Dyno testing

[Tonglebeak]

Hi, I want to get my grannymobile dyno tested (2.8l v6 88 olds cutlass ciera). For some reason I just feel it's putting out more than the 130hp it's rated at stock, so I'm curious as to what it's really putting out.

I live in hagerstown,md but cannot find anything on the internet regarding dyno testing in this area. Does anyone happen to know where I can go to get one? Thanks.

[curtis73]

Unless you pull the engine out and put it on a dyno, it won't tell you much. A chassis dyno will tell you what is getting to the wheels which is anywhere from 10-25% less than at the flywheel.

Then factor in production tolerances, age, worn components, and the fact that every dyno is vastly different, your numbers won't mean a thing. Not to mention, GM's advertised hp rating is only a ballpark guess, not measured on a dyno. Even if it were measured at exactly 130 on a dyno at GM, that means nothing on a dyno in MD.

One dyno might tell you 100 hp, then the one across the street will tell you 120hp on the same day. The only good a dyno will do for you is if you had a baseline reading from prior to when you discovered it was sluggish, and then go back to the same exact dyno to retest and use environmental conversion factors. That would get you within a few percent.

If you want to dyno it just for giggles, go for it, but any dyno session you pay for now will be a waste of money, especially because the only thing it would do is confirm; "yup, its sluggish." It won't tell you why.

Your butt is the best dyno you have.

[Tonglebeak]

Well, it's not a matter of it running sluggish, I just want a reading for where it's at right now (at the wheels, that's all that matters to me). I'm going to try to put some bolt ons to see how much extra I can squeeze out of this thing, and then go back for another dyno after its' all said and done. That's my goal.

How much do dyno sessions typically run for (at the wheels)? Not that it matters too much since I can't find anywhere around here that'll do it, but anyways...

[curtis73]

The only ones I've used were part of a package deal so I forget the specifics on the dyno sessions. I had a machine shop build me a matched pair of marine engines and I wanted them dynoed so they just gave me a final number. Can't be more than a couple hundred I would think.