Jump to content

Photo

Test results from 1.6 header cleanup?

- - - - -

  • Please log in to reply
70 replies to this topic

#41
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts
OK, this is a long one but hopefully leaves less room for misunderstanding.

First: I am not trying to be argumentative here or convince anyone that I am right and they are wrong, or that the allowed header mods are worthless. This topic was started purely for the purpose of comparing results after having asked a number of people privately in the weeks since my tests.

A bit more explanation of the placebo remark. During the debates about possible 1.6 allowances my position against lightening the stock flywheel was that while not a zero net gain and I would absolutely do it if allowed, the benefits would be so small as to be negligible above 2nd gear and far, far below what "conventional wisdom" suggests. I was asked by an SMAC member to back that up with the math and did so, and several others followed with comparable results using various methods. BTW, this is just one of countless examples of people doing something for years with (very nearly) zero net gain. An even better example is a cheater alloy driveshaft. Do the math on dropping a couple pounds from something only a few inches in diameter, but be sure to work with plenty of significant digits to the right of the decimal. As I said all through that debate, not absolutely zero, of course, but far below what most seemed to believe, and my oft stated concern was that the value of such an allowance would be misunderstood so when it didn't seem to help we would get something like "we gave you the flywheel, now you want more." And we would have only ourselves to blame. BTW, I never claimed that the 1.6 needed help but wanted to be sure that if it was so deemed that the help was actually material. And THAT was when I started referring to placebos in this context. Not to suggest intent, so a poor choice of word, but otherwise it conveys the potential problem. My vocabulary lacks, give me a better word so it doesn't require a paragraph to explain next time.

Sean, I get your irritation given that I was not adequately clear in my post, but setting aside this instance for a moment can you point to even a single case in the past when I spoke in unsupported absolutes or put myself forth as the sole arbiter of what is best for anything? I will gladly reconsider and rephrase if I gave that impression. In the recent discussion of SMSE others were slamming it as if they alone know what's "best", and the most vocal was positively offended to have been left out of the decision process. It wasn't me. :) Meanwhile I repeatedly examined the subject from all sides, asked questions to learn more and voiced skepticism of anyone who was adamant that they had all the answers. Anyway, because I value your respect please go back and reread my posts with a new understanding of what I was really trying to say and ask.

As for your dyno numbers, "wow" doesn't really cover it. But please allow me to ask some questions and make some points for your consideration. Again, non-confrontational.

- Without giving up any secrets, did you use a flow bench or other special knowledge to do a "better" job of grinding away the welds than joe-average might do? At the ports it would appear that the answer is No. Is that correct? What about at the collector?

- What relevant temperatures did you monitor and control? Did you simulate real-world conditions on those? For example, IATs on the engine dyno are likely to be quite different than we see on track, though the new turn indicator delete will reduce that significantly. Still, the unobstructed availability of cooler air inherently means more power potential which in turn requires more flow and so more potential benefit from the improved header. Would you agree?

- Did it require any re-tuning after the modifications, and if so what and about how much?

- You stated that this was already an A+ engine on the chassis dyno, that too would be consistent with the notion that an already strong engine (for whatever reason) is more likely to benefit from improved flow capacity. True?

Again referring back to my original posts, it may be that OUR engines/cars are unable to take advantage of the theoretical benefits. That is a possibility I was hoping to explore. To quote myself from the controversial post "Perhaps if we were making better power then this would show benefits, but first we need to figure out where our engines are weak." For example, one of our cars has at times had what was sold as a "good" intake manifold but never made more power than the others. Because we never observed any difference we haven't done controlled comparison tests. I have no idea how much of a variable they really are or how many have been tweaked, but that is potentially a more limiting factor which reduces the benefits of the header mods. After all, the pump is a system and its efficiency depends on all the parts working together. Improving efficiency of the output is of limited value if the intake is choked down.

Regarding engine dyno vs chassis dyno, as my questions above already telegraphed I'm not certain that either one is clearly the "most accurate" for these tests. Neither simulates the real-world but in some ways the chassis dyno is a little closer IF used properly. In my case I can simulate the functionality of a computer-controlled engine dyno with fixed-load at variable RPM, fixed RPM at variable loads, ramped runs in steps of x RPM for a number of seconds per step, etc. True there are the additional variables of the drivetrain, but once up to temperature and kept there they are pretty much constants and have the benefit of being "real world". I think it could be argued that the chassis dyno presents the engine with a more realistic load as well, though I don't know if that's at all relevant.

