Sad news, ladies. Eric Hsu is officially off the market. Turns out last month, when we thought he was building Skylines and developing Cosworth schwag, he was also secretly tuning some girl's heart and making wedding arrangements. Looks like he's finally cracked the female ECU-we're just glad someone has.
Send your tech questions to Dr. Hsu. Save the rest for Dr. Drew.
Turbo Upgrade
I am looking into upgrading my EVO IX stock turbo for an FP Green setup, as recommended by a friend. Can you offer some technical knowledge about the FP Green turbo, including how much power can be achieved and what additional parts are required?
-Anonymousvia importtuner.com
If it's specific answers you're looking for, try contacting Forced Performance, but I've found the FP Green to be good for another 20-30hp at the wheels for an EVO on pump gas. This turbo really wakes up on race gas, but I'm sure you're not planning on paying $13/gallon to fill it up everytime.
Six-Speed Conversion
I recently purchased a '95 Toyota Aristo and would like to know what parts would be needed to swap the automatic with a six-speed manual transmission.
-Ira Parkervia importtuner.com
For starters, you'll need a transmission, flywheel, clutch assembly, clutch pedal, clutch master, slave and starter from a Supra Twin Turbo. The electrical portion requires wires that need some sorting out, but it's not super hard. Any manual conversion takes some dicking around, but with some elbow grease and knowledge (and a working test light), you should figure it out.
Drift Worthy
I own an '86 Nissan 300ZX and am planning to install an RB20DET to build the car for drifting, but would also like to keep it usable as my daily driver. Where can I go to purchase performance parts and upgrades for my car?
-MR.300via importtuner.com
Instead of an RB20DET swap, you should consider a RB25DET. Pricing is similar, and as the popular adage goes: there's no replacement for displacement-especially in a heavy chassis like the Z31. Contact Jim Cook Racing in Los Alamitos, CA, for a wide selection of parts to achieve your dream.
Suspension Dilemmas
I'm hoping you can help me with a wheel problem I've been experiencing with my '91 240SX. I've installed all the available SPL aluminum subframe bushings except the lower rear control arm and knuckle polyurethane bushings, and a KAAZ 1.5-way LSD. The SPL bushings helped tremendously on dry pavement, but in the rain the wheel hop is horrific. I was thinking of installing Nismo motor and transmission mounts and new rear shocks in hopes of fixing this problem. My question is this: will aftermarket upper mounts and shocks help get rid of most of the hop? I am looking for a stiffer ride and have considered purchasing a set of TEIN S-Tech springs-eventually swapping over to coilovers after the SR20DET swap.
-Lazervia importtuner.com
Non-compliant (solid) suspension bushings and bearings are great for serious performance, but they shouldn't be mixed with stock dampers or stock bushings. This is because once you take all of the flex and/or movement out of one area by installing non-compliant bushings or bearings, all of the force transfers to the other compliant bushings. These compliant bushings are now dealing with forces much higher than they were designed to handle, putting aside the fact that the factory ones are now 18 years old. In a fully compliant suspension with all rubber bushings, the forces are distributed equally among all of the rubber, whereas in a partially compliant suspension with solid aluminum and rubber bushings, the few remaining rubber pieces take all of the beating, causing all kinds of strange things, like your serious case of wheel hop. Your best bet is to finish up the rest of your suspension with solid or polyurethane bushings, and replace the stock dampers. For a good non-adjustable damper, try the Tokico "Blue" HP Series, and don't forget to get a good alignment to finish it all off.
Proper Tuning
I own an '08 Lancer ES that I tried to turbocharge, but failed miserably due to the ECU throwing multiple error codes. Is there any place that I could get a custom ECU for it, or am I forever stuck with a slow car?
-Casey Galindovia importtuner.com
With any new vehicle, it's important to use a quality fuel management system that will work with your electronics and not some piece of shit piggyback unit. Call up the people at AEM, Haltech, or Autronics. One of them can surely get you sorted out on engine control.