Tuned In

What happens when you combine a classic Porsche 356 with a modern 718 Boxster? For Peter Lamb from Melomotive, it's an ambitious restomod project blending vintage styling with modern performance. Drawing on decades of experience building concept cars, Peter is using traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology to create a truly one-of-a-kind Porsche.
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In this episode of Tuned In, Peter shares his journey from modifying mini trucks to working in Holden's concept car development team. We explore how concept cars are created, from initial sketches and clay modelling to 3D scanning, CNC machining and composite body panels, and why traditional hands-on techniques still have a place in modern automotive design.
We dive into the art of coachbuilding and vehicle restoration, covering sheet metal shaping, welding techniques, rust repair and the challenges of achieving a perfect finish. Peter explains the differences between MIG, TIG and laser welding, including how heat input affects distortion and why laser technology could transform fabrication for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The conversation also explores Peter's ambitious Porsche 356 project, which combines an original 356 body with the mid-engined platform, drivetrain and suspension from a modern Porsche 718 Boxster. We discuss the challenges of adapting two very different vehicles, balancing traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and the thousands of hours involved in a build of this scale.
Whether it's shaping sheet metal by hand or using the latest digital fabrication technology, Peter demonstrates how traditional skills and modern engineering can work together. This episode offers a fascinating look at the changing world of custom car building and the possibilities that are opening up for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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Follow Peter here: 
Instagram: Melomotive
Facebook: Melomotive
Youtube: Melomotive
Timestamps:
0:00 The Future of Custom Car Building?
4:32 How did you become interested in cars?
6:10 Industrial Design Degree
11:49 What does working for a concept car company look like?
16:40 How are these concept cars made?
26:55 Desk top CNC milling machine
30:44 What happened after concept cars?
34:55 So what does your business look like today?
37:10 What drew you to starting a Youtube channel?
45:40 Can you explain the pros and cons of Gas vs TIG vs MIG welding?
50:37 What is planishing and english wheel?
53:09 Can you remake a panel from scratch to a point where you don’t need body filler?
56:16 How do you deal with rust?
59:19 Pros and cons of laser welding?
1:04:54 How does laser welding go on aluminum? 
1:07:56 What’s the price of a laser welder?
1:09:27 How strong is laser welding?
1:15:28 Tell us about your Porsche resto project
1:27:19 Final 3 questions

What does it take to build race-winning engines, break land speed records and compete with some of the biggest names in NASCAR? For Brian Salter of Salter Racing Engines, the answer goes far beyond making horsepower. It's about understanding the finer details of engine design, pushing the limits of performance and knowing how to make every component work together.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
In this episode of Tuned In, Brian shares his journey from working on NASCAR engines as a teenager to building his own successful engine business. We discuss the challenges of establishing a reputation, competing at the highest levels of motorsport and the personal sacrifices that came with running a championship-winning operation.
We dive deep into engine design, covering cylinder head porting, airflow velocity, intake manifolds, camshaft profiles and why bigger isn't always better. Brian explains how he developed NASCAR engines producing over 640hp through a restrictive 390 CFM carburettor, and why chasing impressive flow bench or dyno numbers doesn't always translate into better performance.
The conversation also explores Brian's success in land speed racing, including a 250ci naturally aspirated engine that helped achieve 190mph and a collection of records. We discuss horsepower versus torque, short-stroke engine design, frictional losses and why the right power delivery matters just as much as peak output.
Ultimately, this episode is about understanding the complete engine package rather than chasing individual numbers. Drawing on decades of experience, Brian shares the engineering principles, hard-earned lessons and attention to detail behind building engines that don't just make power, but win races.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
Follow Brian Here:
Youtube: SalterRacingEngines
Email: bsalter@salterracingengines.com
Timestamps:
0:00 The Art and Science of Race-Winning Engines 
3:39 How did you get involved in cars?
12:43 How do you get to 640HP with a 390 carb?
15:42 Porting, CFM vs air speed
19:39 What sort of finish are we looking for on our ports?
23:44 What would happen if you added a bigger carb?
28:30 What are you changing in these weekly engine refresh?
32:59 What does cryo treatment do to parts?
40:07 Pros and cons of using epoxy to add material to a port?
44:07 How did you transition from helping in an engine shop to building engines professionally?
54:37 What did Salter racing Engines look like at it’s peak?
1:11:17 What’s different about a land speed racing engine?
1:26:10 What’s your opinion on HP vs Torque?
1:33:34 Airflow vs Stroke vs Torque
1:41:07 What is pumping loses?
1:44:56 Final 3 questions 
#salterracingengines #enginebuilding #airflow #performanceengines #porting #nascar #landspeedrecords #v8 #briansalter #cylinderheads #intakemanifolds #engineering #highperformanceacademy #buildtunedrive #learntotune #cars #motorsport

