Real Shit

Blogs are super gay. I'll admit that. I hate them. I am, however, savvy enough to understand it takes some goofy shit like this to create any sort of exposure. There is no point writing this on paper and throwing in my closet, huh?
I speak only from experience, so I understand how to 'get the word out', and thus I'm not a newbie t blogs. In fact....

LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
Yours truly a blog tha was as popular if not more popular than our YouTube channel. And it had nothing to do with RC hobby. The our log was actually listed as on of the 'Top Five Websites' pertaining to our city by our daily newspaper. Unbeknownst to me, turned commercial. The hipsters flocked in and I said 'f@k you all....I'm outta here'. That was three years ago, and I never looked back....until today. The blog is still up. Rumors of my death abound. Soon, I will make an appearance by simply posting again. 

I'm not here socialize nor do business with anyone. I'm here to give you real shit. So with that, let's get down to bidness.

Coming up in my 2nd post. 

Rebuild vs Refresh. What's the Difference?

Shark Meat

In a recent video I provided some help to a newbie concerning a problem with his engine,. I want to use this as an example to also show how the fakers. You know the ones who (instead of helping, because they can't) choose to belittle newbies. As I've publicly stated...this won't happen on my watch.

Here's the thread. http://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/threads/pull-start-stuck.112359/#post-1094423

Watch how they are starting to circle the him in the water and lecture him about proper tuning. Perhaps they should SHOW him?

Anyway, if you are in the water circling you've been warned. Else if you are on the good side...sit back and watch how chum is made should it get out of hand. I'll slap em down one at a time or all together. What's the worst thing that will happen? They ban me? Ha ha

Lousy bunch of fakers..

Are they Sadists?

I don't understand why there are folks out there who are suckers for punishment. All too often I'll read where someone states "2+2=7" and when you ask what makes them think that they become defensive and want to debate it. Of course, after being attacked for dare questioning their self-perceived genius they, you set them straight, they realize they were incorrect and become bitter. But wait....did they not do that to themselves? If I posted "The Earth is flat....prove me wrong!" should I be upset when proven incorrect?

This is a major problem in the bashing community. Just today I read on one of the local experts on one of our favorite forums explaining to a newbie how the Trophy 3.5 is "better" than the Hyper 7. 

Problem 1: His statements were factually incorrect.*
Problem 2: He never owned a Hyper 7 so was comparing against......?

*Examples were 
"the Trophy is more durable" as it has more standard aluminum parts. 
FALSE

"The Hyper 7 is lighter than the Trophy. "
FALSE

"HPI is a UK-based company and OFNA is a Japanese company"
FALSE and FALSE

"he leThere are more upgrade parts for the Trophy"
FALSE

(And the list went on and on.) There were many other things that he kept trying to cling on to, which were all easily proven false. Why?

At some point, doesn't an individual have to look inside himself and say "Yeah...I know I'm making claims that I truly don't know are true",. So as to not come off like a bully, I kept it private with this person, but I imagine he won't handle it well and ask for more punishment. I encouraged him not to debate just for the sake of doing so, as once again this seems to be rampant in our wonderful hobby. 

Why do I care? Once again...it's simple. Is there harm in telling letting someone know they have been given incorrect information? If you were at the gas station, and overheard someone telling a customer ask how to get to "Main Street" (but the directions were in the exact opposite direction)...would you not be a good citizen and state "That is not my understanding. Let's clarify for this person so they don't get lost". People make mistakes...I get that. But when you maliciously steer someone in the wrong direction just to save face (or attempt to) that is bad. Very be bad. Regardless of the subject. You are doing a disservice to society. 

Or am I wrong here? 


Should we just allow folks to say anything they want and not hold the accountable because....what? They tell us not to? I simply don't get it and it's getting to the point where I'm about to bow out, just do my thing and hope those coming up stumble upon my little value add and think twice whom they listen to. This is not normal in society so I don't blame newbies for falling hook-line-and sinker to guys like this. It's so wrong you would not fathom anyone doing it. But they do it. Ugh. 

I'M TRULY INSANE NOW

Not sure if anyone saw it below, but uh, at 2:10 below, my nitro vehicle started going in reverse:

Here's the scoop.
1. I took my vehicle out for pre-run.
2. The glow plug popped out of the head button. Everything is fine (happened before on my original OS 25)....turns out the T-Wrench was stripped when I put a new one on.
3. Took it back, changed plugs...drove it ~1/2 tank.
4. Tried another plug, started it up....squeezed throttle....it went in reverse. What is on film is pretty much as much I ran it as (as soon as I noticed I grabbed my camera).
5. I Google'd it, and, seen it's happend to a few folks. Well...here is what it's not:

• "Set your reverse switch on Transmitter" (BTW--the reverse setting is in the servo...not transmitter). Regardless, the linkage does not affect the direction it runs. ;-(
• "Check your OWB" (this was a popular response in some instances probably cause....but er, this engine doesn't have a OWB.

