I work next door to a place called Mike's Mustangs. They do custom engine work on mostly Mustangs (duh!), but will work on most Fords if you have the dough. They put blowers on 'Stangs alot. About once a week, they bring in a portable Dyno. It's on a 5th wheel trailer. They set it up in the parking lot and drive the cars up on it. We get to listen to some VERY HEALTHY american V8's all day.
They use it to fine tune computer controlled engine managemnt systems. These control fuel injection, ignition timing, and I guess sometimes the shifting of auto trannies. They will run the car through the gears, then when in top gear, put the pedal to the metal. Sweet sounds!! (Most of the time). That gives them a base line. Then with a lap top computer hooked up, they start adjusting the EMS and re-running the car until they get max HP and torque, throttle response, ect. These are things that really can't be properly done by the "home mechanic" any more. Next best thing is to take the car to a drag strip and start running the strip and checking ET's and top MPH after each adjustment.
I've been gonna have them put my diesel up on it just for a chuckle. I think they charge something like $30.00 to just do a one-time run through. Would be worth the $30 bucks just to see when the turbo really does kick in on the 'ol Benz
