How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Well Ive been street tuning a few cars lately and I'd like to start offering people the option of getting dyno tuned.
But ive never even been to a dyno or had my car on one. Id just like to ask some advice from the OG's on how to take care of the car while dyno tuning, And how to not waste time. So how do you guys manage a dyno tuning session?
And I'd like to thank most of the people in here for helping me get to where I am now. Ive learned a lot from you guys.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

good running car that about it

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

First, put on the wideband and set up all your ---- prior to arriving. That will save you a ton of time. Make sure everything is working, especially the vehicle.

Secondly, if they are required to operate the dyno, don't let them for a second, wander around or leave. Some places try to screw you by doing that.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Make sure the car doesn't smoke, leak, or have any issues that make you look like an ass. Tell the vehicle owner as much - "I'm going to look like a real dildo strapping your car to a drum with how it smokes, fix your broken ----, dildo." It is important to do this. Some dyno shops will refer business to you if they think you have your head out of your ass.

Make sure the boost controller is already installed and you've tested that it works. I've had a dozen situations where the boost controller isn't installed "It'll only take, like, two minutes. We'll do it when the boost needs to be turned up" and then they realise they don't have the installation instructions and have to drop $50 in dyno time ------- around over something basic. Plus I've never seen a Greddy Profec B spec 2 that worked, and that OMG JDM HT-APPROVERD Turbosmart digital pillar mounted EBC has failled both times I've tried to use one. "The boost controller isn't installed and tested? Get fisted, you are a n00b and you are deliberately wasting my time."

Remember every time you walk into a strange dyno shop... you are either going to be confronted with complete idiots or someone who knows a lot more about tuning than you do. I've met tools, I've met regular people working hard and learning their lessons, I've met people who are what I'll be in five years, and I've met wise, wise old men. The latter two are pretty rare, sadly.


Max is correct, some places want you to pay $100/hr and stick you to handle the machine. Well, ---- them, I'd rather operate the dyno myself anyway. Dynojet, Dyno Dynamics, Dynocom so far, hopefully Mustang come June. It's not always possible if the dyno's computer monitor is stuck somewhere ------- stupid where you can't see it. Dyno4mance outside Atlanta has a couple projector units they use so you can't ----------ing miss a lick. Good stuff, but they don't stick you to operate the machine yourself. I run dual laptops on BRMS' Dynocom (I sorta work there?), one to tune and one to dyno with, and have another guy operate the car on the rollers... good setup, but I really need to make a kill switch so I can turn the vehicle off if AFRs get stupid or power output drops for no reason. Yelling real loud or throwing your Taco Bell at the driver works, but one day the car will be too loud or I'll miss.

Best thing you can do the first time you're dyno tuning? Let go of the steering wheel at some point. If the car is strapped correctly the car won't go anywhere, but all the tire smoke and everybody running around freaking out is great.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Strap sideways, not just crossed up front and back. ;)

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

LoL I'll have to do that. Thanks for all the good advice guys Ive got three people wanting me to dyno tune their cars for them :o Ive already street tuned one of them and it's a clean straight car so I really don't see it being to much trouble. We'll see about the other two.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Ill 2nd the "get the boost controller setup first". Theres nothing like jerking off for 4 or 5 runs trying to get it set right.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

I spent 9 hours on a dyno fixing problems with a car that came in running pretty solid no cel's so if your cool with the peps of the cars just do a solid go through bring tools test light, timing gun, manual the list goes on. On the actual dyno was like 3 hours but the Guy was way cool and charged us for the 3 that doesnt happen in the normal world

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

+1

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Yeah I want to upgrade to a digital unit but I'm waiting for this tuning stuff to finance it.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

I've never seen the use for a digital timing light or a timing advance light, there is no point in them. Timing advance functions are useless, the only thing I can figure they are for is so that stupid kids who don't know how a timing light works can totally mis-set their timing and blame me for their mistakes.

Either your timing marks line right up on a $10 fleamarket no-frills Actron or something somewhere is ------- wrong with your car. Just because you can get some marks to line up at some arbitrary advance that has nothing to do with anything on your decked/milled D16 with D15 crank pulley and Y8 head means absolutely nothing.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Cool I'll save my hunded dollas then.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Good idea. I bought a digital one mainly for the slim body, but advance functions are not needed.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Take your car to the dyno once first...ask the owner if he will let you use the dyno on your own car, to figure out the functions and the best ways to use it to your advantage.

Then bring a customer there with you or you might look like a dildo O0

Dont bring a customer with you as your first trip to the dyno...

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

LMAO Yeah man that would be a bad Idea. I know it took me about a week to get comfortable with crome and my burn1 and getting freelog to work right. It took me an hour of fiddling last week to get the Otsrich you sent me setup and going. I definatly don't want to get used to a dyno with someone with 150 bucks to their name tapping their toes and looking at the clock while I figure out simple ---- for the first time.

I'll call around and see if anyone would be cool with me doing just that and not rape me at the same time.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

i only wish some of you were local / near by. the ---- birds around my area are known for two things: tuning mustangs and blowing up honda's.

good luck btw :6

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Blowing up Hondas is common knowledge. I watched has a young kid people ---- up basic turbo/nitrous set ups. Things dont change people are still retarded. The best yet is still the wet nitrous kits without the wet :)

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

yep i know someone who blew 2 motors because he never put the "pills" in the lines :-X

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

That must've been a site to see.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

this is some interesting stuff. i have always wondered how dyno sessions went. i have never been myself, but hopefully my car will be ready soon. i always wondered how much they let you do. i dont mind them running the machine, but i dont want them tuning my car. "I" know what "I" want.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

I do like the digital RPM readout. I know I can datalog it on my car, but not every other car.

Seriously, best thing you can do is as much as you can outside the shop. Get a basic afr tune at two low psi levels, then scale the cells accordingly. Then its a matter of a quick adjustment to afr's, then all timing.

You won't find that many people willing to dick with your car. They'll be the usual guys handing out the usually bad, biased advice, but there are a couple that offer good suggestions unobtrusively.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Pretty much.

Re: How do you handle a car on a dyno?
 

Good advice. Thats how I like to do it too. Hammer out what the fuel curve looks like, and the higher boost levels will fall in line w/ minimal adjustments.