Dyno guys said NO!

Geronimo '74 · 11-09-2005, 09:52 PM

When I contacted the guys where I was planning to do the dyno runs before and after my SWchip installation, they told me they preferred NOT to do my Porsche!!!

Although this is an institute which has a great name (VTB-VAB), they told me they weren't really set up to dyno high performance vehicles.
You must know, this institute is very highly regarded because they do very thorough PPIs and all kinds of inspections, electronics, odometer calibrations, engine checks, etc... So this is not just one guy who has heard about dynamo meters and then tried to make one in his own backyard.

First problem is that in my car the engine is in the back (well duh)
and they could not simulate driving wind (cooling) to an acceptable level. They use a big fan but when I suggested to move it around to the rear of the vehicle to provide more cooling, they said it wasn't movable...
Second problem was that with high performance vehicles the wheels may slip a little bit on the rolls (rolls have a certain amount of resistance) and this would mean an unmeasurable loss of RWHP.

The guy also said that readings on high performance vehicles is always low (sometimes by 30-40 HP) so it wasn't really worth my while.

Now I have two questions:
Is it possible to get an accurate HP reading through another method? I've contacted a local Porsche dealership and they told me they could do it through compression measurement (???)

Are there any Pelicans in my region (ie South of Netherlands, North of France, Germany or Luxemburg) who know where to go for an accurate dyno test. There really aren't many shops who can do this kind of dyno test in my country I think, most of them are for motorbikes.

Thanks for your input.

juiceyou321 · 11-09-2005, 10:38 PM

I don't think any of his reasons are very sound. First of all, your Porsche isn't going to be making enough power to make the tires slip in top gear (the gear they perform the actual power pull). Porsches aren't known for their high power levels, but rather their light weight. Second, airflow should not be a big problem IMO because the fan on the engine does more cooling than airflow going under the car.
If they still refuse to perform the dyno runs, there are some chassis dyno's that bolt on in place of your wheels. That would eliminate any of this theoretical "slipping".

Steve W · Steve W's Garage

How about a Dynojet in the Netherlands?

NETHERLANDS
Barq B.V.
Argon Straat 102
SN 20Etermeer 2718

http://www.dynojet.com/maps/autodynos/netherlands.htm

Geronimo '74 · 11-09-2005, 11:38 PM

Steve,

have contacted Speed Center (http://www.speedcentre.nl/index.htm)
They are also located in the Netherlands and seem to be doing a lot of testing and finetuning for race cars (Formula Ford)
Test bench is home devellopped, so I don't know about that. They sounded very capable and professional on the phone.
Not very cheap either, 170USD for one hour.
Site is in dutch, but maybe the gallery gives you an idea of their capabilities.
Can you check it out and let me know what you think?

I'll check out Dynojet in the Netherlands.

Thanks

89911 · 05:31 AM

Sounds pretty useless. What does he usually dyno Volvo wagons?

Geronimo '74 · 11-10-2005, 05:54 AM

Are you referring to the speedcenter link??
I have another one in Goes: www.tovami.com they also do cars and they have Dynojet.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

VTBVAB is a road and drivers organisation , like tripple A in the US

they have test equipment , but they use it for emissions testing
i guess they can also deduct the shape of the engine , if they do a small dyno run on it ... then compare with what the car should be according to the factory manual...

it's not a dyno shop at all , they don't work on cars , they just give advice , like a PPI , for members

if you want a Dyno , then indeed VTBVAB is the last place to go , it does show their professionalism , in not doing your 911 , they know what they can and can't do ... if every shop would know this, and act accordingly , then a lot of horror stories wouldn't be known, because they never would have happened...

dean · 11-10-2005, 06:23 AM

Google Dynapack and Dyno Dynamic dynos. Maybe there is one close to you.

Air managment in a dyno cell is very important. You need to keep the car cool and not intake the exhaust.

Dean

Geronimo '74 · 11-10-2005, 06:35 AM

Stijn,

Do you happen to know a place where I can get my car tested?
If possible not too far from the belgian border.
Have you heard of the one in Goes (Ruud Frederiks)?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

MY BS meter is pinging big time....

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Geronimo '74
Stijn,

Do you happen to know a place where I can get my car tested?
If possible not too far from the belgian border.
Have you heard of the one in Goes (Ruud Frederiks)?

fraid not, haven't dyno'ed anything myself, still waiting for my mfi pump to be rebuilt

try calling Greenspeed.be

that guy is i think chairman of the porsche club belgium
he sells high performance stuff, cams and efi puters , i'm sure he knows where to go... tell him i said hi...

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
MY BS meter is pinging big time....

why is that? because they refused to dyno the 911?
VTBVAB is not a dyno shop, so it's the absence of BS that made them turn down something they are not familiar with...that's a good thing if you ask me

Geronimo '74 · 11-10-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
MY BS meter is pinging big time....

What Stijn said Mike, VTB-VAB only does dyno runs as part of a more elaborate investigation. They have very little to do with P cars in particular nor do they claim to be specialists in performance tuning of any car.
It is because they are highly regarded for PPIs, and cardiagnostics in general that I contacted them.
I think it was really nice and professional of them that they admitted not being set up for what I asked from them.
They even suggested other companies to contact.

I suppose that's why your BS alarm was activated, if not, please let me know.

Stijn,

thanks for the greenspeed.be tip, I will surely check it out.
BTW, looked at your profile, we're about the same age (I'm 3 days older than you)

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

en al zou je't nie zeggen van mijn avatar.. ik zin wok nen belg, van Yper !

Geronimo '74 · 11-10-2005, 08:09 AM

Tis nie waar, en ge woont nu in Holland ofwa?
Vandamme is ook niet echt een Nederlandse naam, ik had het kunnen weten,
It' a small world after all, especially when you drive a P car.

masraum · 11-10-2005, 08:36 AM

um, yeah, what he said.

ianc · 11-10-2005, 11:24 AM

Vandamme is not a real Dutch name? Sounds pretty Dutch to me... What is it then?

ianc

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

it's not dutch at all

Damme is a city in Flanders, Belgium
Van/from Damme

not related to Jean-Claude Van Damme ,
who's real name is Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
dude stole my thunder

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

No spreckin z deutch, me no how to spell either. Just bring it somewhere else. Heck, if i was able to dyno my Saab, then you should not have a prob. finding one that will do a Porsche.

Mr Beau · 11-10-2005, 01:28 PM

Another option is to use one of those "home dyno" kits where you record an acceleration run and then analyse the data to determine the HP. Once you buy it, you can do as many "pulls" as you like.

donporfi · 11-10-2005, 01:44 PM

Check with www.schenckpegasus.com
They are manufacturer of engine and chassis dynos, probably they can give you the name of a customer who can do this testing for you. They have their own test facility but I think it would be VERY EXPENSIVE because they usually do contract testing for the auto industry, not workshop / tunners jobs.