Dynomation

[Chad D]

It's got a great pedigree, but has anyone here actually used it?  I'm all for research before throwing time and money into a build, but at $600, some confidence in the results would be nice.

If you've got experience with it, I'd love to hear about it.

Chad

[jayb]

I bought it, and I think it sucks.  The analyzer from Performance Trends is head and shoulders above that Dynomation software.  JMO - Jay

[Chad D]

I bought it, and I think it sucks.  The analyzer from Performance Trends is head and shoulders above that Dynomation software.  JMO - Jay

Yowza!  That's quite a damning report!  Interface, accuracy, or the whole shootin' match sucks?  What version were you using?  What versions of the PT software do you use?

[jayb]

I don't have the software handy so I can't answer some of your questions, but the whole thing seemed extremely dumbed down to me.  For example, on intake manifolds if you wanted to test a sheet metal manifold, you had one selection.  With the Performance Trends software, you can vary the runner length, runner diameter, and taper of the runner, plus the plenum volume, to see what the effects would be on the horsepower curve.

The software I'm using was purchased quite a while ago, around 2006 I believe.  I'm sure there are more current versions available than what I have, but unless they've made radical improvements to the Dynomation software it just doesn't measure up.  By the way, according to a Ford engineer I know who works on their boosted engine projects, Ford uses the Performance Trends software.

[Chad D]

That seems odd... Dynomation proffered the ability to use wave tuning and other 'magic', much like PT Engine Simulator does.  Desktop Dyno is certainly a dumbed down package, enough to frustrate anyone but the most rank novice.  If I remember correctly, the company that publishes Desktop Dyno also bought Dynomation a while back from the original author (a former ISU professor).  Perhaps when they merged, they lost some IQ points.

In any case, the price is a bit nicer with PT, and the fact that FoMoCo uses it, is enough to sway my choice.

As a side note, should I have posted this in the non-FE forum?  I'd hate to be the new guy that muddies up established etiquette.

[jayb]

This is a perfectly legitimate topic for the technical forum; no issues there.

[Chad D]

Excellent.  Thanks for your opinions.