With the truck's data in the system, we then proceeded to the dragstrip section of the Hyperpac. All testing was conducted at Englishtown Raceway Park on its quarter-mile track. The Hyperpac measures quarter-mile elapsed times and speeds, thanks to an internal mechanism.
After making several baseline runs, it was quite apparent that the Hyperpac read a bit quicker than the E-town timing system. The difference in its performance is simple to explain. The Hyperpac starts recording quarter-mile action the moment the truck starts moving. The track's timing equipment starts recording when the front tires move out of the beam. There is a moment when the truck starts moving that the tires are still in the staging beams. The time it takes the tire to move out of the beams and activate the timing equipment is called rollout. In our testing, the Hyperpac started recording before the track timing equipment turned on. Hyperpac didn't account for rollout and therefore didn't produce the same performance results.
Hypertech engineers, recognizing that not all tracks are created equal, allowed for the Hyperpac to be calibrated for a particular track and rollout of a vehicle. We didn't know about that option until we were done, so we couldn't put it to the test. It pays to read the instructions first.
 Here is the dragstrip screen...  Here is the dragstrip screen with the Christmas tree on the right of the screen and basic engine-monitoring parameters on the left. The tree works just like the ones at the track. We saved all of our runs and used the notes section to keep track of the changes from run to run. |  The data-acquisition screen...  The data-acquisition screen was helpful in keeping our runs consistent because we could check barometric pressure, engine-coolant temp, trans temp, oil temp, and so on. It offers real-time readings, making it useful at the track and when competing in the truck classes at DHRA or NHRDA events. |  One great option at the bottom...  One great option at the bottom of every screen is a help button to explain what you're looking at. It's great for those of us who don't follow instruction manuals well. |
To say the Hyperpac is packed full of features is an understatement. It's capable of recording all sensors hooked up to the factory computer system as well as providing acceleration times from zero to your maximum speed. It reads in 10 mph increments, drive-wheel horsepower is calculated every 10 mph, and a graph is made at the touch of a button. Hyperpac has the ability to save sessions for future reference and provides space to jot down notes about the dragstrip pass.
We started with a baseline using the factory ECM tuneup and then moved on to the Performance Tuning section. Hypertech provides Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 programs. All stages are designed with the vehicle's maximum towing capacity in mind. Obviously, each stage is more powerful than the previous one, however, if that isn't enough, the user can tweak up to 10 variables to get even more performance out of the vehicle. If you jumped the rear-gear ratio or tire size, the Hyperpac can adjust for proper speedometer readings. Other adjustments can be made to increase or decrease rpm rev limiter, adjust electric cooling fan temperatures, adjust transmission shift points and firmness, and increase top-speed limiter.
Sensors can be monitored in real time, and data can be logged for future review. This helps when trying to diagnose a problem. We used the screens as reference points, and this option would be handy when on a chassis dyno. You could rely on the factory sensors to show you what is going on rather than having to wire in a set of aftermarket gauges. The digital readouts are also nice when towing so you can monitor transmission temperature.
We aren't going to lie: The Hyperpac can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you start bouncing through the screens, those fears go away. The more we played, the more we liked the system and realized how easily it's all laid out. We entered the day with a near 18-second truck and left running close to the 15-second barrier. Nearly two seconds were trimmed from our quarter-mile times. Fuel mileage also increased from an average of 17.7 mpg to 19.8 mpg (approximately 65 percent highway and 35 percent city). The fuel mileage calculations were done by hand because we didn't rely on the in-dash mpg estimates.
More power and better fuel mileage meant we had more fun and made our truck more practical during these times of high-fuel pricing.
 |  The Engine Monitor function...  The Engine Monitor function offers eight different screens that show the happenings under the hood in both numerical and sweeping gauge effects. |  Hypertech loaded up three...  Hypertech loaded up three stages of performance tuning into the Hyperpac. According to Jim McFarland of Hypertech, each stage was flogged on the chassis dyno (a load-bearing dyno that simulated maximum towing capacity) and in the real world. |
 Each dragstrip run has a screen...  Each dragstrip run has a screen full of data that has been logged in the Hyperpac. There is additional room to add notes for each dragstrip pass as well. |  The Hyperpac has an optional...  The Hyperpac has an optional suction-cup holder that mounts to your windshield or anywhere else you can stick it. We put it next to our Auto Meter gauges and in plain view from the driver's seat. The Hyperpac plugs in under the dashboard to the OBD-II port. | |