Is it time to ditch your factory ECU?

HP Tuners is known for reflashing factory ECUs, but now they’re flipping the script with their Core Standalone ECU, a complete engine management system that offers boost control, traction control, nitrous control and more right out of the box.

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

We stand up (not much seating at SEMA!) with Justin Burt from HP Tuners to break down who this ECU is for, when you should ditch a stock ECU, and what makes CORE different from the competition. Whether you’re pushing 1500hp on a factory ECU or building a dedicated motorsport machine, this discussion covers CAN bus customization, pricing, and potential future support for DI engines.

Building on from the VCM Suite reflash tuning interface, VCM LIVE software ensures a familiar interface for HP Tuners users tuned to the needs of a standalone ECU tuner, while 12 base maps, sample data logs, and beginner-to-advanced tuning modes make it accessible for both new and experienced tuners to learn and grow with.

With Gen 3/4 LS support out of the gate and Gen 3 Hemi & Coyote in development, this is more than just an LS swap ECU. In time and with the backing of a large company like HPT, is the CORE ECU potentially going to become the most versatile standalone ECU yet?

S15 suspension in a 240Z—good idea or nightmare?

Joel Dimmack’s 1971 Datsun 240Z is no ordinary drift car. Running a VR38DETT swap with Garrett GTX3071R mirrored turbos and making 600-700hp, this 1100kg wet monster blends old-school styling with modern competition-ready tech. But is an S15 suspension transplant really the best setup for drifting?

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

We dive deep into the Parts Shop MAX kit, chassis stiffening by Pace Innovations, and the MoTeC M150 ECU tuned by Nick Ashvin at NA Motorsport to see what it takes to make this build work. Plus, we break down the Albins 6-speed sequential gearbox, R32 GTR diff & axles, and the challenges of running an S-chassis suspension on a shorter wheelbase.

Braking is handled by R33 GTST calipers with Project Mu pads and rotors, along with a twin-caliper rear handbrake setup—a must for a competition drift car.

This is one of the wildest Z builds around, and it has presented Joel with some lessons and aspects he would do differently the second time around, but that is precisely what a build like this is all about and how ideas are built into skills.

The performance EV landscape is changing rapidly, and public opinion on electric vehicles also seems to be on the move. How much faster can they go? What are their limitations? Are they even still relevant?

A lot has changed since we first had this week’s guest, Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance, on the podcast back in 2022. This conversation gets us right up to date on where the industry sits now and what it’s going to look like in the very near future.

Use ‘ONPOINT50’ to get $50 off HPA’s EV Fundamentals Course: https://hpcdmy.co/evb

Sasha has a foot in both the EV and ICE worlds, driving an extremely quick hybrid 350Z race car as well as owning and operating both Mountain Pass Performance and On Point Dyno, so he’s the perfect person to get down into the weeds on the latest automotive tech without much of a bias one way or the other.

In this conversation, we jump straight into just how much things have changed since Sasha was on the podcast only a couple of years ago, discussing the good and the bad consequences of this rapid evolution. We also talk about where it’s all heading next. Is hybrid the way forward? And what about hydrogen? And how much better can EVs actually get?

The chat then turns towards the technical side as Sasha talks us through the basics of an EV system, covering all the major components and their purposes.

We also discuss why it’s so hard to extract extra power out of an EV system and how an amateur enthusiast should go about carrying out an EV swap if they want to actually get a good result.

Follow Sasha here:
IG: @mountainpassperformance
FB: Mountain Pass Performance
YT: Mountain Pass Performance
WWW: https://www.mountainpassperformance.com, https://www.onpointdyno.com

Don’t forget, you can use ‘ONPOINT50’ to get $50 off HPA’s EV Fundamentals Course: https://hpcdmy.co/evb

Timestamps:

