[ScumOne]

I want to get my 69 Bird tested on a dyno after it's done being rebuilt, and I need a decent shop to do this in the Phoenix area.

It's not as easy to get this done as you'd think...two shops total that will test a Q-jet fed 400, if their websites are accurate (4 haven't been so far, and a few more never replied to my quote request).

Let me know if you know of a shop that does this in Phoenix, ok?
TIA

ScumOne / Jim

[ScumOne]

Ok, so this is it. Two shops will test my Bird. Most tell you "Sorry, we're an EFI shop mostly. Thanks for calling, have a nice day."

Loper's Performance Center
916 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014
602-264-5288
Open M-F 8 am - 5 pm
No appts until 1st week of October 2022

Speed Sports
235 N. Pasadena St
Gilbert, AZ 85233
480-539-4842
mark@speedsports.com
Closed on Tuesday and Thursday Approximately $250-300
7 days advance notice for appt.

Dyno-Comp
8295 E Raintree Dr suite a, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-596-0500 8:30 am - 5 pm
$150 for 4 pulls, $300-500 for multiple timing changes and four pulls per timing change. 3-5 day lead time for appt.

[Bruce Meyer]

Its cheaper and more accurate to go to the dragstrip and do your own tuning. Wild Horse Pass is still open. They close down next year.

[Formulajones]

A group of us used to get together and have a chassis dyno day a couple times a year at a couple different shops down there. One was in the Mesa area. That all sort of went away a few years ago as either fewer shops had the time for it, and/or they just simply went out of business.

Anymore I just prefer to use an engine dyno at the machine shop after the build is done to dial in the timing and get the tune "close" and then enjoy going to the track to tweak things in the car. I enjoy that more anyway.

The trick is going down on a club day or track rental when it's not 120 degrees outside LOL And those days available at the track are sparse. Test and tune nights are hard to get anything done, when it's crowded I'm lucky to get 2 passes in a night. That sometimes takes more than one trip. Even with that said, I still prefer the track.


A good time is with the ADRA. Rick has started his Pontiac racing participating with ADRA events, so you get to hang with like minded people and always fun. Unfortunately at the moment I think the schedule right now is all down in Tucson but he plans to have another event or two at Wildhorse either late this fall or early spring before they close.

[ScumOne]

Thanks for that info! Well, the Bird is back, but I haven't got time to take it to Phoenix yet since I'm so busy.

Here's a little before and after idle movie clips of the changes, though.

Basically stock 400, reduced to 9:1 compression with 067 can, #62 heads, stock exhaust manifolds (logs). This measured 202 RWHP 6 years ago.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/69bird/69idle.mov

This is with the KRE 65cc (260 cfm) as cast heads shaved down .030, Crower flat tappet hyd cam, Comp roller tip rockers (1.65) and push rods, Performer RPM intake, 850 cfm QJet, RARE long branch exhaust manifolds (same 2.25" exhaust pipes & mufflers as before) but it hasn't been timed or dialed in yet. The guesstimate is this will put out 450-500hp. It was raining when I picked it up on Tuesday in Prescott, so I wasn't able to go WOT. The response it had, though, was dramatically more potent, as you can imagine. I haven't done a compression check yet to see what the new heads raised that to, but calculators online put it around 10.5:1.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/69bird/new69idle.mov

[Formulajones]

My guess on a chassis dyno, without knowing other variables, it'll probably make about 300 rwhp and about 320 tq.

[promptcritical]

I think Chuck’s Speed Center in Phoenix will do it.

[ScumOne]

You're right, I just found them the other day. I was researching doing an EFI upgrade until I saw the cost. Yikes, I'll stick with a Q-jet.

[promptcritical]

Originally Posted by ScumOne

You're right, I just found them the other day. I was a researching doing an EFI upgrade until I saw the cost. Yikes, I'll stick with a Q-jet.

Will they do your car with the carb on it? I thought I talked to somebody that had his GTO tuned there, and I know it had a Q-jet on it. Maybe I misunderstood.

[ScumOne]

Originally Posted by promptcritical

Will they do your car with the carb on it? I thought I talked to somebody that had his GTO tuned there, and I know it had a Q-jet on it. Maybe I misunderstood.

I need to call them to find out. I’ve been a little busy between getting the car dialed in, putting 4-500miles on it to break in the motor and my wife suddenly put in the hospital for the last four days. Chassis Dyno is kind of a distant mark down the list!

[promptcritical]

Understand. I hope the best for your wife.

[1968GTO421]

Originally Posted by promptcritical

Understand. I hope the best for your wife.

X2!

My wife fractured her back in March this year, surprising how low on my priorities my GTO became.

[TammyTA]

Didn't know Chuck' or Lopers were still around. Bought a lot of stuff from them back in the 70's. May have to make a field trip .... for old times sake.

[Formulajones]

Lopers is still over on Indian School, I make the trip every so often from Prescott.

They did however close the other store they had in Mesa.