So...here is all I can conclude:

1. It HAD to have started in reverse. I don't see what would prevent and engine from doing that.

2. So SOMETHING caused my starter box to turn backward....or did it? It never had before. It's not like reversing the wires would reverse the starter box engine shafts? Or CAN IT? 

3. Is it possible to have some form of "backlash if hit a spnning flywheel on a rubber wheel that is stationary? I don't think so, it's not like the rubber wheel has a OWB.

The good news is I stopped it immediately (never going past 1/24 throttle. I did let it cool for five min...and he it is 5:07 seconds after up above:

Crazy

Nitro will BEAT electric

Funny, as I thought I had noted this before, but if not here goes. Please tell all your friends.

Many folks think that electric is faster than nitro. I say bullshit. I say the average person can plug in a battery but the average person CANNOT  get straight up in boogie-mode with their nitro (as it's obviously MUCH more challenging).

What does this mean? It means many electric guys simply have not been around "real shit" when it comes to nitro.

Back to my point as I don't beat around the bush here: jibber-jabber is just that. If you think you have an electric that will beat my nitro in any kind of "drag race" or street race...I'm always open to competition. I live in Dallas/Fort Worth so let's do this. All in fun of course. If we want to make it hurt I'm with that too (by that I mean $$$$$). The higher the stakes the  faster my nitro will go....but either way I'm down, and  I am confident my nitro being able to beat any electric. We can go off-road after just for fun if you are down for that (easy off-road but I'll build them to do anything you want.) I've already raced a few viewers of my YT channel....they both got beat...badly. I say this from the bottom of my heart and to be fair: don't let the vids fool you. My nitros go much faster. ;-)

--Card Carrying Member, Nitro Heads

Nitro all day!

Here's a hook up for you...Part 1

One of the most common issues with tuning is the clutch bell, Remember, I'm telling you this from a slew of different models/engines/bells/shimming setups/blah blah. i.e. I am not just writing this because it's what I think, I'm writing it because it's what I know. Real shit. Take it or not.

I mentioned this recently on Savage Central mainly because I've always liked that forum, and while this might be ass-backward "wrong" from  theoretical point of view (I have no idea if it is or not...but it is). So hopefully it helps one fella who might be struggling with his tune, or at least point him her in the right direction.

Finally, the Savage is most apt to falling victim to this issue, but no nitro vehicle is immune.


The answer....in my next post.

[HINT: It was listed as one of the top issues found below]

Halloween

Halloween always creeps me out a little. Not because of "spookiness" but because where I come from (which was one of the grimiest neighborhoods in all of the US at the time), people didn't trick or treat. In fact strangers didn't walk on to other people's properties unless there was was some "beef" that you were looking to settle...and it was never pretty. There was a lot of "neighborhood shit" and we sure as hell did not go in to anyone elses neighborhood (Halloween or not) unless we were looking for shit. Thus we stepped carefully and were always on-guard when people either came to our neighborhood and/or folks we didn't know come on our property.

Fast forward 30 years later, and I am married with to young teenage kids. We live in an affluent neighborhood and Halloween in these parts is a scene, man. My wife grew up completely different environment than I did, so I've learned to feel safe in certain situations, and obviously for our kids' sake we foster the "festive" atmosphere.

Where we live it's one of two demographics. The older (early/mid-40s who worked hard and got theirs) or the early/mid 30 douche bag who came from an affluent family and handed everything. So we see them riding in their pimped out golf carts around the streets here (and I openly laugh at them), or when the weather warms they have their ski boats out front loading it up with coolers of beer, etc. Bunch of spoiled fucks..many of whom I don't like and have run in to situations where I let that be known.

It's simply different cultures, that's all.  It should also be known our neighborhood gets popping during Halloween. As people come from all over the city because this is a "happening place".

Still, as I write this, I see grown men riding in their golf-carts, or walking up and down coming through my property with their "wagons of beer". We keep our lights on and put up Halloween decorations for the mere fact we want to foster a positive atmosphere here and want the kids to have fun....but I still peep out the window when I hear a ruckus and my wife has to re-assure me everything is fine. Any other night, and I would have pistol tucked in pants, asking "May I help you with something?"....that's real shit for you.

Some of my neighbors who are not in to RC still watch my vids. I made a comment once about loud, disrespectful kids...and one dude took exception (as he was guilty of bad parenting in his own mind, I guess). To the point he actually confronted me one day. Ha ha! Really? Well, let's just say he got sent away with his tail between his legs. If he's reading this, I think you are clear what I'm about...while you are a bitch I give you credit you are not stupid...