0:00 Performance EVs — Do They Have a Future?
4:06 Who are you and where are you from?
5:26 Hybrid 350z
8:15 What has been the advances in electric vehicles in the last 2 years?
16:04 How do you see the resale value of older EV models being affected as tech improves rapidly?
22:24 Pros and cons Hybrid vs Full EV?
26:44 What are your thoughts on alternative fuels for internal combustion engines?
31:40 Where are the limitations of EV performance?
36:46 HPA EV course overview
41:47 Why can’t I make more power? And why does it overheat?
53:59 How to maintain battery life?
56:05 Motors and inverters: how do they work?
1:00:20 What does the BMS do?
1:02:52 How concerned should we be about EVs catching on fire?
1:08:13 Final elements that the HPA EV course covers
1:08:56 What’s involved in an EV swap?
1:22:44 Traction control in an EV vehicle?
1:26:42 Can the average home enthusiast perform an EV conversion?
1:31:00 Final 3 questions

Why don't OEMs tune for the maximum reliable performance and what's all the fuss about over emissions compliance in the United States 'street legal' modified car scene?

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

Emissions compliance might not be the most exciting topic, but if you're tuning a street car, ignoring it could land you in serious trouble. We're joined by Chris Mountain from ‪@cobbtuning‬ to break down how emissions regulations have changed, what CARB (The California Air Resources Board) EO (Executive Order) certification really means, and how you can still make large power gains while staying '50-state' legal within the regulations the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has developed and enforces (like it or not).

Covered during this SEMA show interview is why OEMs tune for lambda instead of maximum performance, how hardware mods like intercoolers and turbo upgrades affect emissions, and the rigorous (and expensive) testing companies like COBB are now going through to ensure compliance. Plus, find out how you can achieve 20-30% power gains without risking fines or legal headaches.

If you're modifying a street car in the USA and need to keep it legal, this is a must-watch.

2000HP, twin turbos, and a manual transmission – is this the ultimate fun off-roader?

A 2000hp twin-turbo Lamborghini V10 in a street-legal off-road monster? That’s exactly what ‪@MorganClarkeDesign1‬ aka MCD1 built with this prototype Range Rover Velar Dakar-inspired hyper off-roader.

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

Designed as a luxury play car rather than a full race build, this machine blends extreme off-road capability with high-end comfort. Featuring a pressurized cabin, air conditioning, full Range Rover infotainment, and an Albins 5-speed synchromesh manual gearbox, it delivers an unmatched high-performance driving experience—whether blasting through dunes or cruising on the street.

Morgan explains the design process, balancing form and function, and why CAD modelling vs. hands-on fabrication played a unique role in the build. With carbon fibre body panels, fully billet CNC suspension, and a fully custom chassis, every inch of this machine has been engineered for both durability and aesthetics.

With just 7 units being produced, this million-dollar build is set to redefine the limits of off-road luxury performance.

What’s the deal with diesel tuning? Is it really that different? Yes… But also no.

This week Matt Smith of Just Autos joins us to discuss all things diesel tuning — operating principles, combustion temperature, reflash options, and a whole lot more.

Use JUST50 to get $50 off HPA’s Diesel Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/dieselstarterb

Just Autos, based out of Queensland, Australia, specialises in diesel performance tuning — but perhaps not the platforms you’re more familiar with.

Matt has gone down the Japanese diesel path — specifically Toyota’s Hilux, Prado, and Landcruiser platforms. These workhorses are common on Aussie roads, and Matt is at the very forefront of developing their stout Toyota diesel motors to get the absolute best performance from them. 

In this conversation, Matt tells us how he got into the business, and how it’s changed and improved to become the very professional outfit it is today.

We then jump into the real meat and potatoes of this episode — a very deep dive into the world of diesel engines and tuning.

Matt takes the time to really go through how a diesel engine operates and how that differs from a petrol engine, as well as why we need fuel pulses, the general dos and don'ts of diesel tuning, controlling combustion temperatures, and the usefulness (or not) of exhaust gas temperature sensors in a diesel application.

Matt is a great communicator and manages to get tech heavy without leaving the real world, so if you’ve always wanted to better understand diesel technology and how to get the absolute most performance out of it, this episode is a great place to start.

