Tuned In

What considerations go into tuning a 1300HP EV such as the Palatov D2EV?

While electric vehicles (EV's) have long been touted as the future of the performance world for a long time by many, the reality is between the costs, lack of aftermarket support and products that are not suited to motorsports have kept us waiting.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

Thanks to the likes of Cascadia Motion, AEM Performance Electronics and their team including John Romero, aftermarket control for EV applications is gaining traction and in this interview from PRI we dive into some of the equipment required, what the main considerations are for an EV tuning compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) applications for motorsport.

Topics covered include the uniquely EV issues such as battery temperature related to output and how cooler isn't actually always better plus interestingly the difference between production line EVs like Teslas or Nissans Leafs and the way they DON'T manage this well. An AEM VCU can be used to give you power where and when you want it for motorsports applications by letting to focus on this aspect, and also even for a street application you will be able to 'tune' for longer battery life too.

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Is aero completely ineffective unless you’re going warp speed? How do you test the real-world effectiveness of your aero package without a wind tunnel? And should you just trust the claims aftermarket aero companies are making about their products? This week, we’ve got Paul Lucas of Verus Engineering to help answer these questions and more.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

Verus Engineering is well known for the development of aero components for a range of popular enthusiast cars like the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, MKV Supra, and Porsche GT3 just to name a few.

As Verus products are on the higher end of the market, this conversation provides an interesting look into how these aero pieces are first decided on, then designed, manufactured, and validated to ensure that the real-world performance matches the simulation data.

The ins and outs of popular aero devices — like swan-neck rear wings, for example — and how they work are also covered, which should give listeners a better understanding of what is and isn’t worth their time when they look to bite the bullet and invest in aerodynamics for more speed.

Paul studied engineering at university and has spent his career honing those skills in the automotive world. Besides founding and co-running Verus, he also contracts out to other companies and race teams for general motorsport engineering design services, and that means this episode is full of useful information and advice ready to be soaked up by any listener that’s looking to get into, or further their career in, the engineering side of our industry.

Follow Verus Engineering here:
IG:@verusengineering
FB: @Verus Engineering
WWW: verus-engineering.com

Interested in learning how to do your own wheel alignment for the track or street? Start with a free alignment & suspension 101 lesson now: https://hpcdmy.co/alignb

What is the design and thought process behind aftermarket piston manufacturing for relatively new engines to the scene like the BMW B58 found in the Toyota A90 Supra?

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

At PRI Barry Pettit from Mahle Motorsport took us through some of the considerations they put into their forged A90 Supra B58 engine pistons. Interestingly even with the idea in mind that their customers would want to crank up the boost and take things to 1000HP and beyond, unusually, these forged examples are LIGHTER than the OEM versions, yet stronger. Nailed it!

Off the bat, the compression ratio has been lowered a little to 10.5:1, however as Barry explains Mahle can supply pistons with lower ratios as required with ease upon request. The lower ratio is a nod towards the fact that many in the aftermarket switch from direct injection to port injection for more flexibility, but the ‘injection bowl’ required to get an efficient burn in DI setups is retained meaning the piston can still be used with either option.

Oversized pistons are potentially an option for the future, and Barry also touches on why the thicker crown is beneficial for cooling and not just strength and how Mahle’s role in manufacturing the OEM pistons for BMW did give them a solid headstart in relation to the design and production of these performance application alternatives.

Want to learn how to tune EFI? Start here instantly, and for free: https://hpcdmy.co/tuneb

This week, powertrain performance and race data engineer Chloé Lerin joins the podcast from snowy Milwaukee to give us a little insight into something we’ve never covered before — motorcycle engine development and data analysis.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

During the week, Chloé works as a combustion engineer for Harley Davidson, while on the weekend she moonlights as an Aimsport analysis specialist/data engineer for various teams competing in the MotoAmerica championship.

Chloé took the route of education in her career, so we first look into her path towards a master's degree in combustion engineering and how that has affected her career as she went off to work for big equipment manufacturers like John Deere and Cummins. This eventually lead to her current role at Harley Davidson, and it’s here that we’re able to dig deep into the motorcycle engine development world — there’s probably quite a lot of information here that’ll surprise you, especially when it comes to the perception of Harley Davidson versus the engineering reality. 

The conversation gets pretty deep in the weeds when discussing the very fine points of combustion characteristics, knock avoidance, and cam phase control, but to counter that Chloe also answers some very basic questions like; why do Harleys sound like that, and just why do they have to be so damn loud?

