Jake is a founder of 8020 Media and TuningPro. He has over a decade of experience in the automotive industry including parts sales, writing, DIY modifications & repairs, and more. Jake is currently converting his N54 to a single turbo and building a Miata track car. He’s an experienced, hands-on automotive enthusiast who delivers in-depth, well-researched content.
First gen models utilized the 2JZ-GE engine, the non-turbo version of the legendary 2JZ-GTE, which is a 3.0L straight-six producing 217hp and 218lb-ft. of torque. Third-gen models added forced induction via a smaller 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 producing 241hp and 258lb-ft. of torque. Since one engine is naturally aspirated and the other is turbocharged, the mods…
Despite the Mazda RX-8’s engine problems, it can be quite a fun little car to own and drive. What it lacks in power it makes up for in handling and quickness making it a fun street or track car for any car enthusiast. Low prices for used Rx8’s make it an affordable performance car for…
The 4G63T is most well known for powering the first nine generations of the Lancer Evo. Additionally, it powered the DSM Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser, all of which are popular for high performance builds. The 4G63, and T versions, are extremely reliable when left completely stock. But people tend to modify them which…
The Evo X remains an iconic tuner cars in the performance enthusiast community, despite being discontinued years ago. The 10th gen of the Evo was built off of the previous Evo 9 but received a new 2.0L turbo engine: the 4B11T, replacing the previous 4G63. Out of all the changes the most impactful is the…
The WRX is an iconic tuner car. It is however often overshadowed by the high-powered STi that uses the larger EJ257 engine. While the WRX and its FA20 engine don’t quite produce the same power levels, a few simple bolt-on modifications can add a lot of power very affordably. With just tuning, an intake, some…
Produced from 2012 until 2018, the Ford Focus ST was equipped from the factory with the 2.0L I4 EcoBoost. As one of the smaller engines in the EcoBoost family, the 2.0 doesn’t always get the credit it deserves thanks to the 2.3L, 2.7L, and 3.5L versions which outsize and outpower the Focus ST’s engine. The…
Hyundai and Kia’s 1.6L engine is certainly not known for its power or performance, but the Gamma delivers good reliability and fuel economy. Ultimately, the 1.6 Gamma is a highly reliable engine and doesn’t suffer from any problems that are serious in nature. It does however have a number of common problems including valve cover…
While the LT2 has only been around for a limited period of time, a number of issues have arisen. The engine has already had a number of cases of broken valve springs, transmission problems, broken hydrocarbon pads, and crank issues. We aren’t going to call any of these problems “common” yet but there is some…
A cold air intake is one of the first mods we recommend for the 2.7 EcoBoost. Cold air intake increase airflow which improves turbo efficiency and therefore power. They offer a great all-around balance of performance, power gains, simplicity, and cost. In this guide, I cover the benefits of upgraded intakes and list some F150…
Toyota’s 3RZ-FE engine is a 2.7L inline-4 which was produced from 1994 until 2004. The 3RZ was replaced with the 2.7L 2TR-FE. Producing only 150hp and 177lb-ft. of torque, the engine was over engineered in a good way. Featuring a forged crank and rods, the strength of this engine combined with its modest power levels…
The Northstar engine is a family of GM engines produced from 1993 until 2011. From a technology standpoint the engine was extremely advanced and well ahead of its time. This lead it to winning a few “best engine” awards but the use of new technology resulted in quite a few problems and reliability issues. Furthermore,…
The 2.0L BRZ produced 197-205hp and 151-156lb-ft. of torque. While these numbers might not seem very appealing, the approx. 2,700lb curb weight of these cars makes them a joy to drive. However, if their 7.6 second 0-62mph time doesn’t excite you, there are a handful of simple BRZ performance mods that can be bolted-on to…
