[urq] Turbocharging & Elevations

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/13/2004 12:11:46 PM Central Standard Time, 
johnkoenig at greennet.net writes:
>My only complaint is that defined standards and recognized units of
>measurement exist for sound reasons, and "whp" is neither.  It's all bhp,
>even on a chassis dyno.  I don't even mind "wheel horsepower" 'cause, you
>know, English works pretty well.  I just hate making up imaginary units.

Er, Wheel Horsepower is WHP, whp, Whp, by definition.  Think of it as 
horsepower measured at the wheels, not at the crank.  As a point in fact, you and I 
both know that any dynomometer number is an imaginary unit, cuz it makes a LOT 
of assumptions wrt BMEP and averages many of the inputs.

>Of course, we live in a world of ATM machines, VIN numbers and where
>"flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing.  I even remember when
>"tuning" meant optimizing performance and efficiency!  I guess I'd better
>just get over it!!!

Most would argue the 'goal' of tuning or the effect of tuning will either 
optimize Volumetric or Thermal Effieciencies, or it won't.  The WHP is used as a 
tool to evaluate that.  As such, it's a real world practical application of 
pretty nerdy SAE and Physics Principles.  Personally, I'd take ATWHPu or RWHPu 
(at the wheels horsepower or rear wheel horsepower - uncorrected) before I'd 
take an engine dyno number.  Why, cuz an engine dyno is only a static test of 
dynamic conditions.  More clearly put WHP is a more accurate number, and 
certainly with enough 'n', is more real world than some SAE engineers optimizing a 
single engine for a given test.

I'm a 1/4mile guy at heart, several of us old timers (pre gizmo guys) have 
those tables and conversions in their head.  This thread dragged a long way from 
uncorrected chassis dyno horsepower.  The problem I suspect is that 
uncorrected numbers aren't impressive, I suggest that they are useful tools/numbers 
unto themselves.  Trying to 'correct' it, IMO/E means that it's no longer the 
right tool, or one is trying to change the purpose and intent for using it.

Put it on the chassis dyno, whiskey straight up.

Scott J