I would love to have an engine dyno, no doubt, and I am pleased that you are able to share those results. That is valuable data to be sure. However, assuming I have even a slight clue using my dyno I don't think your results invalidate mine just because of the equipment used,or vise-versa. Which leaves me with more questions than answers so far.

Consider my results from my perspective for a moment taking in to account more than just this isolated test data.

We have been using the same dyno for years and have continuously refined our testing process to get repeatable results. The two engines we built last year are nearly indistinguishable when tuned the best we know how and under identical conditions, yet we can identify small variances when conditions or tuning variables change. The headers I tested had welds at least as big as those in your pictures, I'd say bigger. It seems highly probable that if those welds represented a meaningful flow restriction for that engine, then simply removing them should show up as some kind of change in my tests. It is all but impossible that the two just coincidentally became "equal" only after one was modified so dramatically, which means it is far more likely that the modification made no measurable difference on THIS engine in this car. Does that seem like a reasonable hypothesis? [noun. A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. A proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth.]

And that lead me to start inquiring. But for one careless word I might have kept things on topic and avoided my longest ever post from a phone.

Todd, feel free to count me among those who don't know what they're doing because I certainly still learn something new each time I experiment or read about someone else's endeavors. Hopefully I'm not alone. In this case I at least am working from first-hand collection of data under carefully controlled conditions, yet I doubted my own results so rather than jumping on here and declaring anything as fact, I started asking people. The responses, from people who theoretically do know what they are doing, were mixed, so I came here to ask the broader community. Read the first post again and I think you will agree that I did it politely, being clear that it was our "first attempt" and the limits of the test. If your only real complaint is about my later use of the word placebo then fine, my mistake, I'll write off the personal insults as provoked. If you have some constructive questions or suggestions regarding my data and testing, I am eager to engage.

Ralph, thanks for the kind words. Please accept my explanation of the placebo issue, absolutely no intent to imply conspiracy of any kind. To even suggest that you must think I'm pretty loopy. Look back over the years and count the number of times I was not proved correct about things I said that then drew derisive black helicopter posts from some people. Seriously, try it. I could create a post longer than this of examples where I was proved right. That's not braggadocio or exaggeration, my name is not Trump, but I think your recounting of the past is casting an undeserved shadow on me (maybe from a white helicopter :) ).
  • dstevens and 38bfast like this
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#42
38bfast

38bfast

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,113 posts
  • Location:Sterling Heights, MI
  • Region:OVR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:38
See Steve I told you I suck at it. And yes many times your helicopter has been white. ;)
  • Jim Drago likes this
Ralph Provitz
V2 Motorsports

#43
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts

We did the upgrades and found the same gains that were posted on the previous page. The car turned it's fastest lap ever and was consistently faster throughout each session, it didn't fall off as bad. I was able to maintain visible distance with the overall winner (5 seconds) and stayed with secondary leading group at Sebring long which wouldn't have been possible in the past.

I appreciate the upgrades from the SMAC and feel the car is better and can turn a faster lap, but if it's going to compete for an overall win in a hyper competitive field it's going to need some more love. Just my thoughts from some recent on track experience.


Thanks John, I don't doubt that collectively the new rules will help, which is why I proposed the turn indicator delete as a way to stabilize IATs. When you say you observed the same gains (as Sean?), did you do back-to-back dyno tests on the header mods alone?
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#44
Rob Burgoon

Rob Burgoon

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,465 posts
  • Location:San Diego
  • Car Year:1995
  • Car Number:91

Tom... To be fair, Steve said the following:

 

"But the bad news is that this little gift will do nothing for us against other models.  The last thing we needed was a placebo"

 

When I read this originally, I myself wrote up at least 3 versions of a nastygram back at Steve, but I though better of it, but that does not mean that it is still not offensive for those volunteering their time to do what is best for the class.

 

My heartburn with the comments is that Steve is implying that he is the official arbiter of what changes will do what against other models.  I guess the "us" he was referring to could have been you and him, but the implication is a much larger one.  Maybe I mis-read it I don't know.  I know you are both good guys and also want whats best for this class but it sometimes gets old when people come on these forums and talk about absolutes that are simply not true.  Once car, one race, one dyno, one region is not applicable for the entire SM community.

