Turbo Lab Racing and Performance

Tips for Modifying Any Vehicle

2012-01-19T18:54:00.000-08:00

Article by www.turbolabracing.com

Having been in the auto performance industry for over a decade one of the most common questions I'm asked is, "What are the best mods for my car?" I've collaborated the advice and information I always give to each of my customers when approached with this question. If I knew how to do an algorithm in blog form that would be ideal, but I don't, so you get a list ;)

1. What is the purpose for modifying my vehicle?
This is the most critical step in choosing mods for your car. Car mods are seemingly endless so you need to decide what your purpose is behind the build. This way you can narrow down your options and get results that fit your needs without wasting money on unnecessary modifications. Some questions to ask yourself are:
Do I want or need more power, am I going to want more power in the future? How much power?
Will this be for racing? What kind? Drag, Road Course, AutoX, Drift...
Do I need to increase fuel efficiency?
Are the mods just for looks?
Do I want weight reduction? (this is your biggest bang for the buck)
Is it going to be more cost effective to buy another car that may do exactly what I am looking for?

2. Decide on a budget
There are some instances when I have customers where money is no object. But for the rest of us, we live within some sort of budget. Decide what you can afford and stick with it. Make sure that the project you've chosen is something you are comfortable with financially. If not, you may want to reconsider and simplify things or wait til you have a little more cash flow. Please understand most builds are 20% MORE than what you budgeted due to unforseen problems. For example you went to install rods and pistons in your block, and realized the head is no good.

You may also be able to break up your project into "phases." For example, say you want a fully built motor, suspension, turbo system, the works. Break down the cost for each modification project and figure out what can be done now and what can wait for later. Like you may want to modify the engine first and wait on the turbo system for later as this can be added on anytime after. When you find a good tuner, he or she will be able to help you decide what you need and the cost associated with those things.

3. What after market parts are available for my vehicle?
After market mods for cars has become extremely popular. There are some vehicles (like Honda Civics) that offer endless parts at virtually any price point. Other cars (like an '05 V-6 Honda Accord) may be more limited on choices and the least ideal for modifying. You can find out online with a google search pretty quick on the amount of options your car has.

4. Can I get more for less?
When it comes to performance parts, price matters and definitely makes a difference. If using a performance shop, find out about the quality of parts they are using. You may wonder why some shops charge $2000 for a turbo kit and some charge $5000. It usually comes down to the quality of parts. American made turbos, for example, are always the best and of course are the most money, but they last a long time and won't put you at risk of damaging something else under the hood (as the failure rate is extremely low). Buying chinese parts are great cost wise but are a big risk to your project as they have a short shelf life. Bottom line, more money equals better quality and longer lasting.

5. Is gas mileage a factor?
Many times vehicle mods such as turbo systems can actually increase fuel mileage a few mpg...but sometimes heavy mods can make it much much worse. Be prepared for the extra cost of fuel or find more eco friendly mods that will satisfy your green conscience.

6. Will this void my factory warranty?
If you are considering doing after market mods on your new vehicle be aware that 9 times out of 10 these will void your factory warranty. Find out more from your dealer about the factory warranty on your car and go from there.

7. Can I do this myself or do I need to hire a shop?
There are basic mods that mechanically inclined people can do themselves. Or, if you are really good at following instructions and don't mind getting your hands dirty this can work too. However, some projects are reserved for the experts. Many projects require special tooling, fabrication ESPECIALLY the low cost turbo kits on ebay and so forth, and may be out of most's element. Also established performance shops have already gone to the school for hard knocks and have paid their dues in blown up motors, connecting rods that have turned into licorice, fried ecu's, and my personal favorite-blowing a flywheel through a bell housing, etc. There are many little tricks and details they've learned along the way to avoid utter catastrophe and in the end, can actually save you money and headache.

I hope this list has given you some great pointers in starting your project. Happy tuning!

