High Performance Academy Presents: Tuned In. A podcast interviewing influential people from around the world at the top of their respected fields. Covering topi...
Field Report: GT-Z: The RZ34 Nissan SHOULD have built?
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-inWe 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.
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134: Performance EVs — Do They Have a Future?
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/evbSasha 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: @mountainpassperformanceFB: Mountain Pass PerformanceYT: Mountain Pass PerformanceWWW: https://www.mountainpassperformance.com, https://www.onpointdyno.comDon’t forget, you can use ‘ONPOINT50’ to get $50 off HPA’s EV Fundamentals Course: https://hpcdmy.co/evbTimestamps:0:00 Performance EVs — Do They Have a Future?4:06 Who are you and where are you from?5:26 Hybrid 350z8:15 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 overview41:47 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 covers1:08:56 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
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Field Report: Why all the fuss? | Executive Order Approval.
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-inEmissions 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.
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Field Report: This Build Makes Your 4x4 Look Like a Prius.
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-inDesigned 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.
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133: The Dos and Don’ts of Diesel Tuning.
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/dieselstarterbJust 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: @justautosmechanicalFB: Just AutosYT: Just Autos MechanicalTKTK: justautosWWW: justdieselperfomance.com.auDon’t forget, you can use JUST50 to get $50 off HPA’s Diesel Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/dieselstarterbTimestamps: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.
High Performance Academy Presents: Tuned In. A podcast interviewing influential people from around the world at the top of their respected fields. Covering topics such as Tuning, CAD, Performance Engine Building, Automotive/Motorsport Wiring, Data Analysis, Driver Coaching/Training, Motorsport Fabrication and Car Setup.
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