Rear wheel dyno for real cheap. Should I buy it?

BRAINIAC · 07-29-2001, 03:11 PM

Just visited a friend of my brother-in-laws that has a Street Rod shop. He showed me a Rear wheel dyno that he bought from a Community college for cheap. He decided it's not his bag and doesn't have any real use for it since they just do custom body work. It's a Sun model of 1980 vintage. Analog. It has a twin drum set-up. (one for each wheel) It also has electric motors that can spin the drums so you can test the brakes for clamping power and a sensor on the pedal for pedal pressure. Tells you left to right braking differential. Very useful for diagnosing pull problems. (It will work for the front brakes as well. Will also be useful for before and after comparisons of horsepower and brake upgrades. Cool eh?

Would I be stupid not to buy this thing? It's all there and spares are still available. Snap-On tools now owns Sun so my tool guy can probably get them for me. I can get it for ridiculously cheap compared to what a new one costs. Kinda makes me want to open my own Dyno-shop. OK I'll tell you. The asking price is $3,500! New ones are 60-120K!

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

Eric Coffey · 07-29-2001, 03:23 PM

Yes buy it! I will buy the beer and be over as soon as you get it! Seriously though, you know, I don't personally know of any good dyno shops in the NW, so it could be a good investment as a side business.

-Eric

BRAINIAC · 07-29-2001, 04:06 PM

There are some good dyno-shops around here, but they are all booked at least 2 months out! My mind is reeling from the possibilities. It would be a very useful tool. Heck, for the money, It'd be cool just to put in the garage at home to play with. (All my friends would keep me well stocked with beer and I'd always have company.)

OK, does anyone have any technical advice or any inside professional info on chassis dyno's? Is there a website foe Sun?

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

No self respecting home workshop would be without one.

Superman · 07-29-2001, 08:39 PM

Go Tyson, Go! I like your chances of being a successful auto specialty shop of some kind. If that's what you still love, then it's only a question of time.

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'83 SC

Mrdi · Mrdi's Garage

How much garage space does it take up?
the Porsche doesn't have to go outside for a new toy??

JAE · 07-29-2001, 08:52 PM

Buy it, use it till you are sick of it, and then sell it for a profit- then sink the dough into your car!

Jack Olsen · 07-29-2001, 10:23 PM

I'd say talk to John Walker and get his opinion.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist home page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

Bill Douglas · 07-30-2001, 01:26 AM

I'd almost buy it just for the sake of having fun with the neibours. There's nothing quite like the sound of a Porsche 911 doing 6,000RPM in the garage.

john walker's workshop · 07-30-2001, 07:23 AM

remember, it's a 20 year old antique. if it needs parts, good luck.

RLJ · RLJ's Garage

Being analog you are stuck with old stuff. The new ones are computer controlled and the whole nine yards. They give you print outs with torque, HP, fuel consumption, graph if its fat or lean plot one run over the top of another.

Is it the type that you have to dig a hole for or does it have a lift that puts the car ontop of the drums.

Best Luck, think for awhile before you drop the dime.

Randy Jones
1971 911

BRAINIAC · 07-30-2001, 07:41 PM

I'll take careful consideration before I do anything. I really need to talk my Snap-On dealer to see if spare parts are still available. The guy told me they were but then, he wants to sell it. He's had it for 12 months and isn't in a huge hurry to get rid of it. He's not advertizing or anything, so I have plenty of time to think it over. (He's rich and eccentric) (Funny, if you're poor they just call you crazy.)

Randy, it can be used above or below ground. If you put it below, it has plates that cover the drums so the bay can be used for other things. It looks to be in very good, little used condition. It is about 2 1/2 ft. wider on each side than an average 4-arm shop hoist. Well thanks for the input. I guess I have some thinking to do.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

island911 · 07-31-2001, 07:11 AM

Hidi-ho good neighbor.
So what kinda beer do ya like?

So . . Da'ya mind if I borough that there spinny thing ya have in your garage?

Kinding aside, three things: Do you have the space? and; Do you have the money? . . .OR are you okay with just being called crazy?

'81 Platinum Metalic SC COUPE

stlrj · 07-31-2001, 08:30 AM

Why don't you buy a G-Tech, calibrate it against the dyno and pass on the deal.

Joe Garcia

86 Carrera

BRAINIAC · 07-31-2001, 12:03 PM

Well Joe, that would be cheaper. But my intention isn't to play with it. There are many uses of a rolling road dyno. Diagnostic possibilities are numerous. Ever try to find a miss or flat spot on a car that only happens under driving conditions? Try looking under the hood while driving uphill at 50mph. With a chassis dyno it's possible. Even with a 20 year old dyno. That's why I'm seriously considering it. Plus it would be handy in diagnosing brake problems. Being a twin drum design, it can show you left/right brake differentials. There are many more uses as well. Even if it isn't fancy it is functional. That's why I'm considering it for the price.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet