Tuned In

• Field Report: 1969 Datsun + 16 feet of Titanium = 1 EPIC Build.

  What happens when you combine flame-bent titanium, 3D scanning, and a 1969 Datsun Roadster? You get one of our favourite builds, and a happy missus.Connor McElvain ‪@ConnorButter‬ from Butter Welding showcases his custom Nissan/Datsun Roadster project, where old-school cool meets new-school tools. Starting with a complete 3D scan of the body, Connor designed and built a full custom chassis using CAD, ditching the original outdated geometry for a purpose-built cantilever suspension system that was prototyped with 3D printing and finalised via CNC machining.Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inEvery part has been carefully modelled and refined from the Nissan SR20 VVL head to a pair of Weber carbs mounted on a one-off manifold for both form and function. A Haltech Elite 550 ECU runs the ignition and variable valve timing, blending modern control with vintage charm.The real showpiece is the titanium exhaust header, flame bent by hand and slip-fit for flexibility. This material isn't often used in this way and might not be ideal for long-term durability, but time will tell and in the meantime it looks incredible and sounds even better. This build is proof that with the right tech and dedication, you can create something pretty epic.Probably not surprising, but Connor and his roadster took the SEMA Battle of the Builders 'Young Guns' 1st place award 🥇 

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• 139: The TRUTH Behind Drivetrain Losses on the Dyno.

  Real-world performance is what matters when tuning a vehicle, but let’s not pretend the numbers on a dyno sheet mean nothing. The thing is… How can we trust one result from another? How are different dynos arriving at their calculated power and torque figures? And what’s the deal with drivetrain losses? Todd Lewis from Mainline Dyno is here to answer these questions and many more. 👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvipWe’ve been using Mainline dynos for over a decade now, so when Todd flew over to our facility to carry out some upgrades on our four-wheel-drive hub dyno, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to sit him down and get some definitive answers about the sometimes confusing world of dynometers. We start by discussing the history of dynos — both engine and chassis — covering the rapid pace of advancement over the last few decades, the different types available today and their pros and cons, as well as what modern dynos are now capable of. We then jump into the heavy tech side, covering fascinating topics like inertia and load bearing systems, how much power some dynos can really handle, eddy current retarders, and plenty more. The conversation rounds out with some great chat around properly strapping a car to a rolling road system, accounting for variances in drivetrain loss and how it should be calculated, as well as achieving complete consistency from run to run — probably the most important factor for any tuner.Looking to Invest in a Dyno? Listen to This First. Check out Mainline Dyno here:Instagram: @mainlinedyno Facebook:  Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers WWW: https://www.mainlinedyno.com.au👉 Don’t forget, you can use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvipTimestamps:0:00 The TRUTH Behind Drivetrain Losses on the Dyno4:05 How did you become interested in cars?10:55 What has changed in the dyno space since you’ve been involved?14:39 What is a vane dyno?15:43 When did Mainline start focusing on dynos?20:01 What drove demand for dynos in the early 2000s?22:15 What other brands of dyno were around in the early 2000s?24:09 What is an inertia dyno?28:56 What is a load-bearing dyno, and how do we apply that load?34:43 What is an eddy current retarder?41:42 Why do we get varied dyno readings?47:17 How do you train people to get consistency on their dynos?57:19 Why is everyone using an eddy current retarder?59:29 Do you get to a point where the rolling road doesn’t make sense?1:03:20 How did the development of the hub dyno come about?1:16:21 Hub dynos vs roller dynos?1:23:15 How much power are we losing in the drivetrain?1:37:04 Is there much demand for linked dynos?1:41:16 When did you start with Mainline and can you give us an overview of Mainline today?1:45:50 New operating system — why have you updated it?1:52:27 Final three questions

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• Field Report: Why YOU Are Doing Car Aero WRONG.

