How does a Dyno Really Work?

Ideally you'd want to replace an engine mount with a load cell. You need the cell to take the entire load through it to get a decent result.
You'd also want to make the opposite mount allow at least a full degree of freedom on an axis parallel to the crankshaft (like a spool mount).
Then you could use the distance between the mounts to turn the load cell force into a torque. Record rpm at the same time and you could graph torque and hp too.
I started to think you'd have to replace a mount, even if not totally accurate still should give useful data, surprised no one sells mounts like that.

This guy got an interesting way of getting a tq curve, with a tach, lev o gage and a camera to record the curve and with a peak tq guesstimate should be able to figure out a close dyno graph.