What happens when a passion for drifting, engineering and making things turns into a full-scale manufacturing business? For Josiah Fallaise, it became FDF Race Shop — an operation built around solving problems, designing better parts and putting engineering theory to the test on track.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
In this episode of Tuned In, Josiah shares how his background in manufacturing engineering, welding and CNC machining evolved into FDF Race Shop. We discuss moving from one-off fabrication and roll cages to scalable products, bringing manufacturing in-house and building a workshop packed with CNC machines, laser cutting, waterjet cutting and 3D printing.
We dive into modern design and manufacturing, covering CAD, CAM, 3D scanning, generative design, additive manufacturing and why designing a part is only half the battle. Josiah explains the importance of designing for manufacture, validating scan data and understanding where new technologies genuinely make sense.
The conversation also gets technical on Josiah’s other passion — competitive drifting. We break down angle kits, Ackermann, bump steer, roll centre, tyre grip and why suspension geometry changes once a car is sideways. Josiah also explains his 900hp naturally aspirated LS setup and why the use of nitrous is so effective in competition.
Ultimately, this episode is all about solving problems. Whether it’s designing a better suspension component, improving a manufacturing process or finding more performance from a drift car, Josiah’s approach proves the value of understanding the fundamentals, testing ideas and continually refining the result.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
Follow Josiah here:
Instagram: josiahfallaise
Facebook: josiahfallaise
Youtube: josiahfallaise
Tiktok josiahfallaise
WWW: fdfraceshop.com
Timestamps:
0:00 More Than Just HP: The Engineering Behind Drifting
3:40 How did you develop an interest in cars?
8:33 How do you model a part in CAD so it can actually be machined?
11:33 The possibilities of additive manufacturing (3d printing)
16:17 What is generative design?
23:47 When did you start using these modern technologies in your workflow? 
28:35 How does a 3d scanner work?
38:19 What CAD software would you recommend? 
43:17 Is AI going to be helping us build and tune cars?
47:29 How do you produce accurate load values for FEA? 
54:29 How did you start your own business? FDF Race Shop 
1:03:06 What does FDF look like today?
1:05:58 As an enthusiast, is outsourcing CNC parts to craftcloud a good option?
1:11:14 Did you fall into the classic entrepreneurial trap? 
1:20:34 How do you decide what products to develop?
1:23:29 What drew you to drifting?
1:25:48 Is there any affordable platform to start drifting these days?
1:28:21 V8 vs turbo 6 cylinder, pros and cons?
1:36:55 How does bump steer affect a drift car?
1:40:32 What is ackermann and how does it affect the car?
1:44:30 How does roll centre affect the car?
1:53:42 How does chamber affect a drift car?
1:55:11 How do you feel about the current state of drifting as a sport?
2:04:12 Final 3 Questions
 #fdfraceshop #driftsuspension #ls #corvette #nitrous #anglekits #engineering #cad #3dprinting #suspensiondesign #cncmachining #driftparts #generativedesign #highperformanceacademy #buildtunedrive #cars #motorsport #drifting

