APS to Expand Range
Air Power Systems is to expand their range of high performance products. In an exclusive interview with AutoSpeed, APS head honcho Peter Luxon confirmed that the company's successful Subaru WRX power-up kit is soon to be joined by others. The second version of the WRX kit will include a larger intercooler, with the kit delivering substantially more power from the EJ20 engine. In fact, power will be so high that peak torque will need to be limited if the drivetrain is to stand the pace! Luxon intends to offer a 100,000km engine warranty on the conversion. APS are also playing with a 2.5 litre WRX which is whispered to develop a staggering 300kW (400hp)!
Also in the pipeline is a power-up kit for the SR20DET turbo four found under the bonnet of the Nissan 200SX, and a further kit for the naturally aspirated Porsche Boxster.
In another interesting development, APS is to sell the ProChip ECU in a range of versions to suit the majority of EFI cars on the market. Already included in the APS WRX kit, the ProChip is an add-on interceptor ECU that can be used to adjust factory fuel and ignition settings. The system is said to feature good mapping resolution (there are lots of load and rpm points) and is fully lap-top PC programmable. APS is to appoint Pro-Chip dealers Australia-wide and expects the ECU to sell for well under $A1200 in fitted-and-dyno'd form. The ProChip can be used with cars as diverse as the V6 and V8 Commodore, six and eight cylinder Falcon, BMW, Porsche, Subaru and Nissan.APS can be contacted on
Tel: +61 3 9720 9170.
Exhaust Revolution
Here's a prototype of a device that's very likely to revolutionise performance exhausts. Developed by Kevin Davis of Wollongong (NSW, Australia), it's a variable flow exhaust butterfly with an external control box. It effectively changes the size of the exhaust, matching it to different gas flows. The amount of back-pressure can be specified and then retained at all revs and loads. This means that if you want 1.5 psi back-pressure (keeping the noise down), the butterfly will automatically vary its opening to maintain this pressure in all conditions! A full-throttle over-ride switch to give max butterfly opening is incorporated into the system. The exhaust can be as quite as a mouse at low flows but still have near-zero restriction at full load! The more you think about it, the better the idea is. We will have a full test of the system in an upcoming issue. If you can't wait, contact Kevin on +61 42 294 859.
New Wolf Software
Advanced Engine Management (makers of Wolf ECUs) has just released new PC software for their range. The engine management computers continue to use plug-in cartridge technology for their engine settings, but a PC can now program the cartridges. This gives advantages over using just the hand-held controllers (which are still available) because the full fuel and ignition maps can be seen at a glance. Three-dimensional mapping is available, with 'peaks' and 'valleys' in the tune-up (that might give poor running) able to be quickly seen. The software and the required connecting cable are now included at no extra charge with the $1395 Wolf 3D fuel and ignition ECU. Contact AEM on +61 3 9761 3161.
Download Wolf Software
MoTeC CDI
Top engine management manufacturer MoTeC is about to release a new Capacitor Discharge Ignition system. The box (shown here) is so new that it didn't even have a sticker on it when we took the pic! The CDI unit replaces the Mercury CDI system previously used by many top race teams running MoTeC engine management systems. The new CDI unit has a maximum ignition frequency of 650Hz, uses a coil primary voltage of 450V, and develops a spark energy of 110mJ. Contact MoTeC on:
Tel: +61 3 9761 5050
www.motec.com.au
Cheap Dyno Heads
Gas Research Australia has developed a new water brake dyno head. Able to absorb up to 680 ft-lbs at 3500 rpm (that's 450hp), the dyno head can be fitted to either chassis or engine dynamometers. Mains water is used as the braking source, giving low running costs. The dyno heads start at A$5000 with software to suit from A$1500. Contact Gas Research Australia on:
Tel: +61 3 9702 4555.
Full APEXi Range Available
The full range from Japanese aftermarket tuner APEXi is now available in Australia. JAP Trading Pty Ltd has just set up shop in Melbourne and they have an extensive range of products held in stock. Inside JAP Trading's 4000 square foot warehouse are APEXi exhausts, mufflers, suspension components, gauges, intercoolers, brake discs, brake pads, and engine components. Excellent colour brochures are available on many of the products. Contact JAP Trading on:
Tel: +61 3 9879 7799.
Dyno Dynamics Shed Dyno
While Dyno Dynamics don't call it their "shed dyno", we reckon that this one would be ideal for a well-equipped backyard garage! Designed for use in tech colleges and small workshops, the air-cooled eddy-current dyno can absorb up to 450kW at speeds up to 5500 rpm. No water is required, just mains electricity. The dyno is capable of automatic unattended operation, with prices starting at $A40,250. Contact Dyno Dynamics on:
Tel: +61 3 9739 5966
www.dyno.com.au for further details.
STA EFI Hardware
Supercharger Technologies Australia is widening their range at a blistering rate. In addition to a number of new blower kits, they are introducing their own series of forced aspirated accessories. These include a billet 6061 aluminium dump valve using a nylon piston 70mm in diameter. Available anodised in either blue or red, the valve costs $200. If only a throttle bypass valve is needed, STA have a 50mm valve available for $110, again machined from aluminium and available in red or blue anodised finishes.
In the product pipeline is a rising rate fuel pressure regulator manufactured entirely in-house. The billet aluminium regulator uses stainless steel fittings and the rate of fuel pressure increase can be adjusted to being between six and eight times the intake manifold pressure. The regulator will sell for $200.
New supercharger kits have just been released for the VT V8 Commodore, with all kits using the STA SC400 blower. For the standard V8 developing 179kW at the flywheel, the STA kit boosts power to a rear wheel figure of 175kW. The 195kW V8 kit has a rear wheel figure of 212kW, while the 5.7 litre 220kW V8 in kitted form has a staggering 230kW (308hp) at the rear wheels.
