Tuned In

Long-time friend of HPA Ryan Basseri of Rywire joins us for this episode of the Tuned In podcast to discuss all things Honda, motorsport wiring, and the aftermarket automotive business.

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

If you’ve been in the game for any decent amount of time, you’ve probably heard of Rywire, a company based out of California that focuses on wiring solutions for a wide range of enthusiast applications. 

Ryan is most often associated with the Honda tuning world, and there’s a very good reason for that. Having grown up in a Honda family, the love of CR-Xs, Civics, and Preludes rubbed off on Ryan, pushing him towards his first B16A swap not too long after he got his driver’s license. 

Tuned In host Andre Simon and Ryan discuss the craziness of those early days, focusing first on Ryan’s affinity with all things Honda, and then on Ryan’s savvy identification of a lack of quality specialist harnesses and his first foray into building and selling them as a hobbyist side hustle. 

Things only grew organically from there, and Rywire is now a leader in the wiring world. Andre and Ryan dissect this journey and identify the wins and the mistakes that led to this success — there’s a whole lot of business wisdom dropped in this episode that could provide anyone starting out — or struggling — in the industry, just the kick-in-the-ass they need. 

Ryan also spends time discussing motorsport wiring at large, laying out some great rules to follow and mistakes that he sees people making time and time again — mistakes that you'll now be able to avoid. 

Follow Ryan here:
IG: @rywire_motorsport_electronics
YT: Rywire
WWW: rywire.com

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

Ayrton Senna's first Formula 1 car and F1 turbo era engine technology and modernization with Geoff Page Racing.

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

With some engines reaching an alleged 1500HP in qualifying trim, the turbo era of F1 was one of excitement, innovation, and tragedy. Geoff Page is no stranger to some of the cars of this moment in Formula 1 history, and during Goodwood Festival of Speed trip earlier this year we were lucky enough to visit his workshop that is brimming with cars, chassis, and engines with huge historical significance including the first F1 car Ayrton Senna ever competed and scored points in back in 1984, the Toleman TG183B powered by a turbocharged Hart 415T.

Geoff gives us a rundown on the 800HP 415T plus how Brian Hart and the team decided to look at some older pre-existing monoblock technology at the time to combat head cylinder sealing issues, and how coolant flow was actually one of the biggest issues for them to overcome via a ‘dummy’ head gasket that was cast into the block in order to better control flow and pressure, and therefore temperatures. The evolution of head gasket technology from there on is discussed along with what output Geoff thinks the 415T could produce today with the addition of some modern technology such as an ECU, sensors, and turbo upgrades.

Also discussed is the block casting technology of the time, Nikasil coating and how Geoff has worked to reproduce the 415T with some modern upgrades to ensure cars like this do not just sit collecting dust and can instead be fired up and driven as they were intended to do. Interestingly with a Life Racing ECU developed specifically for the 415T which runs 4 injectors per cylinder, the engine start time has been reduced by a whopping 2 hours compared to the old mechanical injection setup. 

This is a huge interview with so much more discussed and we’ll definitely be back to catch up with Geoff again in the future.

Long-time Supra racer and 2JZ fiend Cody Phillips of Cody Phillips Racing joins us for this week’s episode of the High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast.

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

Although Tuned In host Andre Simon and Cody delve into a wide range of topics in this conversation — from the struggles of tuning in the early days, to the joys of Hondas in the late nineties, to exactly what makes drag racing so addictive — undoubtedly the main focus of this podcast is Cody’s 6.81-second JZA80 Toyota Supra.

This was Cody’s dream car as a teenager, and he was able to finally pick one up in the early 2000s. When the original owner asked him what he planned to do with it, Cody told him he was probably going to make it one of the fastest Supras in the world. 

Two decades later, Cody still has that same car, and that’s exactly what he’s done — it now is one of the fastest IRS JZA80s in the world. With full glass, the car weighs well over 3000lbs, and Cody talks us through the challenges of making such a heavy car with an independent rear end go so quickly. That means launch and wheelie control secrets, the use of nitrous, and much more.

Obviously, a lot of it comes down to the power delivery, and this is where we get to the real meat and potatoes of the conversation — Toyota’s 2JZ-GTE. Suffice it to say, if there’s something Cody doesn’t know about this motor, it probably isn’t worth knowing. 

Andre and Cody dive super deep into the 2J, discussing its pros and cons, as well as ways around many of those downsides. There are some great nuggets of wisdom to be found in this episode when it comes to topics like head gasket sealing, boost control strategies, and cast vs billet in the 2JZ world.

As mentioned, John Reed and Sander Marques episodes can be found here:
John Reed: https://hpcdmy.co/johnreed
Sander Marques: https://hpcdmy.co/sander

Follow Cody here:
IG: @codyphillipsracing
FB: Cody Phillips Racing
WWW: codyphillipsracing.com

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

If you’re running 3000HP at 150PSI of boost or 30HP at 0PSI it doesn’t matter, you’re going to need to seal that combustion pressure inside the cylinder, however, the way you do this is going to be very different depending on those big, or small power levels.

