Tech: Dynos, the useful tuning tools for cars

A Nissan 350Z is set to spin the rollers on a dyno.

Spend enough time at a race track, car meet or even with a couple car enthusiasts and you are bound to hear the word "dyno" come up.  This isn't in reference to the bygone era of our reptilian oil suppliers' fossilized bones, but rather to a device which many people use to see how much horsepower and torque their vehicle is putting down to the drive wheels.  Dyno is the short term for dynamometer.  Today's discussion will give you an overview of the basics of dynos and their usefulness.