C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

>>To all Engine Pros>> 'COMPLETE ENGINE SIMULATION'

Old Jun 13, 2011 | 07:42 PM
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Default >>To all Engine Pros>> 'COMPLETE ENGINE SIMULATION'

Hi all you great guys!

Well, I am a German engineer who has lived here in the states for almost a year now and is just about to built his own C4 dream from scratch...
I will fill you in with all the details later on.

Thru various works I have also dealt with a lot of simulation works, mostly FEA or CFD on diversified applications.

To build up a nice LT-4 engine from scratch, I want to make everything work out well (with respect to performance) right from the beginning on. That being said, I would like to extensively simulate a few combos before actually buying all the parts and eventually find out a big trade-off from my initial expectations.

As I am aware of, there are the following common engine/dyno simulation software packages available:

1) Virtual Engine Dyno Professional from Challenger Engine Software

2) Engine Analyzer Professional from Performance Trends Inc.

3) Dynomation 5 from MotionSoftware Inc.

Which experience do you guys have with each of the software packages? Which one would you recommend for Chevy LT-X simulation?
Important also: From those results you know about - how close (accurate) are they to the real life dyno tests?

Thank you all very much for sharing your experience!
I'll keep you posted on my interesting project...

>Take care!
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by S_T_R_O_K_E_R
Hi all you great guys!

Well, I am a German engineer who has lived here in the states for almost a year now and is just about to built his own C4 dream from scratch...
I will fill you in with all the details later on.

Thru various works I have also dealt with a lot of simulation works, mostly FEA or CFD on diversified applications.

To build up a nice LT-4 engine from scratch, I want to make everything work out well (with respect to performance) right from the beginning on. That being said, I would like to extensively simulate a few combos before actually buying all the parts and eventually find out a big trade-off from my initial expectations.

As I am aware of, there are the following common engine/dyno simulation software packages available:

1) Virtual Engine Dyno Professional from Challenger Engine Software

2) Engine Analyzer Professional from Performance Trends Inc.

3) Dynomation 5 from MotionSoftware Inc.

Which experience do you guys have with each of the software packages? Which one would you recommend for Chevy LT-X simulation?
Important also: From those results you know about - how close (accurate) are they to the real life dyno tests?

Thank you all very much for sharing your experience!
I'll keep you posted on my interesting project...

>Take care!
I have used Engine Analyzer Professional a few years ago, the results were within 3% of dyno. A couple of people I spoke to had gotten within 1%. These were professional who had measured everything.
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 08:34 PM
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Don't waste your money on Virtual Engine software. I bought it and it was crap. Didn't work and the seller never tried to make it good.
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 11:05 PM
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EAPro is the most commonly used program that I know of. The shop owner that did my simulations said he'd gotten to the point he could predict 1/4m times off it. (Within .1-.2 seconds).

By going off the simulation, I did my WOT tuning by rpm. The result was very close. Close enough I could have gotten away w/o using WB data to confirm it.

For frequent readers, this was also the software Jake liked to use.
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 03:55 AM
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Ive here good things about desktop dyno. You may want to google "ryans 109 engine combo". Would make a good start for a build up on what parts work together
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 09:23 AM
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Performance Trends Engine Analyzer is the best sim software on the marrket. We have been using it in our race engine shop since the mid/late 90's.

Keep in mind it's just a simulation and depending on how good/bad your estimates for the cyl heads are it can be a bit optimistic on the peak HP numbers. Same as anything, Garbage in = Garbage out. Be as accurate as possible on your inputs and you'll get quality numbers.

The power peaks/curves in EA are always within a few hundred RPM and very helpful in mild street type engine builds (that won't be dynoed) for selecting stall converters and gearing.

I don't know what kind of power your looking for but there are 2 standout LT4 engine builds that were well documented here. I know them right off because I built one personally and gave some run of the mill internet advice to the other. These 2 engines would be a good starting places for your build.

blackharleymans 383 LT4 Build thread

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...-pictures.html

96GS#007's 383 LT4 Build thread

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...cess-pics.html

Good luck with your build.
Will
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by rklessdriver
Performance Trends Engine Analyzer is the best sim software on the marrket. We have been using it in our race engine shop since the mid/late 90's.