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

Ryan Hunter of SCE Gaskets runs us through all of the essential pros and cons when it comes to the advantages of composite, Multi-Layer Steel (MLS), Vulcan Cut Ring and Copper O-ring head cylinder sealing gaskets covering all engine outputs from high output Top Fuel drag cars to your low output economy class street vehicles.

Also discussed is the potential ability to reuse MLS gaskets and what you need to pay careful attention to in order to do this safely, the way Viton coating is currently being used and the research around improving that and why a composite gasket will not cope with a high output, high compression engine and also interestingly why the head gasket for this task will not be reliable when it comes to coolant and oil sealing in a low output application.

This week's episode of the HPA Tuned In podcast is a fascinating one as we dig into the finer details of building and driving one of the fastest hill climb cars on earth with Robin Shute of the Sendy Club.

Recorded just a few days after Robin's recent third consecutive overall win at the 100th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, this ace driver and automotive engineer is coming off a brutal week full of engine fires, sleep deprivation, and appalling weather conditions — and he has a whole lot to say about the experience.

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

Sure, someone wins Pikes Peak every year, but the difference with Robin and The Sendy Club team is that they aren't backed by a big manufacturer opening up the chequebook in search of glory — it's a bunch of (admittedly very smart and talented) enthusiasts who've come together to dominate at the world's greatest hill climb event.

As an automotive engineer and top-level driver, Robin is an absolute goldmine of information when it comes to not just driving exceptionally fast cars, but the finer, nerdier details of building them too. A lot of time is spent in this podcast pouring through the details of the Sendy Club's incredible Honda K-powered Wolf hill climb car. Turbo sizing, altitude considerations, aerodynamics, braking performance, and everything in between gets covered here.

There's also a great discussion had around the art of driving itself — both in terms of how to be fast, proper preparation, and carving out a successful career in motorsport.

This episode is absolutely jammed with useful and inspirational information that'll have you itching to get back into the workshop and on the tools.

Watch SuperfastMatt's excellent coverage of this year's Sendy Club campaign:
https://youtu.be/quzcLY6UflE

Follow Robin and the Sendy Club here:
IG: @robin.shute, @thesendyclub
YT: The Sendy Club

Want to take your driving skills to the next level? Start here: https://hpcdmy.co/driverb

A 2JZ swap is a popular choice for the Toyota GT86 chassis, but you won't find one under the hood here.

The turbocharged 2500HP Landcruiser 1FZ-FE powered Boosted86 Racing was the first 6sec Radial Import, and at the time of filming held the record as the worlds fastest with a 6.558 @ 215.82mph pass. At Sydney Jamboree 2020 owner and driver, Nikki Coy, gave us some insight into the build.

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

Interestingly due to a shortage of inputs, the car runs TWO Link Xtreme ECUs in order to both control and engine and log data from around the car along with a MoTeC C125 dash. The 1FZ-FE runs staged injection via 18 x Siemens 2400cc units and a 98mm Garrett turbo with Elmer Racing collector. Nikki plans to go to the G57 series for more power in the near future. Tuning and chassis setup is handled via Santhuff's Suspension Specialties and AFCO Racing shocks with JW Automotive and 6boost on the tools etc. 

The 1FZ runs dry and has been destroked down from 4.5L to 3.9L leaving many of the internals to be custom made along with head work and parts coating done by Performance Wholesale to match. On the surface destroking the engine might seem like an unnecessary complication, however it allows the teams to run in more than just one class as to get more seat time and chances at record-setting passes.

Ever wondered if tech support staff at ECU manufacturers just get asked the same handful of questions and help fix the same few tuning problems over and over again?  Wonder no more, because Haltech's Mitch Smith — a guy who spends his day helping customers all over the world with some pretty in-depth tuning and setup questions — predictably has all the answers.

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

Based in Sydney, Australia, Mitch left the IT profession to jump into the deep end of the tuning industry in order to do something he loves. Host Andre Simon and Mitch talk about taking that leap of faith and why making a big career move like this can often be a hugely positive life-changing event.

Mitch is self-taught and is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things tuning — as you'd need to be if you spent your 9-5 helping other pros figure out some occasionally very challenging problems.  Andre and Mitch focus their discussion on the ins and outs of setting up and tuning standalone systems like Haltech's Nexus series of ECU, and talk about the most common mistakes that customers make, as well as Mitch's solutions to those mistakes.

Being a Nissan RB lover, Mitch is also heavily involved in the Maatouks Racing team — one of the biggest names in the Aussie import scene. Mitch talks about working with Anthony Maatouk and discusses the team's latest weapon in detail — an RB-powered Pro-Mod chassis that's gunning for the overall import world record. After running a 5.8 on only its third pass, it seems like the team could be in with a good shot in the coming season.