Follow Matt here:
IG: @justautosmechanical
FB: Just Autos
YT: Just Autos Mechanical
TKTK: justautos
WWW: justdieselperfomance.com.au

Don’t forget, you can use JUST50 to get $50 off HPA’s Diesel Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/dieselstarterb

Timestamps:
0:00 The Dos and Don’ts of Diesel Tuning.
3:41 How did you become interested in cars?
10:57 Are we losing key mechanical skills these days?
15:30 What drove you towards the diesel world?
22:48 How does a diesel engine work?
26:15 Diesel engine timing.
29:16 What is pilot injection for in a diesel engine?
32:36 Diesel fuelling and tuning.
40:12 EGTs on a diesel engine.
50:47 Common rail diesel fuel pressure.
54:19 Diesel fuel system failures. Are people pushing them too hard?
1:03:32 How much power can you pull out of a turbo diesel with just a tune?
1:06:03 How do you go about tuning different engines for different applications?
1:09:39 What instrumentation should we add to help monitor our tuned diesel engine?
1:13:33 Diesel engine flow, intercoolers, exhaust etc.
1:14:39 What do we need to know about sizing a turbo for diesel engines?
1:23:05 Why does Toyota not have good support for reflashing?
1:26:23 How are you reverse engineering the factory Denso ECUs?
1:33:19 What do you think about emission devices?
1:38:49 What does Just Autos look like today?
1:46:03 Final three questions.

With 903hp at the wheels, a 9.71-second quarter-mile at 161mph on an unprepped strip, and a fully air-cooled 3.6L turbocharged engine, this Porsche is the definition of a sleeper. In this video, we chat with Arthur to uncover the secrets behind his beastly build.

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

Originally a 230hp Carrera Supersport, Arthur's Porsche now runs 102mm ‪@lnengineeringllc‬ Nikasil barrels, ARGO conrods, a GT3 RS crank, CMW Racing billet heads prepared by ‪@ramsheadservice8427‬ , and a ‪@precisionturbo‬ 8385 pushing 38 PSI. The drivetrain features a 996 Holinger sequential gearbox, billet 32-spline axles, and OEM ‪@Porsche‬ (yup!) CV joints.

Cooling is a unique challenge for this air-cooled monster, with dual oil coolers, fuel cooling strategies, and a switch to a water-to-air intercooler keeping intake temps in check so far without the need to use ice on the strip. Engine management comes from a tried-and-true Autronic ECU, once a leader in the market but now a little long in the tooth but an ‪@AEMpowerTVelectronics‬ dash/logger helps keep it ticking the boxes it needs to for this particular project.

Running on E85, with dual 1000hp ‪@WeldonAutomotive‬ pumps and a ‪@BoschMotorsportAustralia‬ 044 primer, this car shows what’s possible when you push air-cooled tech to its limits and it was awesome to see running in the Flying 500 at the ‪@WorldTimeAttackChallenge‬. A sleeper? Absolutely. And one that’s redefining what these classic Porsches can do at that.

When it comes to performance parts and tools we all want to reach 'straight for the top shelf' and get the best we can. While that isn't always possible for some high price components, when choosing between purple, blue or red Loctite at the same price point, many assume that red must be the strongest and therefore 'best' option.

These people are wrong, and they're possibly also applying the compound incorrectly too!

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

Matthew Eager of Henkel (they own the Loctite brand) helps clear up some of our fair, but incorrect assumptions around red vs blue Loctite and its application, including a common but useless way many of us have been guilty of applying the compound directly to fasteners.

He co-invented one of the top (and earliest) standalone ECU companies on earth, helped develop unique V10 F1 engines, created ignition systems for top-tier motorsports, and finished it all off by producing stock-frame turbocharger upgrades that push the limits of what a factory turbo is capable of.

Mark Boxsell has had a varied and fascinating career in the performance industry, and he’s ready to unpack it all in this episode of Tuned In.