P.S. Street racing is dangerous, there is no purpose for it any longer, there are plenty of tracks where you won't be t-boning a minivan full of kids or causing injury to you or someone else. You will lose your vehicle and possibly your freedom if you are caught street racing, trust me, I know. That was my political agenda thanks for listening.

Dyno Shootout 2010

2011-11-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a video link from the winner of the Dyno shootout I forgot to post here! Congrats to the Cody w/ 1492 whp Supra :)

click this link Turbo Lab Racing and Performance Dyno shootout
to watch on youtube.

50% off Dyno Session

2011-10-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

HUGE SAVINGS!!!! Check in to Turbo Lab on Facebook and get 50% off your dyno session (excludes tuning of course). Now thru 10/31/11

Top Ten Turbo System Tips

2010-10-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

Tips for pricing out Turbo Systems and Installation

1. Does the system include an engine management system? (ems is crucial in the performance and reliability of your vehicle)

2. What parts are being used? Are they name brand? American? Chinese? Ebay? American parts are by far the best and of course the most expensive however you will get the most life out of them. Chinese parts are budget friendly but are much less certain on the life expectancy. Ebay items can save money but look for name brands to be safe.

3. Is the system complete or will I have to source out for other parts? (like injectors, wastegate, connectors, clamps, etc)

4. What turbo? Depending on your desired application the right turbo is critical in what the performance of your vehicle will be. Am I looking for big horsepower? Quick power? More torque?

5. Does the system include an intercooler? Will it fit your vehicle? (Do I need front, top, or side mount?) Intercooling is very important as so much heat is created with forced induction it compensates the process to help continue the goal of increasing power. A high quality intercooler will give you maximum efficiency.

6. Leave install to the professionals. Turbo systems and tuning have evolved over the decades, it is not like rebuilding an old carburetor on a Ford truck. Look for an experienced installation shop for best results.

7. Important questions to ask a shop are: How many systems have they done? When working with turbo system installs you get what you pay for. Choosing a shop with a lot of experience under their belt is worth it even if you have to pay a little more. Systems installed incorrectly or tuned incorrectly will have major problems. How long has the shop been in business? Generally the longer in business, the more likely they know what they are doing.

8. Does the price include tuning? (When heavily modifying your vehicle tuning is essential to sustaining the life of your engine)

9. Does the price include dyno time? Dyno-ing your vehicle before and after install will give you exact numbers on horsepower increase.

10. Are my parts and or the install warrantied? Finding a shop to stand behind their work is important as you are most likely spending a lot of money to have a nice system. If unforseen problems occur, the warranty is priceless.

Utah's Only DynoJet Dynamometer

2010-09-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know at Turbo Lab we offer Utah's only Dynojet Chassis Dyno? Putting your car on the dyno is essential for determining how to get the most performance out of your vehicle. Our customers have been so pleased with the ease and convenience of our in house Dyno. Whether you need tuning, a baseline, or just want to see how much horsepower your vehicle makes, we can help! Dyno and Tuning prices are as follows:

$95 dyno baseline (3 pulls)
$125/hr dyno tuning time including dynojet wideband
$195/hr full service professional dyno tune (by our certified AEM tuner)

Race Team discounts given for 10+ vehicles call for pricing

*re-tune starting as low as $399
*new street tune starting as low as $499
(pricing varies greatly depending on desired application, ems, vehicle, and vehicle condition)

Call us today to arrange your dyno session 801-802-6124 please leave a message if we do not answer, your call is important to us, thank you!

To learn more about TurboLab visit our website at www.turbolaboratories.com

Dyno Shootout Coming Soon!!

2010-05-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our official dates for the Dyno Tuner Shootout is June 17-19 2010. This is going to be so much fun don't miss out!
Huge Cash Prizes, Multiple Performance Classes, See how your car ranks in Utah!
Pony Cars, Import FI and N/A visit our website for full details and to register limited spots so get signed up!!! Entry fee is $95
www.turbolaboratories.com

Dyno Shootout -Is Your Car Ready-????