This episode provides a great mix of inspiration for those just starting out, as well as some seriously in-depth discussions that seasoned listeners are going to love sinking their teeth into.

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

Check out Haltech's channels here:

IG: @Haltechecu
FB: @Haltech
WWW: Haltech.com

The world's quickest and fastest Supra, quickest factory transmission, NHRA Pro Street tyre champion, and quickest IRS car — these are some titles that the Titan Motorsports 2000HP+ Copper Supra has held over its impressive career so far.

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

The car runs a FuelTech FT600 controlled 2jz with in-house camshafts, CP Carrillo pistons, Ferrea Valve Train components, ARP head studs, Hypertune components, an aftermarket billet block and a production cast cylinder head with an 88mm Precision turbo bolted on to make around 2000HP+ at 2800lbs of weight for the X275 drag racing class rules.

Nero Deliwala runs Andre through some of the current specifications of the car including the reasons and advantages behind the usage of a Liberty air-shifted 5-speed box over the 2-speed auto most other cars in the class use. Also discussed is the head sealing progression in relation to power output, the flexibility around changes to the car to fit other class rules and also how exciting it has been to run a turbocharged car over the last 15 years and witness first-hand the progression in turbo design and technology.

No matter how you feel about electric vehicles, there's no denying the incredible performance that can be achieved with these impressive driveline systems.  With more and more rapid EVs hitting the streets every day, inevitably, enthusiasts are now beginning to ask just what can be gained when working with them.

This week's HPA Tuned In podcast guest is Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance, someone who has dived deeper than most into the world of high-performance EVs.

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

Sasha is an accomplished driver and tuner who has, in recent years, refocused his efforts into the EV world, and his insight into this fairly new and constantly changing field of hyper-performance is invaluable.

In this episode, Sasha first breaks down the basics of how an EV system works, and spends time clearing up a few misconceptions around what is and isn't possible, the constant compromises that need to be made, and the future of EV tuning. MoTeC's M1 Build platform and how Sasha uses it in his EV builds is also discussed.

More of this new breed of vehicle on the roads equals more people crashing them, and that means some seriously enticing drivelines have begun popping up at the local wreckers. Sasha was an early adopter of EV swap exercises, and takes us through the process of swapping these monster drivelines into conventional ICE vehicles, and details what needs to be considered, eliminated, and purchased before the first spanner is turned. Mountain Pass Performance's Blue Lightning — a Tesla-swapped Lotus Evora package — is also picked apart.

Sasha also spends time discussing the braking and handling upgrade options he provides for Teslas, as well as a deep look at his well-known Nissan 350Z time attack car that uses a monster NA VQ engine working in tandem with a custom hybrid KERS system that Sasha has spent years developing and improving himself.

It doesn't matter how you feel about electric vehicles, this conversation with Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance is genuinely fascinating and well worth the listen.

Follow Sasha here:
IG: @sashaanis14, @mountainpassperformance
WWW: mountainpassperformance.com

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

After multiple lap records and back to back wins, owner, Pro-Am class driver and passionate time attack supporter Kosta Pohorukov and the infamous Tilton Interiors EVO IX V1 met an untimely end on track. While tragic, the incident that left the old chassis a write off enabled Trent Murphy of TM Automotive and others involved to use the winning formula on a new chassis and add all that extra knowledge they had learnt along the way to do it better.

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

The result was a keen focus on weight reduction, slight aero improvements care of Voltex Racing and after the chassis was completed by Riverside Racing, an incredible 3 month build time in order to make it to the World Time Attack Challenge before heading to Tsukuba in Japan, the home of time attack. With the car producing upwards of 3000kg of downforce, it is no surprise keeping the class spec tyres intact is an issue and an RF tyre delamination saw the team finishing the event early due to damage, but still walking away with 3rd place in the Pro Class with Garth Walden at the wheel, and 1st in Pro-Am via Kosta himself.

The EVO 9's 4G63 retains its cast block as at around 1200HP it doesn’t give them any issues producing 1200HP from a 2.2L capacity. The Emtron ECU and MoTeC PDM and dash display/logger control the engine and a myriad of sensors which ensure engine reliability as well as helping dial in aero and suspension setups to get the most out of the car. A Hollinger 6 speed sequential helps get the power to the ground and while Trent didn’t give any specific numbers, the torque split has been adjusted to ensure the car turns into corners easily, as well as maintaining traction when the noise pedal is used on the exit.

Also discussed is the new BorgWarner EFR 9280 turbo which hits a max boost of around 42PSI and 116,000RPM and its advantages over the old EFR 9180, the importance of packers, bump rubber and getting your spring rates right, using Nitrous and why the MIVEC system is retained. Also touched on is the difficulty of reducing weight when so much strength is needed to handle downforce with the tradeoff being the weight is placed as low as possible to improve handling.