The latter half of the episode is all about motorsport — Chloe is currently building her own Yamaha R6 race bike and has long been heading to track days, which is where she began working with Aimsport as a data engineer for privateer teams in the MotoAmerica championship. There’s some really interesting insight to be found here as Chloe discusses the differences between motorcycle and car data acquisition — some obvious, and some that you might never have thought of.

You may or may not have an interest in bikes — either way, the engineering is all relevant and the knowledge that Chloe drops in this episode is well worth taking in.

Follow Chloé here:
IG: @enginerdissima, @unicornium_engineering

Want to start your own data acquisition journey? Check this out: https://hpcdmy.co/datab

After an extended break over the new year period, The HPA Tuned In podcast is back with our first guest for 2023 — the talented Devin Schultz of Boostin Performance.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

Devin and his shop Boostin Performance are best known for their absolute mastery of the DSM world thanks to their ‘Red Demon’ Talon/Eclipse, which is currently the world’s fastest Mitsubishi, running as quick as a 6.97 @ 213mph.

This 2000hp car is capable of a 1.4 second 0-60 sprint, and is in fact the first 4WD four-cylinder to break into the sixes, anywhere in the world.  Now, if you’ve been following this podcast for a while, you’re probably already aware of host Andre Simon’s passion for all things Mitsubishi 4G63, so as you might guess, this conversation between two 4G fanatics dives very deep into the Mitsubishi weeds to discuss these iconic four-cylinder engines in detail.

Time is spent talking through what’s involved in getting a 2000hp four-cylinder to run reliably and hold together pass after pass, as well as the pros and cons of billet blocks, big and small port heads, and solid-filling your block. Round that out with some discussion around turbo technology, slipper clutches, and nitrous strategy, and you’ve got plenty of tech-heavy info to dig into.

Devin also discusses how he built his business, his branching out into GT-Rs and Supras, and just how important it is to have a solid level of mechanical understanding to back up your tuning career.

It doesn’t really matter if you’re a Mitsubishi fan or not, this episode is full of interesting engine-building and tuning yarns that are well worth the listen.

Follow Boostin Performance here:
IG: @Boostin Performance
FB: @Boostin Performance
YT: Boostin Performance
WWW: shop.boostinperformance.com

Want to learn how to tune EFI? Start here instantly, and for free: https://hpcdmy.co/tuneb

**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**

What are some of the BEST 'bang for buck' modifications you can do to your car gain performance and improve your lap times?

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

In this episode of  Tuned In, Andre & Tim are talking to Grant Hosking from Honed Developments about the technical skills and desire needed to develop specialist components for various Honda vehicles with a focus on the 90s models.

Topics discussed are the reason why Honed was created and the philosophy behind what parts Honed decided to make. The biggest errors people make when modifying cars and what can actually prove to be the biggest gains with modifications.

Want to learn how to EFI tune? Start with some free lessons right here: hpcdmy.co/efilesson

Another key point discussed is the approach of tuning car setups for the track vs the road and what the biggest compromises that need to be considered are.

**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**

You've seen him roasting tyres on Netflix, swinging wrenches on Donut Media's HiLow series, and smashing out laps in Formula D competition, and now Aaron Parker is here and ready to talk rotary engines, motorsport wiring, and a whole lot more on this week's episode of the HPA Tuned In podcast.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

Aaron Parker will be a name and face known to many listeners thanks to his high-profile gigs in the industry — he's more than just a media personality though. Aaron has a wealth of experience and a whole lot of knowledge in the automotive space, particularly when it comes to Mazda's rotary engine and professional motorsport wiring.

Aaron and Tuned In host Andre Simon jump straight into Aaron's rise through the industry, beginning with his danger-soaked early obsession with street bikes and eventual progression onto four wheels — the rotary-powered Mazda FD3S RX-7 in particular.

Everything rotary then takes over the conversation, covering why these unique motors have such a shaky reputation for reliability, how you can build one properly and have it last for years' worth of hard driving, why rotary tuning and turbo selection needs to be approached differently, and plenty more.

When he's not building cars on the internet, competing in drift competitions in his RX-7, or stunt driving in Hollywood productions, Aaron spends his time running Wolf Motorsport Wire, providing high-end motorsport wiring solutions for some of the fastest cars on the planet.

Aaron and Andre get deep into the ins and outs of the motorsport wiring world, discussing future proofing, providing a service that keeps customers happy, and what makes a good wiring job in motorsport.

There's a lot to chew on in this episode — it's well worth a listen, especially if you think rotaries are garbage.