 

The placebo comment put it over the top for me.  It's a slap in the face to those on the SMAC and those who are volunteering their time to help the SMAC with testing with real world on track results and data.  We do not and will not approve "placebo's" and honestly I think Steve should apologize for that comment.  As we are all aware the internet is often hard to decipher tone and intent so maybe Todd and I mis-read the intent and if I mis-read it, then you have my apologies.

 

We all want the same things and at the end of the day are racing in the best class in the country.

 

Thanks.... Sean

 

Seems overly sensitive to me.  Steve's comments were 100% appropriate for the data he collected.  If you can't handle that, maybe the SMAC isn't a good place for you.


  • dstevens likes this
Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations!

#45
Steve Scheifler

Steve Scheifler

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,816 posts
Geez Rob, with friends like you... :lol: seriously, I get why they might have been a little bit tweaked given how my words were interpreted, though that could be seen as either a compliment or a sign of pre-disposition to expecting crap from me. Whatever, let's move on!
  • Jim Drago likes this
Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record.

#46
Bruce Wilson

Bruce Wilson

    Gold Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 663 posts
  • Region:Oregon
  • Car Year:1991
  • Car Number:68

Move on. 

 

Rob, whatever....


I have an opinion so I must be right

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Survivalist - Won 25 Hours at Thunderhill! We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#47
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

Weird when we had one 16 car winning majors without these changes... "you can't compare one car".. when one car is being beat by guys with good 99's that win majors.. The 1.6 still needs a little love :)

 

I am not disagreeing with you on that point.  I think this is a step in the right direction, but you are right, we cant just compare his car to my car.  I also don't think that we can use just one race as something we make rules off of either.  I would like to see how the new 1.6 rules play out for at least the rest of the year before making any more changes to it.  Allow all the 1.6 guys to catch up, throw todd buras back in the 1.6 and see what he can do.  I think the issue now may be, "we give you an inch and you want a mile"  kind of deal.  


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#48
John Wilding

John Wilding

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 80 posts
  • Location:United States
  • Region:CFR / Southeast
  • Car Year:1991
  • Car Number:126

Thanks John, I don't doubt that collectively the new rules will help, which is why I proposed the turn indicator delete as a way to stabilize IATs. When you say you observed the same gains (as Sean?), did you do back-to-back dyno tests on the header mods alone?

 

Hey Steve, so the shop (BSI Racing) did an initial dyno run with the car as was, then they cleaned up a manifold they had in shop, took the manifold off my car and cleaned it up and dyno'd both. The one on the car now posted the better result....with that being said, I don't know how the other cleaned up manifold performed. 



#49
John Wilding

John Wilding

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 80 posts
  • Location:United States
  • Region:CFR / Southeast
  • Car Year:1991
  • Car Number:126

Weird when we had one 16 car winning majors without these changes... "you can't compare one car".. when one car is being beat by guys with good 99's that win majors.. The 1.6 still needs a little love :)

 

You guys are a tough crowd.  :)

 

I am coming from an engine that had 112 hp, we ran that engine from 2003 - 2015 until it finally died. Now with my new engine I am running much further up the field; then add in the new improvements, and I can see the leaders throughout a 30 minute race, which makes me ecstatic, so I am not complaining...quite the contrary actually.   

 

The improvements helped for sure, but as I stated; I am still trying to knock my own personal rust off and need some work, but I still feel like I ran a pretty decent race with not too many major mistakes. From my perspective the car felt more competitive, especially at the start of the race, but I still think the temps got the best of the car towards the end. That is what I saying about a little more love. 

 

Maybe allowing us to remove the headlight for a little more cool air?  :)


  • Danica Davison and racerbeav like this

#50
Caveman-kwebb99

Caveman-kwebb99

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,062 posts
  • Location:World Wide
  • Region:Great lakes
  • Car Year:2000
  • Car Number:99
Wilder what radiator is in your car?