Use GTPUMPS100 to get $100 off HPA’s Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/starterb

Having grown up on a farm in rural Australia that instilled a drive towards resourcefulness and ingenuity, by his early twenties, Mark Boxsell would latch on to the emerging EFI revolution and create his own fuel injection system for his personal Mazda rotary. And that was just the start.  

Mark went on to invent one of the world’s first aftermarket standalone ECUs, which we all know today as Haltech. In this episode, we get straight into the mind-blowing history of how Haltech came about, discussing what was involved in creating it, the incredibly basic tools he had at his disposal to make it happen, and how it actually worked.

We next discuss Mark’s stint developing a unique V10 Formula 1 engine that used rotary valves instead of the traditional poppet valves. Mark goes into detail about how it worked, and why we never saw it on the grid. Then it’s time to talk about ignition systems, which Mark knows a lot about as one of the founders of M&W Ignition — which supplies series like Australia’s top-tier V8 Supercars.

We finish the episode off by moving into Mark’s current venture, GT Pumps. This company specialises in stock-frame turbocharger upgrades, which are currently aimed squarely at the WRX and Evo markets. This gets into some heavy turbo tech, covering the benefits of journal-bearing turbos, stock turbo system capabilities, and more.

If you’re into tuning history and love a dose of nostalgia, this episode with Mark Boxsell is an absolute must-listen. 

Follow Mark here:

IG: @gtpumps
FB: GTpumps
WWW: gtpumps.com.au

Don’t forget, you can use GTPUMPS100 to get $100 off HPA’s Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/starterb

Timestamps:
0:00 The Best Stock Turbo System?
3:43 How did you get into the automotive industry?
7:57 Why did you decide to try and make your own EFI? And how?
12:53 How did that first EFI system perform?
15:13 How did Haltech start?
23:47 How does the HC11 chip compare to modern ECU chips?
26:49 Once you got the ECU working, how did you sell it?
28:52 Why did you decide to use bar graphs for the interface?
33:23 What were the biggest challenges building those first ECUs?
36:28 Marketing first Haltec ECU continued.
43:15 Why are there so many ECU manufacturers from Australia?
46:05 When and how did you leave Haltec?
53:52 Can you explain the different ignition systems?
59:05 M&W ignition system.
1:00:43 Transition from electronics to F1 engine development
1:05:04 Had the rotary valve been tried by other competitors?
1:09:10 Why did this rotary valve never make it to the track?
1:12:25 How did your current business GTpumps come about?
1:13:25 Why focus on a stock frame turbocharger?
1:17:52 Are journal-bearing turbos dead?
1:21:53 Are you looking to produce stock frame turbos for different models?
1:28:12 Final three questions.

If you’ve ever considered an EV conversion but weren’t sure where to start, Ryan from ‪@rywire‬ takes us through the technical details of his incredible Honda Civic EK EV swap, showcasing the integration of Tesla drive units, AEM Electronics VCU, and CSF Radiators for cutting-edge performance and thermal management.

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

This lightweight (EV comparative) build features a $1,000 Tesla front drive unit and a $2,200 rear drive unit, delivering 300hp (each!) with infinite tunability thanks to a Cascadia Motion logic board. Ryan explains why switching from Tesla’s OEM controls to standalone AEM strategies unlocks full control over torque split, regen tuning, and thermal strategies—key elements in achieving high performance and reliability.

Thermal management is a standout feature, utilizing CSF radiators, Freon-based heat exchangers, and a multi-directional cooling system to optimize temperatures for the motor, charger, and 400V battery pack. With insights from OEM designs, Ryan has implemented a system that ensures the batteries stay in their optimal temperature range, boosting efficiency and performance.

Whether you’re interested in OEM vs. aftermarket motors, Bosch brake boosters, or regen tuning with paddle shifters, this build is a masterclass in EV conversions. With a range of up to 400 miles and a weight of approximately 3,400 lbs, this Civic is a lightweight powerhouse that sets a new benchmark for EV swaps.

By the end of this interview you should understand that EV tuning is as risky as tuning your ICE powered projects, and without a high level of care for any project you undertake, you can potentially damage expensive components.