You can follow Aaron here:
IG: @aaparker.300, @wolfmotorsportswire
YT: Aaron Parker

As mentioned in the podcast, the Stephan Papadakis episode can be found here: https://hpcdmy.co/papadakis

Want to learn more about motorsport wiring? Claim your spot for the next FREE lesson: https://hpcdmy.co/wireb 

**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**

This week's High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast guest comes to us all the way from Oslo, Norway.

Fredric Aasbø is the winningest driver in Formula D history, with a bunch of championships under his belt and the chiselled jawline to match. Fredric recently took some time out of his busy winter ice drifting schedule to sit down with Andre and discuss all things drift — the driving, the cars, the setups, the business — all of it.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

The conversation begins with a look back into Fredric's past, from the early days of his grandmother teaching him how to use the E-brake to control a sliding car on ice,  to his experiences in karting and drifting as teenager,  through to the stark realisation that getting into the pro-level motorsport game — let alone to the very top — means making big sacrifices and pouring everything you have into your dream. Fredric confirms that, as we suspected, there are no free rides in motorsport for the vast majority of us.

Andre and Fredric then get into the finer details of drifting at the highest levels, from studying and understanding the judging system, to driving techniques, sponsorship pressures, and even the need to fine-tune your "bullsh*t detector".

Fredric also dives into the heavy-duty technical side of the sport and its vehicles, discussing how these pro drift monsters actually work, and how he was able to dominate with a little four-cylinder in an economy car body... Over and over again.

Interested in learning how to do your own wheel alignment for the track or street? Start with a free alignment & suspension 101 lesson now: hpcdmy.co/alignmentf

There are plenty of interesting tidbits to dig into here when it comes to how Fredric and his team set up his cars for each track with asymmetric alignments, turbo sizes, gear ratios, tyre pressures, and a whole lot more. 

Like to skid cars? This is the episode for you.

**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**

How much power is hiding behind a factory diesel tune? What are the traps a gasoline tuner can fall into when dipping their toes into the diesel world? And what's a sure-fire way to create a nifty inspection hole in your diesel block on the dyno?

If you want the answers to any of these questions, as well as many more, check out this week's episode of the High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast with our guest, Nick Priegnitz of Duramaxtuner.com.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

It can be tricky to find good, solid information in the performance tuning industry when it comes to learning and improving our craft (that is, after all, why we originally founded High Performance Academy) and for whatever reason, it's even harder to find in the diesel world.

This is where Nick Priegnitz comes in – he's long been an open book when it comes to mastering and teaching aftermarket diesel tuning, and in this episode, Andre and Nick discuss the many ups and downs of the field, as well as the many differences seen when compared to gasoline performance tuning.

 Learn more about performance diesel engine tuning. Start instantly with 4 free lessons: hpcdmy.co/essential-diesel

This is going to be a great listen for anyone that's even remotely interested in the world of performance diesel tuning – even if it's not your thing, learning about just how differently these systems operate and how your approach to tuning them needs to be drastically modified is well worth your time.

Having 140hp less might not mean a lot if you're running a 2500hp drag car, but when you go from 590hp to 450hp, that is quite a difference (27% in fact!).

Benjamin Perry of Benchmark Solutions runs us through the Team ERS @Evolution Racing Spares Official  EVO 6 which took out first place honours in the Clubsprint Class at the last @World Time Attack Challenge

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

The 4g63 is an EVO 6 bottom end with an EVO 9 head giving it MIVEC (variable cam control) which is controlled by a @MoTeC Global  M1 along with the ACD (Active Center Differential) system via a NA Autosport and Engineering firmware package.

A @Bosch Australia  Bosch Motorsports brake package has been fitted, the same used in GT3 class cars, and no doubt that ABS has helped with the seconds shaved off the lap time along with getting the suspension, chassis and driver up to speed before any fine tuning with the help of DNA Autosport.

The car now runs a @Garrett Motion - Garrett Turbo G30 770 in place of the old Garrett GTX3576R GEN II it ran previously as well as a new, simpler ARTEC Performance cast manifold which is more than good enough for the job at hand and allows less points of failure and makes the car much quicker and easier to work on. With a previous turbo gasket failure giving the team a headache at a previous event, the clamp setup is naturally much preferred with that experience under the belt too.

The aftermarket cam previously fitted as been replaced with one from GSC Power Division and while the engine does make around 100kw or 140hp less, it retains a similar midrange and lower end but with a flatter torque curve giving owner and driver Jamal 'Jimmy Evo' Assaad the ability to pedal the car smoother and faster.

The team ended up setting a new class record and was almost 5 seconds faster than their 2019 winning time proving all the logical steps taken to be worth the effort.

Want to learn how to tune EFI? Start here instantly, and for free: https://hpcdmy.co/tuneb