Way back in the day, when the chassis dyno was very new to our world, we hosted several dyno days. Our readers were invited to bring their cars for a few pulls. Fun times.
Photograph by Tim Suddard
I recently spent about an hour at our local dyno shop, DeLand Dyno. The mission was simple: I just needed to baseline our 2011 BMW 328i project car before making some intake, ECU and exhaust modifications.
[The moment of truth: Time to baseline our BMW 328i on the dyno]
Somehow it has been a few years since I personally spent time at a dyno shop. Chock it up to focusing more on street restorations of older cars or just being so damn consumed with a full redo of that old Elva sports racer. I just haven’t had my head above water long enough to even think of engine performance–that’s been left to others on staff.
Anyway, it was great to be back. There are few days as exciting–and, sometimes, more frustrating–than dyno days. I always loved getting that baseline, as I just did, and then slowly, patiently and methodically modifying ignition, intake and exhaust systems.
The joy of picking up 10, 20 or even 50 horsepower is like no other, especially when it’s cheap and easy. On this particular day, our BMW made just shy of 200 horsepower at the wheels, which is slightly better than it should be.
With the modifications we have planned, it should be closer to 250 horsepower when we’re done.
But that estimate is the kicker in all this. Although the car was built with experience and logic, you never know when it comes to dyno testing. Sometimes you’re presently surprised, and sometimes you realize how much time and money you’ve just wasted.
Usually, though, I can come home 5 or 10 horsepower richer. While it’s a bit harder with newer cars, every manufacturer seems to leave some power on the table–blame measures taken in the name of reliability, NVH or something else.
While we tend to dyno test almost every modification we make on most of our project cars, I’m still blown away with how few people use this indispensable tuning tool. More often than not, when talking to someone about their car, I will ask what it dynos at. Most will tell me that they haven’t dynoed their car, but they’re sure how much it makes–a number merely conjured up from various claims or chatter.
Bull.
It takes less than half a day and only a few hundred dollars to find out for real what you have–and to maximize those parts, too. Nearly every decently sized town has a dyno shop, and spending time on a dyno can be a lot of fun, especially if you like that kind of noise–as I do.
Way back in the day, when the chassis dyno was very new to our world, we hosted several dyno days. Our readers were invited to bring their cars for a few pulls. Fun times.
I feel like most people don't really want to know. They like adding up all the super optimistic manufacturer numbers for each part and being able to say some wildly unrealistic number.
Dyno's have gotten expensive, IMO. And too expensive for the average enthusiast to track before/after gains (losses?) for every mod.
I know it takes a lot of time to properly and safely strap down a car, hook up wide bands and rpm pickups, etc etc. And the dynos themselves are obviously expensive. But I really do wish it was much more affordable. I'd be there more often if that was the case.
Weird thought that just jumped into my head...
Can we get a portable dyno at the challenge?
I would sooo be in for that!
theruleslawyer said:I feel like most people don't really want to know. They like adding up all the super optimistic manufacturer numbers for each part and being able to say some wildly unrealistic number.
I hear you on that one. With as little power as my daily driver had from the factory, I'd be a little scared knowing how much it's lost over the 10 or so years since it was new. 
tray76 said:Dyno's have gotten expensive, IMO. And too expensive for the average enthusiast to track before/after gains (losses?) for every mod.
I know it takes a lot of time to properly and safely strap down a car, hook up wide bands and rpm pickups, etc etc. And the dynos themselves are obviously expensive. But I really do wish it was much more affordable. I'd be there more often if that was the case.
It depends on what you mean by affordable. My local shop charges under $300 to do a couple of pulls to get you a baseline. If you're tuning a car that has had a bunch of hardware changes, that $300 is way more affordable than replacing connecting rods. The hours add up if you need more time, but at least his shop accounts for that with long-term-use pricing (half-day/full-day/etc.).
Want affordable dyno time? come to central Texas.
$150 an hour or $75 for two pulls -- the latter can usually be stretched to three for NASA compliance prep.
Back in 2021, I raised my hand to lead the planning for the annual Porsche 914 West Coast Ramble here in San Luis Obispo (CA). We had some great drives in the wine country, as well as through the coastal and intercoastal mountains. I also worked with Pokrajac Auto to offer a reduced-cost Dyno Day, since once the first 914 is tied down the setup is quicker-n-easier for the rest of the cars. We agreed on $100 per car for up to three pulls (not requiring Mike to make any mechanical changes; owner's responsibility), with a minimum of ten cars. I also brought a set of digital scales so that 914 owners could see how their total weight and cross-weights measured up.
If memory serves, a smoky/worn-out bone-stock 1.7 liter 914 made just 60 whp... Josh's Chevy V8-powered 914 recorded the highest (305 whp IIRC), followed by my turbo-Suby powered 914 (284 whp). None of the ten cars had ever been on a dyno besides mine. A few cars had some pretty significant lean spots (one so bad Mike refused to do further pulls on that car!), so beyond bragging rights it provided some good info for owners of cars they believed were optimally tuned.
A speed shop in Memphis had a dyno day several years ago. I think it was $50. The tech let off when my shift light came on at 6500. If he had gone to 7200, I bet there would've been at least 40 more HP. 
In reply to Snert :
Spin it to win it!
My 1.6L Miata made 112 at the wheels when we did all the work back in 2000.
Stock it made 92.
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