Keep in mind it's just a simulation and depending on how good/bad your estimates for the cyl heads are it can be a bit optimistic on the peak HP numbers. Same as anything, Garbage in = Garbage out. Be as accurate as possible on your inputs and you'll get quality numbers.

The power peaks/curves in EA are always within a few hundred RPM and very helpful in mild street type engine builds (that won't be dynoed) for selecting stall converters and gearing.

I don't know what kind of power your looking for but there are 2 standout LT4 engine builds that were well documented here. I know them right off because I built one personally and gave some run of the mill internet advice to the other. These 2 engines would be a good starting places for your build.

blackharleymans 383 LT4 Build thread

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...-pictures.html

96GS#007's 383 LT4 Build thread

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...cess-pics.html

Good luck with your build.
Will
Sorry for the delay... I am a little busy these days.
THANKS to ya'll for your answers

Thank you also for those links to the great Engine builds of 'BlackHarleyMan' and '96GS#007' - they both look pretty nice tho.

Will, do you know how much HP and TQ Noland's engine finally pulled? I mean after the fine tune etc. etc. (I gathered that by the end of his thread he still experienced some tune problems with the engine not revving the full power band...) His numbers would be interesting to see.

Today, I played around a little bit with the demo version of Engine Analyzer v3.9 It's really impressive but I will still need some time to figure the functions completely. But seems to be a very neat tool.

I was wondering if any of the specific data, especially of aftermarket heads and intake manifolds as well as LT-X cams is available. I mean, I could set them up from scratch but there is also some data required you wouldn't find on the manufacturers homepage or that just needs to be measured out by someone with the appropriate tools and knowledge. Know what I mean? U guys have an idea?

Thanks!
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 08:57 PM
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Default A few ideas that came to my mind...:

As I mentioned, I want to build a nice LT-4 engine for a 1996 corvette. A lot of people asked me why I would want to do this as the newer LS-X will allow me to put a lot more power in... Well, generally that's true but I (as you guys) like the LT based engines and their characteristics for various reasons. Also I think they were really innovative at that time...

But for reason being an engineer I am also constantly seeking for any kind of optimization
So, my thought was to maybe develop a head design which will allow direct fuel injection into the chamber - like ALL the modern European cars have today. Also I kinda see the trend for having oil pressure controlled valvetrain which - developed for american single cam V8 - would open a whole new gateway to performance!

So my question to you guys: What do you think, how would you like it?
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by S_T_R_O_K_E_R
Will, do you know how much HP and TQ Noland's engine finally pulled? I mean after the fine tune etc. etc. (I gathered that by the end of his thread he still experienced some tune problems with the engine not revving the full power band...) His numbers would be interesting to see.

I was wondering if any of the specific data, especially of aftermarket heads and intake manifolds as well as LT-X cams is available. I mean, I could set them up from scratch but there is also some data required you wouldn't find on the manufacturers homepage or that just needs to be measured out by someone with the appropriate tools and knowledge. Know what I mean? U guys have an idea?

Thanks!
Nolands problem was the way he routed the plug wires during the engine install, which allowed the tach lead for the dyno to pull the plug wire (and another attached to it) up against the header and burn the wires.... He never bothered to re-dyno the car after I found and fixed the problem. He does have about 20K miles on the engine since I built it and it's running fine. He's happy with it and thats all that matters to me. He has recently bought a 96 Grand Sport Vert and we are currently installing the engine into that car.

Engine Analyzer has a preconfigured intake manifold "library" (as well as one for cyl heads and one for camshafts). The LT1 intake is in there. You can input data for custom intakes or cyl heads if you like but you need to measure the MCSA of the port, know the port length and plenum/port volume, ect....

For something as simple as a SBC you won't need to do all that - As the info in the EA libraries are pretty extensive already and anything not in there.... You can easily modify an existing profile to do what you want - then save it for future use.
Will
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