Contact STA on:
Tel: + 61 3 9723 6022
or check out www.labyrinth.net.au/~sta
Hot Stuff
One of the troubles with turbo timers is that most are pretty stupid - they don't know if you've been driving hard or just idling around. But this turbo timer uses a temp probe in the exhaust and turns off the engine only when the exhaust gases have dropped below a preset temperature. A top quality K-Type sheathed thermocouple is used and the switch-off temp can be adjusted over a wide range - normally it's set at 400°
C. Cost of the timer is A$200 and it's available from:LPG Systems and Services on:
Tel: +61 8 8523 3677
rmc@adelaide.on.net
New from Haltech
Haltech are set to release a range of brilliant new products over the next few months. We'll have full details as each product is released, but here are some preliminaries.
A new ignition-only ECU is very near completion. A replacement for the venerable IG4, the new IG5 can run the ignition side of piston or rotary engines using from 1-16 cylinders. It will happily accept standard, multi-tooth, Motronic and independent triggers as per the current E6A fuel and ignition ECU.
A bit further away from release is the E10 fuel and ignition ECU. A more powerful unit than the current E6A, the E10 will feature dual processors and have the ability to run a sequentially injected V8 with crankfire ignition. The E10 is currently being used in both gas and diesel injection experimental projects. And if you think that the E10 sounds good, we hear a whisper of the E12, complete with 32 bit electronics.....
Finally, in a radical departure from the traditional Haltech approach, is a device so new that it's yet to be officially named. Informally known within the Haltech company as the Haligator(!), the new controller is able to be programmed by a dedicated hand-piece as well as a traditional PC. This box of tricks is a fuzzy logic boost controller, has two programmable outputs for water injection or nitrous oxide, has a programmable 3-stage shift light and also another two programmable channels to run extra injectors! You can trigger the changeover of a dual-length intake manifold, turn on an intercooler water spray or trigger a blow-off valve. This product sounds like a manna from heaven for a turbo car owner, and we plan to do a full review on it when it is released.
Contact Haltech on:
Tel: +61 2 9525 2400
www.haltech.com.au
Budget Air/Fuel Gauge
How would you like to have a standard automotive 2 1/16th-inch gauge that clearly displays the current air/fuel ratio? Even better, it works off the oxygen sensor that your EFI car already has! Westach Instruments of California, USA, manufacture the gauge. It's model number 2C5-56 and is available direct from Westach for just US$37.70. Order it at www.westach.com
We've been playing with one for several months now and have found that it's pretty good - but that a couple of mods improve its performance. The gauge comes apart if you very carefully insert the blade of a thin, rounded-tip knife into the seam on the back edge of the front bezel. With the guts on display, a small screwdriver-adjustable potentiometer can be seen. Adjusting this changes the calibration of the gauge.
While you've got the gauge apart, you might also want quicken-up the gauge reaction time. To give the gauge a faster response, cut one of the wires leading to the big blue capacitor mounted on the edge of the printed circuit board.
Note that the gauge works fine with the ECU still connected, and the gauge doesn't upset the ECU either. However, don't be tempted to use the gauge to set up the programmable management in a hi-po car - it doesn't have the accuracy to do this sort of job. But as a cheap on-dash indication of where the mixtures are, it's brilliant value for money.
Quickies
- Fluid Dynamics of Melbourne (Australia) has released a new intercooler. Designed for the Holden VL Commodore (but suitable for other high-powered turbo cars), the air/air design is claimed to be the largest VL intercooler on the market. The company says that the Commodore can run 15 psi boost without pinging when using normal unleaded fuel. Contact Fluid Dynamics on:
Tel +61 3 9796 5988.
- If you live in Australia and have a Japanese-import car you'll be aware that the Japanese-market FM radio won't tune to the top of the band - any station higher than 90 on the dial can't be heard. PowerCom has just released a new product that overcomes this problem. The FM Frequency Adaptor costs A$45 plus freight and is available from +61 18 535 245 or fax +61 3 9366 6872.
- Adelaide (Australia) radiator company Adrad has developed a series of new radiator technologies. The HT Core Technology uses cooling tubes with a long rectangular cross-section, reducing the chance of blockage and improving efficiency. Long Extrusion Technology improves durability by giving an improved bond between the header plates and the tubes. Finally, Inline Tubular Cores gives high efficiencies with reduced pressure drops. Adrad can manufacture custom radiators to suit any application. Contact:
Tel: +61 8 8347 7217
www.adrad.com.au
- If you've always wanted a metal working lathe but just haven't been able to justify the outlay, this might be for you. South Australian company Clisby Miniature Machine Tools produce a tiny lathe that retails for just A$195. The lathe has a swing of 2.5 inches and a distance between centres of 4.5 inches. That makes it big enough to produce bits and pieces like injector adaptors and suspension bushes, amongst many other parts. The tiny lathe is only 11.5 inches long and is driven by a 12 volt motor. To see more details, have a look at www.clisby.com.au
- If you drive a hi-po car and like picking up parts from weird and wonderful sources, check out their site. They sell discounted stuff for Kenworth trucks but don't let that put you off! Parts such as air intakes and plumbing, sound and video equipment, lights and gauges and other bits and pieces could all be used in car applications.
- Until November 7, Mazda Australia will be offering the chance to win a Mazda 121. Simply go to the Mazda Web site at www.mazda.com.au and fill out the questionnaire.
- One of the best guides to the technology of fuel and lubricants can be found at www.lubrizol.com Lubrizol is a major US company specialising in oils, fuels and additives and this is just the place to find out what those obscure oil specs are all about.
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