2010-03-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

Since acquiring a Dynojet Dynamometer last summer we have been itching to have an all out Dyno Competition. It will most likely be held the end of April or in May depending on the weather mostly.

We want to see in Utah, all talk aside, who will put down the biggest numbers. We will have several categories for vehicles to be placed in and there will be BIG cash prizes for the winners of these categories.

I'll post more information soon but here's a few guidelines to give you an idea of what to expect.

Strict Rules:
$95 Entry fee, a portion of which, goes toward cash prizes. The more entries, the bigger the prizes!!
No Tuning during competion. All tuning must be performed prior to event.
3 Pulls to determine peak horsepower.
Vehicles require inspection (details coming soon).
All participants must sign waiver.

This Season

2009-03-26T23:14:00.000-07:00

We are gearing up for a fun-filled race season and appreciate the overwhelming support with our minivan at the snowcross event! We plan on racing the MPRA series which we have just learned has teamed up with NASA. We will also be racing some SCCA, Redline, and invitation only events.

We are grateful for our sponsors, Ralley Sport Direct, and Forrest Motors who have helped us prepare for this season.

See you on the Miller track April 3rd for practice and April 4th for Race 1.

(Don't forget to visit our website if you want to know more about our services http://www.turbolaboratories.com/)

Miller Motorsports Park Annual Snowcross Event...with a Minivan

2009-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

We attended Miller Motorsports Parks Annual Snowcross event on Saturday and well, the minivan was a big hit and a blast to drive as well. A big thanks to Forrest Motors in Provo for donating the 2003 Honda Odyssey and also to Rally Sport Direct in Draper for the brand new Sparco Seat and Harness.

There were quite a few chuckles when we pulled up in the minivan, no surprise. But even with 12 seconds in penalties from hitting cones we still managed to take home a second place trophy in front wheel drive.

We are excited to race this car this season and have some fun ideas for more mods we'd like to make. Currently it's stock. We gutted the interior cut out some floor panels and mounted up the wheels and tires from the nsx (they fit perfect lol).

MPRA Championship

2008-10-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

MPRA Championship October 18-19, 2008. We had a great time and placed 2nd overall for the season...not bad for missing a few races.

Modified Mag Tuner Shootout 2008: A learning Experience

2008-06-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Dyno: 557 whp @ 12lbs...nice

First off let me say that I think it's quite impressive to finish the quarter mile backwards and still run a 12.7. However that being said we had many challenges over the weekend. We'd never been to Firebird Raceway before and tried to get as much info. as we could about the track and conditions of it. But there's almost no way to really be prepared without actually practicing on the track.

Sheering your wheel spacer and breaking your suspension during autocross does not help. Especially when you don't know yet your broke your suspension until you are shifting in to 4th gear down the quarter mile and your car decides to head for the wall. I must admit I'd never been so calm. I just let go of the wheel and held my harness. It all happened in such slow motion I realized I had a good chance of saving the car. I grabbed the wheel, got it under control, and crossed the finish line backwards, you know, the way real race car drivers do it. Headlights would have been a good thing for the Time Attack since we ended up racing at night and only half the track was lit. I'm not sure if it was scary or frightening going down the back stretch not knowing when the turn would come...

I had the completely wrong tires for this kind of an event. I won't tell you the brand...they are my ultra, top secret, weapons. But I will say they need warming up and there was no time for that at this event.

These are not excuses of course but these are the experiences I had that I will definately learn from for the future. The event was great everyone was nice and I'd do it again in a second...only way way better hopefully. It is definately frustrating having a car that performs so amazing and should have done so well at this event but the lack of knowledge/preparation deminished it's chances. BTW a big thanks to my good friend Adam Munoa of Munoa Performance who came down with me to help me get through all the events.