Engine Simulation Software

[Outlaw383]

In you guys opinion what is currently the best engine simulation software available. Mainly just want to be able to compare modifications of cams, heads , airflow etc. one to another and get a group of answers such as piston speed ,G's etc. Instead of doing an individual equation for each result. Thanks in advance for any input or recommendations.

[rebelrouser]

I like performance trends engine analyzer. They have two versions, but I only use the basic. I have a dyno in my shop and find if you put good numbers into it that it gives good accuracy. I like the spark curves it generates as well. Many times, a customer will tell me their engine has a certain static compression and I will input the specs for their engine and compare the cranking compression numbers to the real engine and work backward from there, I find a lot of people I guess just don't measure static compression when building because they are wrong 75% of the time. I just had a customer that we dynoed before pulling it apart for freshening. When he gave me the specs the program said engine should make 625hp it really made 538hp. After I got it apart flowed the heads and inputted the good measurements the program was 5hp stingy. He said he had 13.5 static compression and with his cam specs the program said it should have 200lbs cranking, it had 165 cranking. Just some examples how I use it.

I also like pipe max as well since I build headers from time to time. but the engine portion of the program is great as well.

[Stan Weiss]

I like performance trends engine analyzer. They have two versions, but I only use the basic. I have a dyno in my shop and find if you put good numbers into it that it gives good accuracy. I like the spark curves it generates as well. Many times, a customer will tell me their engine has a certain static compression and I will input the specs for their engine and compare the cranking compression numbers to the real engine and work backward from there, I find a lot of people I guess just don't measure static compression when building because they are wrong 75% of the time. I just had a customer that we dynoed before pulling it apart for freshening. When he gave me the specs the program said engine should make 625hp it really made 538hp. After I got it apart flowed the heads and inputted the good measurements the program was 5hp stingy. He said he had 13.5 static compression and with his cam specs the program said it should have 200lbs cranking, it had 165 cranking. Just some examples how I use it.

I also like pipe max as well since I build headers from time to time. but the engine portion of the program is great as well.

Did you measure his parts and calculate his CR? I also calculate cranking compression psi in my software. Unless you know the cam or have a Cam Dr files you can be off a good amount if the cam has a good amount of asymmetry. IVC is a very big factor. I have a Cam Dr file for a Crane cam where the ICL at very low lifter raise is way different that where it would be degree in at making IVC much different.

CAM_______Lift______Opens___Closes__Duration
_________________Deg_BTDC__Deg_ABDC_____________Area___ICL

_________0.00100____43.45_|_122.20_|_345.65_|__26.08_|_129.38
_________0.00200____38.67_|_108.57_|_327.24_|__26.06_|_124.95
_________0.00300____34.77_|_103.53_|_318.29_|__26.05_|_124.38
_________0.00400____31.84_|__98.92_|_310.76_|__26.04_|_123.54
_________0.00500____29.60_|__94.47_|_304.07_|__26.02_|_122.44
_________0.00600____27.77_|__90.14_|_297.90_|__26.00_|_121.19
_________0.01000____22.53_|__77.20_|_279.73_|__25.93_|_117.34
_________0.02000____14.78_|__65.40_|_260.18_|__25.78_|_115.31
_________0.04000_____5.21_|__54.28_|_239.49_|__25.46_|_114.53
_________0.05000_____1.45_|__50.18_|_231.64_|__25.27_|_114.37
_________0.10000___-14.18_|__33.72_|_199.54_|__24.05_|_113.95
_________0.15000___-28.41_|__19.15_|_170.75_|__22.12_|_113.78
_________0.20000___-43.49_|___4.01_|_140.51_|__19.43_|_113.75
_________0.25000___-61.28_|_-13.92_|_104.80_|__15.29_|_113.68
_________0.30000___-89.31_|_-41.84_|__48.86_|___7.44_|_113.74

Stan

[Outlaw383]

Thank you Rebelrouser for your response about Analyzer I'm thinking that may be one I end up purchasing I was looking at it already just trying to decide whether to go with the basic version of the Pro version. I definitely want to get pipe max as well. I've head tons of good things about it as far as header primary sizing and length among many other things . Thanks again

[RW TECH]

https://www.gtisoft.com/gt-power/

[Wesman07]

I like performance trends engine analyzer. They have two versions, but I only use the basic. I have a dyno in my shop and find if you put good numbers into it that it gives good accuracy. I like the spark curves it generates as well. Many times, a customer will tell me their engine has a certain static compression and I will input the specs for their engine and compare the cranking compression numbers to the real engine and work backward from there, I find a lot of people I guess just don't measure static compression when building because they are wrong 75% of the time. I just had a customer that we dynoed before pulling it apart for freshening. When he gave me the specs the program said engine should make 625hp it really made 538hp. After I got it apart flowed the heads and inputted the good measurements the program was 5hp stingy. He said he had 13.5 static compression and with his cam specs the program said it should have 200lbs cranking, it had 165 cranking. Just some examples how I use it.

I also like pipe max as well since I build headers from time to time. but the engine portion of the program is great as well.

How accurate do you find the knock index to be?

[rebelrouser]

I have a street car with a prochrger and electronic fuel injection a FiTech system which controls the timing. When setting up the injection timing tables I simply used the engine program entered 91 octane fuel and generated two timing curves one normally aspirated and one with 6 lbs boost, I entered those numbers into the timing tables of the software and it worked perfect, I have been driving the car for 5 years, runs really good and no knock on pump gas.
Another story I taught at a tech school, a student built a 390 for his old Ford truck just a mild engine, it spark knocked pretty bad. Entered the numbers into the computer. Set distributor on our sun distributor machine and played with the springs and weights to match the curve on the program, again it worked perfect.