Big Day at the Dyno!

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Dave
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Big Day at the Dyno!

Post by Dave »

With the “new technology vs. retro technology� debate raging on in another post, I thought folks might be interested in seeing one of the yet unmentioned benefits of running a modern engine. That benefit is the ease at which you can tune the engine for more power. So, lay down your wrench, your screwdriver, and your box full of carb jets, needles, emulsion tubes, and air bleeds. You won’t need them where we’re going. Folks, we’re heading into the 21st century. If you’re uncomfortable with this, please, stop reading now....

I dyno tested my SR20-DET shortly after installing it in my roadster and came up with this:

http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=49

Just shy of 170 HP and 150 lb ft torque at the rear wheels. Right about where a dead stock SR20-DET with 40k on the clock should be.

With NOTHING MORE than the addition of an electronic boost controller, my new dyno numbers are this:

http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=97

223 Hp and 222 lb ft torque at the rear wheels. That’s a gain of 54 HP and 74 lb ft torque. Assuming a typical 15% driveline loss, I’m right at 256 HP and 255 lb ft torque at the flywheel. The best part is, the boost controller I purchased has a HI and LO setting. My LO setting is stock turbo boost levels so I can cruise around town all day long with stock HP. When I need that extra kick, I simply press one button.

Not only can you control the maximum amount of turbo boost you want to run, you can also adjust how early the turbo spools up and how rapidly. This allows you to keep a maximum HP, but adjust the area under the curve. Notice how my HP shoots up early on and stays up there as opposed to slowly increasing up to redline as it did before the boost controller. Also, peak torque is available at 4,500 RPM. I’ve read a lot of “the SR doesn’t have enough torque� comments. BS! All I can say is, I have as much torque at 2700 RPM as a U20’s peak torque! :P

So, what did it take to make those gains? Countless late nights and skinned knuckles, fiddling in the garage? No. $250, 2 hours of installation time, and $95 for an hour of dyno tuning. I challenge anyone with a U20 to make gains like that for under $350 and 3 hours work! Though I will admit I burned my finger with the soldering iron....
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
TR

Post by TR »

Dave,

That is very cool, congrats on finding what you wanted and implementing it. Double congrats on proving it was real!

When I get done with my 510 and turn my attention back to the roadster, I want the formula! TR
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Post by Crazy Backyard Builder »

Dave,

Good for you, The numbers are impressive. What is the boost set at on the high setting?


SR's rock.



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Dave
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Post by Dave »

Thanks for the kind words guys!

TR, you bet I'll share my "secret" numbers once you're ready. Just let me know. It really just came down to some playing around with the EBC to find the right combo.

CBB, I was running just under 12 Psi of boost. Another nice feature of modern technology is the ability to data-log:

http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=100
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
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Post by spl310 »

Good on you Dave! Technology can certainly do wonders for engines!

BTW, did you figure out what that ticking in your engine was?
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SR's

Post by toolsnob »

Dave,

Congrats...

SR's Rock! Mine is next.

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Dave
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Post by Dave »

It took a "real" mechanic to figure that ticking noise out. I was pulling my hair out and really worried that I had spun a main bearing. Reading too many posts about ticking noises had me paranoid! Turned out to be an exhaust leak of all things. My friend Tim who's a mechanic in Seattle gets the honors for figuring it out. I had him listen to the ticking noise. It took him about 0.2 seconds to say "sounds a lot like an exhaust leak. The old 6 cylinder Jeep Cherokees are famous for that. Sounds just like it." I poked around and sure enough, found the turbo flange mounting stud nuts had vibrated loose. I never would have thought an exhaust leak could make a ticking sound. Live and learn I guess.
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
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Post by Dave »

Yeah, sure did. You want me to e-mail it to you? It's a couple megs....
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
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Post by spriso »

Dave,

Fantastic numbers! Great to see that your car is working so well. You will need to bring it down to Corvallis so we can take it out for a test drive...

Michael
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Post by Minh »

Dave I bet your your are a very truely happy man. I am jealous for your joy. Congrats!!! You deserve it. :D
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Dave
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Post by Dave »

Thanks for the support, guys!

Michael, we need to talk brakes...Seriously :shock:

Got any trick ideas that will let me keep my beloved 14 inch Libres?
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
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Post by Datrock »

Dave , I like it...if you ever bring your car down to this end of the valley I would like to check out your car, my 68spl with the u20 might make make it from Lebanon to Corvallis. Just kidding.
Are you going to do a write up on your modifications, it would be nice too have the information to build a challenge car, not that I would do, I'm sure there are other sr20 people that would like to turn those #'s too, or see what #'s they can get with a setup like yours....Bill
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Dave
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Post by Dave »

Bill,

Travis did a very thorough write-up in the engine swap section on doing an SR20-DET swap. For the most part, I followed what he did. I then added an electronic boost controller to get those HP and torque numbers. That's it, I swear! It's almost too easy!

I may make it down that way in the coming weeks. But it's going to be tight. I just got my house on the market today and am heading out to Boston as soon as it sells. There's a ton of loose ends to wrap up. If it works out that the house sells, I quit my job, and still have a week or two on my hands to mill around Portland then I probably will head down that way. If it goes the other way: House sells, mad rush to pack, get U-Haul rented, and get out of the house ASAP so the new owners can move in, I may not have time.

Dave
Dave Kaplan

68 2000 Roadster - Now with GT2560R power!
SR20-DET: 223 rwhp, 222 lb-ft.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/698904
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