So we recently took delivery of our new dyno, a sweet little Dynojet that is in our tech center here in Tampa, Florida. Soon we'll be getting new lifts and all new Snap-on tools and equipment too. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Earlier this week I braved the typical Florida hurricane season rains and the wonderful I-4 traffic (you know the Toasters I talked about in my August Oval Office column) so that I could bring my '66 Mustang in for some pulls on the dyno in the name of performance parts upgrades. While the engine was dyno tested when it was built (before being installed in the car), the Mustang has led a rather sedate life of show car, weekend cruiser, and even pulling some parade duty now and then. In the nearly eight years since the car has been running and on the road it has maybe 6K miles on it. So, strapping it down to our dyno and watching the Rally-Pac slowly twist north of 5,000 rpm (when it rarely sees over 3,000 while cruising) was a bit unsettling.
Thankfully, even after eight hard dyno runs to almost 6,000 rpm, the Mustang held together. Not that we didn't expect it to, it's an extremely solid engine with lots of little hidden tricks to beef it up and the C4 auto was pro-built with the good stuff in it too from Dynamic Racing Transmissions. No, it's just sitting there in the driver's seat watching the tach and listing to the sound of what feels like all hell breaking loose and knowing it is YOUR car and not some video on You Tube if something should let go is what puts that knot in your stomach. After braving more rain, and more toasters, I made it home safe and sound. I gave the Mustang a good detailing and put it back in the garage, tucking it in for the week and giving it a quick pat on the fender as I rolled the car cover over it. I think I even muttered out loud to myself "good girl" while I was doing it.
Maybe when the rains settle down and the skies look good I'll bring the Factory Five Roadster in for a few pulls. With a 427 stroked Windsor and side pipes that should really tick off a few co-workers trying to get their work done! Oh, and for numbers, well, sorry, you'll just have to wait for the story to come out in the magazine! ;-)
Mark