Tuned In

Latest Episodes:

Field Report: Talking with Rob Dahm about his 1000HP+ Quad rotor build. Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

If you haven’t heard of Rob Dahm and his Mazda FD RX7 build, you have now. This has been many years in the making so far with lots of ups and downs as well as plan changes along the way — we caught up with Rob a couple of years ago at SEMA and took a good look at this incredible build.
Want to learn how to EFI tune? Start with some free lessons right here: hpcdmy.co/efilesson

Brotherly rivalry led Rob to consider an AWD/4WD build and with support and encouragement from Ian Steward of ASD Motorsports who built Ken Block's Gymkhana 7 ‘Hoonicorn’ AWD Mustang. A lot of the details of the Hoonicorn build were shared with Rob, but in the end, it wasn’t compatible with this application particularly when it came to fitting a passenger seat.
Due to concerns with cast components, Rob sourced a billet 4 rotor from Carl Thompson which was the spare for a build of his we have featured previously (linked below). It has some unique features which we’re excited to learn more about as time goes on and A-B testing is planned in relation to tuning and exhaust components in the near future too.
The car runs an R32 GTR transfer box off the back of a Holinger RD6, Winters Quick Change rear differential, Adaptronic M6000 ECU, Garrett 106mm turbo, Clearview oil filtration system along with Ti Automotive a dual brushless pump setup.
Also discussed are the reasons for the tube frame in relation to requirement, or just preference, cast vs billet 4 rotor setups and what the plan is from here.

028: Engine Swap Mistakes to AVOID. Feb 25, 2022

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Is modifying a rare and desirable vehicle a really stupid idea? What's the secret to building a great street car? What makes a good engine swap? Can you actually make a career as an automotive 'YouTuber'? On this week's episode of the High Performance Academy 'Tuned In' podcast, Andre is joined by Dave Pratte and Peter Tarach from Speed Academy to help answer all these questions and many more.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Dave and Peter have been in the automotive game for many years, starting off in with a long run in the print media world working at car magazines before eventually transitioning into the online space — specifically YouTube. Through their channel Speed Academy, they've successfully built a career online, and now spend their time taking on interesting builds for the world to see.
All those hours spent either in front or behind a camera, pedalling fast cars, or swinging off the end of a half-inch driver, has given the guys a really interesting perspective on what it is we do as enthusiasts.
Learn more about Performance Engine Building by coming along to the next FREE lesson: hpcdmy.co/enginebuildingf

Andre first digs into what it actually takes to make money as an automotive 'YouTuber', before discussing the potential monetary pitfalls of modifying something like Speed Academy's R34 GT-R and JZA80 Supra projects — vehicles that are quickly becoming more of an investment opportunity than driveable cars.
Peter and Dave then dive into the world of engine swaps — when it's a good idea, when it's a bad idea, how to do it well, and the mistakes that so many people make on their first time around. While still on the subject of swaps, Peter makes the case for DCT (dual clutch transmission) swaps being the new manual gearbox swaps, now that the industry is catching up and providing aftermarket support for CANbus integration.
With discussions on what makes a great street car (hint — horsepower chasers aren't going to love the answer) and much more, this is an entertaining conversation with two experienced veterans of the modified import scene. These guys have seen it all, from the pre-Fast and Furious days, all the way through the growing pains of the last two decades to the current YouTube-dominated scene we find ourselves in today — for better or for worse.
Check out Speed Academy's YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and website.

Field Report: Why Not Billet? | 4G63 Evo IX Time Attack Upgrades Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Even when budget is not a limiting factor, why might a team choose to use a factory block over an aftermarket billet one in a Time Attack build?
With a 2.2L stroker 4G63 MIVEC build featuring a custom billet crank, rod and pistons, Benjamin Perry of Benchmark Solutions explains why a billet block was not a consideration for this build along with covering some of the upgrades the Global Aircraft Services Mitsubishi Evo 9 has seen in order to remain competitive in the ever-popular Open Class as the World Time Attack Challenge.
Want to develop your own skills further? Start with a free live lesson! Claim your spot now: https://www.hpacademy.com/free

027: Why the R35 GTR is NOT a Great Time Attack Car. Feb 18, 2022

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On this week's episode of the High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast, Andre is joined by Time Attack and Pikes Peak veteran Cole Powelson of Lyfe Motorsport.
Cole has a lot of experience when it comes to making all sorts of vehicles go as fast as possible through chassis, suspension, engine, and aerodynamic development and as such, has plenty to say on what makes a quick car and how to achieve it.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
The guys start by talking about Cole's unlikely come up through the motorsport world, and how it was always about figuring out how he could engineer his life around getting behind the wheel of a race car – if that meant crewing for teams, training as a tech, using other people's money, or starting his own business, he was all about it. With that in mind, Cole discusses the prohibitive costs of motorsport and the ways that this limiting factor can be minimized.
Cole also talks about his two companies, Lyfe Motorsport and Sierra Cars. Lyfe facilitates the complete build of bespoke race cars – that means fabrication, engineering, and development – and can take one to two years with everything done in house, while Sierra Cars produces incredibly trick open wheel cross-kart style weapons that utilise screaming Hayabusa drivetrains and plenty of trick engineering. Many lessons have been learnt along the way in both of these businesses, and Cole is happy to share them.
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 is, of course, plenty of discussion to be had around time attack and hill climbing, as well as Cole's thoughts on the R35 GTR platform – with which he holds numerous time attack records and is currently in the midst of building a new project that is powered by a 6-litre Ford Powerstroke – as well as the huge importance and benefits of properly-designed aero.
Cole is a wealth of knowledge and we enjoyed his frank and open take on all things speed – there's plenty of golden nuggets in this episode for anyone who's interested in going fast!