But back to Halloween...as stated even growing up the dudes I knew into it were "Wiccans" and all that bullshit. It was not an opportunity to go on people's properties and ask for candy...so slowly each year I struggle with it, but keep a clear head and enjoy it as I can. And no....I don't do good with garage sales either. ;-)

Bam! It's on the table.

I am going to encourage folks to take a look at what I am doing with some engines right now, and show how a good tune can overcome what are "percieved' issues. Look, it's the ones who have a vested interest in us buying, that come up with reasons why we should. It's there jobs.

Everyone says "it's better to just bny a new engine".

My answer to people: How the hell would I know? I've not even heard your engine. FIRST LEARN HOW TO TUNE and then troubleshoot.

I am a newbie nitro engine tuner, and so encourage you to simply watch with your eyes what is about to go down.

Cat is out the of he bag

So I often will recommend a product and it sells. I'm not bragging, nor really care...it just is. Makes sense, though...'Word of Mouth' is 98% of an RC company's advertising medium, I have a large audience of nitro-friendly hobbyists who are in it to win it., ;-) It;s a great hobby, you and old, big and small, as much as though chumps like Ricky Lee's bother me....they are nitro guys so we have that mutual purpose. Meaning I'll back nitro heads them against electric talk-talk any day. -)

I also like to "show". I am over zealous like that because it's my way of challenging all the other guys I know for a fact are just bumping their gums....but really don't know. Otherwise I'm wasting my time. Real shit.

Examples of this would be the Losi 3.4 engine, the 053 pipe, ProTek servos, HobbyPartz starter box, etc etc. Another one of these is the LOSB0189 servo.

FACT:
70/.16 (that being 70 ounces of torque pulled 60 degrees in .16 seconds) is enough to turn or move any 1:8 (or smaller) surface vehicle in any condition. It's performance is average AT BEST...but I've got some with gallons and gallons on them....still working like a champ. It's sister, the 0818 sucks, IMO. I base that on the fact it did not make it past break-in, and I got a second one that lasted less than three tanks. But the  LOSB0819 is a different animal. Why that is, I have no idea. But it is.

Oh, and in the event one fails. Okay. They range from $6-$12.

Check that. They used to sell for that price. It's okay, I've mentioned them many, many times (and noticed a spike in price trending), but I've kept it in my back pocket for some time (plus I just bought a few more). I will say even with this spare blog post, you will see a run on sales. It's pretty cool to watch, but I really try to share shit and not keep secrets. A lot of pros do that. Not to be disrespectful, I'm sure, it's their intellectual property so why tell someone else how they do it?

Anyways, regarding the servos. Get them while you can. That's all I will say. ;-). Comment if you have questions or want to see one in action.

It Never Gets Old

Check out this high-brow conversation here among some real Savage experts:
https://www.hpisavageforum.com/threads/what-servo.15282/#post-189240

To save you from frustration, the net-net is this:

1. Gentleman asks about throttle servos
2. He's told the stronger the servo, the better his Savage will brake,
3. All the other chumps '+1' that comment.
4. Dude puts it on and it's reversed, then asked for help.
5,  He gets scolded for it

Let's start from bottom up, shall we?

1. The reversed settings are throttle-specific and if in the manual...who the hell reads the little manual that come worth those servos? I love how that Jam guy stepped to him like he was some kind of "expert" on something here.

2. I wish to hell I was on that forum because I would scold them for being such dumbasses. It's one thing to be a dumbass, but to be one and call someone else that when you are the one that's wrong? . Wow.

I was part of the generation AND industry that made the "internet" what it is today. Mad respect for BLUE and Vulcan, but we laid it down with BASIC and things changed. Ha ha We all found out real quick how people "pretend" on the Internet.

I guess frauds seek out new playgrounds, and well....SMH. But this has been happening since day one and it's unfortunate, but not surprising,.

Back to this subject myth: the servo strength plays ZERO role in how a vehicle brakes other than whether it can apply the brakes or not. In other words, unlike a centrifical clutch: it IS an on/off light switch. You can either apply the brakes with needed force to stop a Savage, or you cannot. There are no degrees to stopping...or at least 100% of the servo's on the market regardless of class can move the linkage to apply brakes. Pulling the carb is where there is an amount of force needed that spans beyond a few surface servo torque ratings.

I'm going to attempt to let those chumps know that not only is it wrong, but I will do one of those "stoppies" they all like over and over again with whatever servo they select. I know no other way to prove how utterly incorrect they are.

After Run Oil: Fact or Fiction

Coming up in this hobby, I realized there are a plethora of wive's tales/urban legends/straight bullshit flowing from the keyboard of Internet gurus. I also learned quickly how to decipher the real ones from the fake ones. 

