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Old 10-01-2007, 11:19 PM   #51
DSM_Outback
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Member#: 56345
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CO
Vehicle:
1997 OBS
Primer Grey

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Quote:
Originally Posted by jradams38 View Post
Even after all of this, people still find comparisons in dyno numbers still misleading. Has anyone ever entertained the idea of throwing out dyno data altogether? "The track" is the common response for most people, but unfortunately, it takes into account the driver and it's a terrible strain on your car. This is alright for competition, but when you want to know if you paid the right amount of money for your 20g, you want to see just the results of the car. How about accelerometers? Can't we derive the horsepower / torque via an accelerometer from the car's weight (with driver)? It seems like it would be a cheap, easy way to get fair figures. Besides, isn't this the most direct way to quantify the all-important "butt-dyno"?

I think the equation goes something like: Power = Acceleration x Mass x Velocity

If it's easier to measure 1) Acceleration, 2) Mass, and 3) Velocity -- which I think it is -- then why aren't we doing it? Are accelerometers unreliable? Most people have decently accurate speedometers, right? Mass isn't too terribly difficult to figure out.

I may be wrong, and as usual, I'm sure someone will point it out if that turns out to be the case.

EDIT: Oh, and I agree that it's futile to try to compare things too closely because of atmospheric conditions and the car's temperature of various parts.

J
The chassis dyno is very valid as long as there is consistency. Not really an end all for end numbers but simply verify gains vs baseline and try things out in a controlled environment and a dyno cell is much more a controlled environment than a racetrack as allows the users to pay much more attention to data in real time.
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