  We often chase engine and tuning upgrades first, but could a front splitter and rear wing be a smarter starting point for our race cars?We caught up with Kyle Forster from JKF Aero to break down how aerodynamics work in practice and how to make effective improvements at every level of motorsport. From the priorities of downforce vs drag, to choosing the right aero balance for your car's drivetrain layout, this conversation covers everything from tuft testing a club racer to CFD and F1-style development cycles, noting Kyle was an aerodynamicist for the Mercedes Formula 1 team during their hybrid era peak.Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inKyle explains key tuning strategies using splitters, wings, rake, and gurney flaps, plus the difference between 2D and 3D wing profiles and how things like swan neck mounts and dual elements can drastically improve efficiency and downforce. He also clarifies some common misconceptions about turbulent flow, stalling, and the practical implications of end plate design, big and small.Practical advice is given for grassroots racers, including the use of tufts or strong coast-down testing, and why stopwatch and driver feedback still matter. At the professional level, Kyle explains how CFD, wind tunnel testing, and track validation work together in a continuous development loop for professional motorsport including Formula 1 car development.So, where are the biggest gains to be had for a club racer? As you might have guessed, front splitters and rear wings. Get them on the car and develop over time from there, forgetting about flat floors and rear diffusers until further down the line is Kyles advice.Whether you're trying to gain lap time at your local time attack event or you’re part of a pro-level development team, this video gives valuable insight into how to build aero that works. To see more of Kyle’s work, check out JKF Aero at jkfaero.com or his YouTube channel ‪@KYLEENGINEERS‬.

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• Field Report: Can 'Over Building' Your Engine Damage It?

  Some bearings are tough enough to survive 3000 horsepower, but that doesn’t mean you should use them in your street build.Choosing the right bearing isn’t as simple as just picking the toughest option and sometimes what seems like a part from 'the top shelf' can do more harm than good. In this interview, Christian from Nitto Performance Engineering breaks down some small but key differences between OEM-style bearings, ACL Race Series bearings, and coated bearings like those treated by Calico. While high-end coatings offer increased durability for extreme horsepower builds, they come with trade-offs in embeddability and long-term street reliability.Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inThis conversation clears up common misconceptions around bearing selection, including how coatings affect clearance, what embeddability actually does, and why some “race-spec” parts can do more harm than good in the wrong application. Christian explains that coatings like Calico are better suited to high-power engines with short service intervals, not long-life street builds.If you're chasing reliability and performance, this video will help you make an informed decision and avoid common (and expensive) bearing mistakes. Whether you're building a 3000hp drag monster or a 1000hp weekend car, it’s about matching the component to your use case, not just chasing specs.

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• 138: The Secret to Effective Aero on a Budget.

  Think getting extra speed out of an aero package is just for the pros with all the money? It’s not... But you DO need to know what you’re doing. This week, we’re sitting down with aero specialist Amir Bentatou from RS Future to discuss creating an effective aero package for your vehicle, how to actually test it, and much more.👉 Use the code ‘AMIR50’ to get $50 off HPA’s Aerodynamics Fundamentals course:https://hpcdmy.co/aerobIt’s no secret that over the last decade or so, the use of aero components has really grown thanks to disciplines like time attack and hill climbing. The reality is, these days, if you want to be competitive on track, a solid aero package is no longer optional.In the past, this usually meant consulting with experts, having your car scanned, and a custom aero package designed and built for your car — and that costs a lot of time and money. Things are different these days, though, and Amir dives straight into discussing how the average racer can build out a successful aero package to pick up a whole lot of speed using the 80/20 rule — that is, 80% of the performance for 20% of the money and effort.We also discuss testing at the grassroots level through the use of wool tufting and flow-vis — these can be easily implemented, but you still need to understand what you’re looking at when the car comes back into the pits. This conversation goes deep into the aero world, but also touches on Amir’s self-taught journey to get where he and RS Future are today, as well as his insight into the world of time attack and GT3 racing, which is something he’s been heavily involved in for a good few seasons now. Check out Amir here:Instagram: @rsfuture_amir, @rsfutureYoutube: RS FutureWWW: rsfuture.com👉 Don’t forget, you can use the code ‘AMIR50’ to get $50 off HPA’s Aerodynamics Fundamentals course: https://hpcdmy.co/aerobTimestamps:0:00 The Secret to Effective Aero on a Tight Budget.3:35 How did you become interested in cars and motorsport?5:46 How did you transition into aerodynamics and composites?`14:00 How did you get a job as a Motorsport driving instructor?18:15 When and how did you start RS Future?22:40 How did you decide what products you would focus on with RS Future?25:53 Can you explain wool tuffs and how we can use them?30:49 What is flow vis?32:42 How do we go about developing an aero package for a race car based on a road car?39:28 How do we produce front-end down force on a production road car?54:15 How do you manage ride height and downforce?59:02 What is a third member?59:55 How important is having a flat floor?1:06:05 Where do we want our ducts for oil coolers, trans coolers, and brakes1:09:47 How are these aero parts constructed?1:19:16 How did you move into race engineering for GT3?1:21:33 What is the GT3 class?1:36:22 Final three questions

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