Field Report: How Do You Tame 3000hp With Torque Management? Feb 16, 2022

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2000-3000HP GT-Rs are not uncommon in today's performance car world, and Tony Palo of T1 Race Development runs us through some of the nuances that go into tuning these highly strung, modern beasts and ensuring that power goes to the ground.
Discussed is how the MoTeC M150 ECU controls the torque via a variety of parameters such as speed, boost, knock throttle etc. Also discussed is how the gear shifting is done to ensure the torque output does not exceed the gearboxes threshold when the driver requests a change, and also touched on is how the ECU actually calculates the torque and the need to be accurate in your tune to ensure this information is also accurate and safe.
Want to develop your own skills further? Start with a free live lesson! Claim your spot now: https://www.hpacademy.com/free

026: Building a Tube Frame 1100hp Time Attack Weapon. Feb 11, 2022

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Is there something in the water? Is it a cultural thing? Maybe it's the 9 months of cold and dark per year that forces enthusiasts into their garages and workshops that results in some of the world's most extreme race car builds.
Whatever the answer, there's no denying that Scandinavia is rich with incredible DIY engineers, fabricators, and engine builders, and Sweden's Karel Silha is one of the best.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
The brains behind Karel S. Motorsport, Karel recently sat down with Tuned In's host Andre Simon talk all things race car design and fabrication, building big-power BMW M motors, aerodynamics, and much more.
In this episode, Karel and Andre dive deep into his latest build – an insane tubeframe time attack weapon based off a BMW M4 DTM and running a 1100hp twin-turbo BMW S65 V8 from an E90 M3.
Absolutely everything on this machine is custom, designed and fabricated from the ground up, and Karel goes into plenty of detail about the process – including the initial body design, which began as a 3D scan of a detailed 1:18 scale model of the actual DTM race car. The ups and downs of building high-powered yet reliable BMW motors are discussed, as are the insane aerodynamic aspects of the car and the suspension needed to work with it, along with the intense electronics and data acquisition capabilities that Karel has built in.
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
Karel has a lot of experience when it comes to going all-in on a build, and that means that plenty of lessons have been learnt along the way – many of which he's more than happy to discuss with Andre in this insightful and sometimes inspiring episode of the podcast.
If you like building cool things, going fast, and maybe taking things just a little too far in the workshop, this is one episode you're not going to want to miss.
Check out Karel's Instagram here: karel_s_motorsport

Field Report: Are Piston Coatings Worth Having AND Can Coatings Save Your Engine? Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Are piston coatings going to save you from a bad tune, and if not, what’s the point? MAHLE Motorsports engineer Eric Grilliot answers these questions and more during a Performance Racing Industry Trade Show visit.
Discussed are how different coatings can look identical to the naked eye but will often have different purposes and intents between manufacturers and also locations on the piston. Top Fuel piston coating vs OEM vs racing and even street applications are touched on along with why different areas of the piston might be focused on, or in the case of Top Fuel Drag Racing why it is beneficial to simply coat the entire piston.
Want to develop your own skills further? Start with a free live lesson! Claim your spot now: https://www.hpacademy.com/free

025: No Mods. Tune Only. 25% MORE POWER. Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

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.

Field Report: Swapping a Ferrari engine into a GT86 Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Want your GT86 to rev out to 9,000 RPM? Here’s one way to do it.
The 570HP 4.5L Ferrari V8 powered ‘GT4586’ of Ryan Tuerck was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and we caught up with Brian Hartsock of Unicorn Garage to get a few more details of one of the more unusual GT86 engine swaps you’re ever likely to see. The engine hails from the F136 V8 family and originally was housed in a Ferrari 458. Other than some setup changes for fitment, it remains relatively stock and despite boasting 80% of its 540Nm of torque being on tap from 3,250 rpm, Nitrous Oxide is injected up until 6,000 rpm to prevent a lot of clutch work and increased maintenance to keep it sliding.
Want to develop your own skills further? Start with a free live lesson! Claim your spot now: https://www.hpacademy.com/free

024: Driving Fast And Keeping Secrets With The Stig, Ben Collins Jan 28, 2022

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We've got an absolute banger for this week's episode of the High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast, as the legendary Ben Collins sits down for some quality chats with Andre about all things driving and, of course, being the Stig. You may not know the name, but you'll definitely recognise the white overalls and helmet.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Andre first leans in on Ben's wealth of experience when it comes to professional motorsport and driver training to talk about honing your skills behind the wheel. Ben's insight into common mistakes to avoid, how to get the most out of your car, and things he wishes all drivers knew are valuable ones.
The pair then move on to the real meat and potatoes of the whole thing — how does someone even become the Stig? Ben charts his unexpected rise from an inexperienced driver who'd never even been in race car before 18, to becoming one of the most famous drivers in the world — if not by name. This is a man that has driven and raced almost every type of race and street car, from open-wheelers, to NASCAR, to V8 Supercars, to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and countless roadgoing exoticas — and that means there's just a huge amount of gold worth diving into.
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

What was life like as the Stig? How did he keep his identity secret for so long? How much pressure was there for manufacturers to turn in a good lap? What was the best car he ever drove? Andre was bursting full of questions for Ben in this fascinating podcast — so if you want answers to any of the above and much, much more, this is going to be a great podcast for you.

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