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A few last minute adjustments before getting set up on the Mustang dyno.
As MotoIQ readers are incredibly inquisitive and pick up on things that appear to be inconsistent with the build, read on to find out why this very well built Vibrant Manual Boost controller is being used.In keeping with Frank's Law (it used to be known as Murphy's Law, but since it happens to me so often I have taken the liberty of renaming the law Frank's!) just before the car went on the dyno, the boost solenoid broke. Literally, and in such a manner that it could not be put back together again. Since the push is on to get the NX GTi-R to the Knox Mountain Hill Climb on May 20 and 21, time was really against us. Since a boost solenoid was not quickly available, this meant putting a boost controller into play. This Vibrant unit is a very well made and easy to use device. The body is T6061 Billet Aluminum with an anodized finish. The huge brass adjustment knob is very easy to manipulate but solidly clicks into place. Paulo, as a tuner, was impressed with the unit and how it worked. While I will be getting a solenoid for ongoing use, like other Vibrant products this is a quality piece.
Once strapped onto the dyno, Paulo continued the warm-up, running it through the gears a few times. He did a dyno run while the engine was cool and later followed that up with a run while the engine was hotter to simulate track conditions. The performance during these separate runs was nearly identical. The fans are not out in these photos, but there are a few of them plus outside air vents to provide plenty of fresh, cool air while on the dyno.
I think this photo speaks for itself.The focus at the shop is to create a healthy tune for a reliable track warrior. Power is secondary. Paulo cautioned me from the beginning of our process to not get caught up in numbers and, if bigger numbers were the goal then an even larger turbo could be sourced. Paulo and the AES Auto team also let me know that the AES Auto dyno reads low. Obviously, we did not have any previous numbers for the NX GTi-R from this dyno to use as a comparison. The butt dyno has not been put to use to make comparisons and, even if it were, the tracks that I would previously use as benchmarks are now five days drive away. That is not going to happen. When Mike and I had our initial conversation in 2015 at the SuperLap Battle my goal was a respectable 325 whp. After working with AES Auto, I am very pleased with the numbers that the car produced on their Mustang Dyno. What it would read on another dyno is of little interest to me, but it is quite possible that it could read 325 whp elsewhere. That really is not an issue because I am old enough that I do not need to brag about horsepower. (At least, I think I'm old enough.) The fact that the power did not carry past 7000 RPM surprised me but was quite consistent across several runs over two different days. That it has a proper tune and will be a reliable tune is key. And, I am confident that is exactly what I have.
There is a lot of work going on at AES Auto in Burnaby, B.C. I am glad that Carlos connected me with them because we have accomplished a considerable amount over the past few weeks. They are my new shop and tuner here on Canada's west coast. AES Auto will be joining me at Knox Mountain to spectate at the event but also to ensure that the NX GTi-R is running well under real life conditions. Plus they will have at least two other cars they have tuned running in the event.The next article about the NX GTi-R will hopefully be from the hill. Specifically, the 60th annual running of the Knox Mountain Hill Climb in Kelowna, B.C. I believe it is the oldest, continuously running hill climb in North America.
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