How do you build a car capable of breaking the outright Pikes Peak record? For four-time winner Robin Shute, the answer was to take everything he’d learned developing his heavily modified Wolf GB08 and start again with a clean-sheet design built specifically for the mountain.
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In this episode of Tuned In, Robin takes us through the development of the Sendy Club V2 car and the decisions behind its design. We discuss starting with an F4 tub, suspension geometry, aerodynamics, tyre selection and why adding more power or all-wheel drive doesn’t necessarily make a Pikes Peak car faster.
We dive into the Synergy-built, BMW S1000RR-derived V8, turbocharging it for around 800hp and the challenges of maintaining power at 14,000 feet. Robin also explains the move to Cosworth electronics, traction control, anti-lag, cylinder pressure monitoring and the extensive dyno development behind the engine package.
The conversation also gets into CAD, CFD, generative design and Robin’s extensive use of metal 3D printing. We also discuss the car’s Pikes Peak debut, where despite an electrical issue affecting traction control on race day, Robin finished second overall and set a personal best, with more power, less weight and significantly more downforce still to come.
This episode is packed with insight into what it takes to engineer, build and develop a competitive race car from the ground up. From engine development and electronics to aerodynamics and manufacturing, Robin’s approach shows just how far a small, determined team can push modern engineering in pursuit of the outright Pikes Peak record.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
Follow Robin here:
Instagram: robin.shute
Youtube: thesendyclub
Links:
Robins first episode
047: 650hp, 2 tons of downforce, and ZERO visibility.
Simon Longdill
111: He Wasn’t Impressed With The Engines On Offer, So He Built His Own.
Timestamps:
0:00 The Ultimate Pikes Peak Build? Chasing the Outright Record
4:14 Can you give us the quick version of how you got to where you are today?
5:56 Can we compare electric vs combustion up Pikes Peak?
11:12 How close are you to the outright record?
15:00 How do you combat a rough road with a low aero car?
17:11 What was the old car you were racing?
24:29 How are you applying Antilag?
27:34 Can you learn anything from testing for Pikes Peak?
31:13 What happened to the Wolf car?
37:56 How did you get started with the Sendy Club V2 car?
41:51 Deciding on an engine for Pikes Peak
52:32 Did the engine package tick all the boxes straight away?
55:23 Why did you move to Cosworth electronics? 
1:02:22 How did you add cylinder pressure sensors?
1:04:55 What traction control strategies are you using?
1:07:04 How did you design the intake plenums? 
1:11:00 Why have you leveraged 3d metal printing so much on this car?
1:16:00 What’s the reliability of a 3d printed exhaust manifold? 
1:23:31 What is Air Shaper and how does it work?
1:32:31 What is generative design and why would you use it?
1:37:08 Are you using F4 suspension kinematics? 
1:39:36 Does the car have any bump steer?
1:41:54 How did the new car go on its first test?
1:45:25 How did the car go at Pikes Peak?
1:52:16 What is the game plan for 2027?
1:55:03 Final 3 questions

Cars weren’t an obvious career path for Angelina Alcantar. Her family had no automotive background, and her parents hoped she’d pursue something more traditional. But a fascination with taking things apart and understanding how they worked won out, setting her on a path from aspiring technician to leading California’s largest automotive apprenticeship program.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
In this episode of Tuned In, Angelina explains how automotive classes at Riverside City College became her second home, eventually bringing her full circle from student to instructor. Today, she specialises in engine rebuilding and diagnostics, taking the responsibility of training the next generation of technicians seriously.
We dive deep into engine building, machining, cylinder head work, honing, clearances, compression and leak-down testing, and what it takes to achieve quality engine machining. We also cover Angelina’s turbo Honda Civic, EFI tuning, her experience learning Hondata, and her plans to develop her tuning skills further.
Finally, we discuss the technician shortage, changing attitudes towards the trades, and Angelina’s work building what has become California’s largest automotive apprenticeship program. She also has a popular YouTube channel, @ms.a_theshopteacher, which she hopes to continue growing.
From being underestimated early in her career to now helping shape the next generation, this episode is an inspiring look at Angelina’s passion for the automotive industry and the impressive journey that has brought her to where she is today.
👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip
Follow Angelina here:
Instagram: ms.a_theshopteacher
Youtube: ms.a_theshopteacher
Timestamps:
0:00 Engine Building, Tuning & Training the Next Gen
4:07 How did you develop a passion for cars?
14:04 Do you like problem solving without a workshop manual? 
16:54 What is an ASE master tech?
25:13 Is a modern mechanic mainly driving a scan tool?
32:21 Is engine building a dying art?
38:41 Do you have a good level of engine machining knowledge?
41:03 What’s your process of diagnosing an engine issue?
43:03 Leak down test vs compression test
48:10 What is a TK test?
50:18 Is it a different skill set to build a performance engine?
1:10:37 Theories on running in an engine.
1:15:17 What is the oil additive ZDDP?
1:16:40 What made you want to get into teaching people? 
1:21:17 Give us a run down on your Honda Civic?
1:27:58 Have you tuned the car yourself?
1:32:24 Why does the US have a shortage of ASE techs?
1:38:36 Can AI tune your car?
1:40:44 Finding a career in the automotive industry
1:44:41 What’s it like being a female in the automotive industry?
1:56:09 Quick fire questions
2:01:11 Final 3 Questions