PontiacSpeed.com
PC Software is a great tool that when used correctly can aid in the decision making process. Naturally the final proof is in actual dyno and track runs. We will list all the software we use and a brief description and our opinion of each. Click on the company names to go to their respected sites for more in-depth information about their products.
Both the EA & DRA packages will read/import each others files. So if you have your EA file done you can take that engine file and import directly into your dragcar. Or If you have your dragcar entered and setup it will show you what times to expect with hp changes. A very nice time saver.
Engine Analyzer v3.2: This software is the most expensive of the group that we use but it is worth it. If you could only use one engine dyno software than this is the one you would pick. At first it can be over whelming with all of the choices, you just have to work on one item at a time. A draw back is there is little in the way of Pontiac specific files and will require you to have cam cards, flow #s for heads, intake runner lengths and so on. I do have some data available if anyone would want it.
Note: There is a "Plus" version that is one rung down from the PRO version and we upgrade to it. It makes an already excellent software package even better. You can now have twenty RPM points, up from the standard version of ten. Also you get a on-the-fly "what if" feature that can cut down on testing parts/ideas drastically. It is worth looking at these and other added features on their site.
Drag Racing Analyzer v3.2: This package is of the same caliber (and complexity) of the Engine Analyzer and is a very good tool to look at both 1/8th and 1/4mile runs. One feature that caught my eye was the "Match Vehicle Performance". This feature will let you input your actual run data and calculate out your horse power and torque of your motor, very neat. Just make sure all of the other information is correct of course.
Engine Jr v3.2 (Windows): This is a simple, single page package that works pretty good with the limited inputs. But you will need cylinder head max intake flow to make it work for you with any accuracy.
Quarter Jr v3.1 (Windows): Like the Engine Jr it is a simple single page for inputs. But even with the limited data is amazingly accurate.
DeskTop Dyno v2.5.7 (DOS) If you ran a Chevy or Ford then you can pick from the "caned" choices. But since you can not input things like cylinder head flow, header & intake parameters you are just having fun. This software can't really be used as a serous tool unless you have real dyno data so you can tweak it to match.
DeskTop Dyno 2000 (Windows) The 2000 version is very much like the DOS counterpart but with a GUI interface placed on top of it. They did add cylinder head flow inputs now so it is better than before but with their new layout it can be clumsy to work around all the bells and whistles.