my own SSR, I started with the exhaust - the effect was (similar to the results in the test above) mainly sonic. But the combination of programmer AND exhaust has transformed the engine into something alot more sports-car like instead of truck-like. The powerband feels almost like a multivalve engine now. I would like to do a dyno run, but I'm having way too much fun just driving right now

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BlastfromPast

· #3 · Jul 1, 2005

And don't forget that those are "peak" gains, and can often represent a spike in HP or torque over such a small RPM range that it is not hardly practical. This may not be the case here, of course, but without a complete before and after dyno curve to compare we simply don't know. 7 HP and 6 lbs of torque - worth the risk? Maybe, maybe not.

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Ross

· #4 · Jul 1, 2005

Too bad they did not test it on the Mustang Dyno. could have shown 0/60 times, 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile times and MPH. Just as you have already shown, the biggest improvements come from using the tuner/program to change toque management, rev limites and shift points. These changes will not show up on a peak HP/Toque dyno run. Just my thoughs on this - Ross

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JimGnitecki

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 1, 2005

Ross: You have to be careful in quoting those dyno-generated 0 to 60 and 1.4 mile times.

The steady state and eddy current brake equipped Mustang dyno does appear to have the theoretical capability to apply a load simulating air drag and frictional losses (that is the purpose of "HP at 60 mph" field on a Mustang dyno screen).

However, real life quarter mile times are far different. Some of the reasons include:

- Ambient air temperature (most dragstrip sessions occur under totally uncontrolled ambient conditions compared to the dyno room)

- Traction issues at the dragstrip that don't accur on the dyno

- The dyno does not simulate the "rollout" time, which on a fast launching car is anywhere from 0.25 to 0.40 second, and on a slow launching car can hit 3/4 second.

The dyno generated times are useful for comparisons to previous DYNO runs for THAT SAME car, but not much else.

Far more humorous are the attempts by Dynojet dyno owners to sponsor dyno "races". An inertai dyno like the Dynojet cannot simulate anything remotely close to the real world resistances that a car would encounter.

Jim G

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Ross

· #6 · Jul 2, 2005

Jim - Your correct that the times do not relating to a true 1/4 mile run, but they are repeatable times that can be use to show any effect different mods might have. ( At least i hope they are repeatable). Their is a local shop that has the dyno and run time will not be a problem. Just waiting for someone to finish up the program/tuners for the 05. Ross

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