K. Webb
Powered by East Street Racing (Best engines in Spec Miata)

Driver coach, Spec Miata Prep shop, Spec Miata Setup

2016 Hard Charger award passing 12 cars runoffs 2016 Mid Ohio

2016 P3 RUNOFFS OVER 40 DIVISION LOL!

2015 First consolation prize Northern Conference Majors Title Pageant
2015 Winner Circus Cat Majors Road America

2015 Winner BlackHawk Majors crash fest

My Signature is still not as long as Danny boy's
 

 

 

Donor - Made PayPal donation Majors Winner - Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#51
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2

You guys are a tough crowd.  :)
 
I am coming from an engine that had 112 hp, we ran that engine from 2003 - 2015 until it finally died. Now with my new engine I am running much further up the field; then add in the new improvements, and I can see the leaders throughout a 30 minute race, which makes me ecstatic, so I am not complaining...quite the contrary actually.   
 
The improvements helped for sure, but as I stated; I am still trying to knock my own personal rust off and need some work, but I still feel like I ran a pretty decent race with not too many major mistakes. From my perspective the car felt more competitive, especially at the start of the race, but I still think the temps got the best of the car towards the end. That is what I saying about a little more love. 
 
Maybe allowing us to remove the headlight for a little more cool air?  :)


understood and not picking.. but maybe look within and getting the most out of what already allows before asking for more? It seems you ran very competitive with some very talented and well prepped cars.. who were not knocking any rust off and very doubtful on their second engine in 14 years :) Glad you are doing well and hope more 1.6 cars start doing well. Just caution that the car doesn't always need rules help because people (all, not you) arent winning in the car
  • Danica Davison likes this

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#52
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14

John W., enjoyed the video ride. Would it be fair to say your hands were a bunch busier later in the race? Understand the rust.

 

Back in the day (inspecting others engines) Steve wore the white hat. Most of his comments were suggestive and not slamming as I recall.

 

Thanks for the info/data folks.


  • John Wilding likes this
Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#53
John Wilding

John Wilding

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 80 posts
  • Location:United States
  • Region:CFR / Southeast
  • Car Year:1991
  • Car Number:126

Wilder what radiator is in your car?

 

It's a Springfield Dyno. 



#54
John Wilding

John Wilding

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 80 posts
  • Location:United States
  • Region:CFR / Southeast
  • Car Year:1991
  • Car Number:126

understood and not picking.. but maybe look within and getting the most out of what already allows before asking for more? It seems you ran very competitive with some very talented and well prepped cars.. who were not knocking any rust off and very doubtful on their second engine in 14 years :) Glad you are doing well and hope more 1.6 cars start doing well. Just caution that the car doesn't always need rules help because people (all, not you) arent winning in the car

 

Touche sir, I get what you're saying. I may have jumped the gun on asking for more after one race. Thankfully the car is in good shape so I plan to venture out to some more tracks this year, so I'll be able to see how it does in other settings. 

 

I really am excited about the new updates and am thankful the SMAC threw the 1.6 a bone. 


  • Jim Drago and Danica Davison like this

#55
dstevens

dstevens

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,404 posts
  • Location:Vegas
  • Region:LVR

 my name is not Trump,  

 

Perhaps not though that post was yuuuge....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:hatchet:  :angel:  :hugegrin:


  • Jim Drago and ECOBRAP like this

#56
wheel

wheel

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 800 posts
  • Location:Kansas City
  • Region:KC
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:20

yuuuge??



#57
Tom Hampton

Tom Hampton

    Egregious Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,060 posts
  • Location:Mckinney, tx
  • Region:South west
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:41

yuuuge??


Trump-ish pronounciation of "huge" as in "gigantic".


  • Jim Drago likes this

-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info

video: vimeo.com/tomhampton

Support: X-Factor Racing

 

I didn't lose, I just got outspent!

Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#58
Johnny D

Johnny D

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 6,121 posts
  • Location:Fremont, CA
  • Region:San Francisco
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:88


  • Danica Davison likes this
2011 NASA Western Endurance Racing Championship E3 Champ
We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#59
Rob Burgoon

Rob Burgoon

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,465 posts
  • Location:San Diego
  • Car Year:1995
  • Car Number:91

Geez Rob, with friends like you... :lol: seriously, I get why they might have been a little bit tweaked given how my words were interpreted, though that could be seen as either a compliment or a sign of pre-disposition to expecting crap from me. Whatever, let's move on!

 

Folks in public positions need to not take things personally, but agree, let's focus on the headers.


  • dstevens likes this
Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations!

#60
Tom Sager

Tom Sager

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,693 posts
  • Location:Chicago Suburbs
  • Region:Central
  • Car Year:1996
  • Car Number:94

yuuuge??


  • dstevens likes this
Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users