Among the real ones, there was a debate concerning After Run Oil (ARO). Many said it was a must have, and many said it was a con. 

I'm going to give you the short version of what I know based on all the engines I've owned:

***AFTER RUN OIL MAKES A DIFFERENCE***
No if's and'd or bnt's about it, in my mind. Here is what I know to be fact:

1. First, you have to understand that an engine does not die. It slowly fades away. Think of a bell curve on it's lifetime performance. 
2. On all the engines where I used ARO after each run, I noticed a decrease in performance much later than those I did not use ARO.
3. After about my 15th engine, I decided to get lazy and not use ARO. Once I realized I was not using it, I thought "Hmmm...let me see if it does make a difference". I did this for my next three engines. One Werks, two Novarossi's and on HPI F4.6. 
4. Each of these engines showed a decline in performance 2+ gallons EARLIER than the engines where I used ARO.
5. This does not indicate that the engine was permanently damaged, just that parts wore faster and it needed more servicing (bearings replaced, "gunk" removed, etc)
6. I then switched back using ARO, and two of the engines were of the same as the four noted above (so now I'm comparing Apples to Apples).
7. To-date the engines purchased after I started using ARO again...well, they are still rocking gallons MORE than their counterparts without ARO.

I am unaware of such testing/analysis as mine. I imagine there is some scientific hypothesis people have, but I go by what is tangible. i.e. What a common hobbyists will realize. i.e. Real shit. 

So ARO makes a tangible difference, but why? I have no idea, and really don't care. All I can tell you is that I use it and no 'blowhard' Internet counter-argument would ever change my mind as I go by what I know.

What is tuning?

Check this out...

This video is not "How to.." do anything, so if anyone is waiting to learn something, you have to cherry-pick what you see AS I tune my Hyper 7 vehicle. I think it would be great to roll film and annotate as I perform the race tune, but something needs to be realized:
1. Everything I do to the vehicle is in effort to keep it well-tuned.
2. Tuning spans far beyond and engine, and engine tuning spans far beyond turning carb needles.

Also, I am uploading raw vids now which means I have to always change the default of 'public'....sometimes I forget, Oh well. If you don't like t an accidental video, then make a decision if you are daring to open any more vids as I promise you there will be plenty more. PLENTY more. This really isn't to call any one or more people out, instead it's a friendly reminder I take requests on what (when I want to) but I don't take requests on how. This is true for everybody as once I stop posting what I want and how I want and when I want....well, I won't want anymore. 

I have some 'How-to" videos coming and I assure you it will contain detail and I will answer all questions. One of them is yet another tuning video. 

I have no idea if I'm any good at tuning or not. I just know I see my engines roaring and I'm happy to show how I do that. ;-)

PLEASE don't dislike my videos

I really get shook when I see that thumbs down "dislike" on my videos. Not that I'm shook about the fact there a guy out there, a grown man who enjoys my videos enough to set an alert to fire anytime I post..well anything. Has succeeded in being the first view 6 of my last 9 videos, yet never comments, or watches the videos more than a couple of seconds. No...that is not what throws me out of my lane....it's the fact you doing it all wrong, coward.

All that's happened now is, I once again am going to show you what a fraud you are...and you'll be too ashamed to say anything, so you have this illusion there is some form or negative energy associated with your dislike. The problem is you are acting like a little bitch, and we both know while fellas like you are used to being a ho, I must have really shook you to take this approach.

Damn, man...even subscribers and other viewers are laughing at it. If you want it to be a "bit" now (as a way to back out of this) I'm down with that as it's, become cartoon-like. That is my "out" to you, if it's unclear I'll mention you by name next post. Woot! 

Huh? Pffft. ;-)

 I'm deciding if that is what you want, because I've let it be known I want you! You can have a shot at expressing yourself 24/7 up in here, woman. 

Ha ha. Let's get truth out..some of this will hurt now, like it did last time you tried to get grimy with me,. It left you nothing but a embarrassed, bitter wannabe who can only sit and fume because when you lay your head down at night...the truth hits and it hurts. Doesn't it? We obvioously come from different places as where I come from, women give birth to men.

To everyone else, you may be excused, or sit and watch. This and a few other dislikers are just bullies who I once laced up for trying to act better than my fellow newbies...not happening...they can't stand it but can't do anything other than fume about it. Pretty awesome, eh? Some of them know I am just waiting for them to say something. Ha ha

My advice is to reach out to me privately with what you don't like. You are obviiously too afraid to do so in public (these are damn toy cars for crying out loud...sheesh) because you are trying to front uph old a status symbol by fronting on people. We all know it and you know you simply got caught up and now can't get out. Come take your whooping like an big girl (even in private, I won't publish it) and I won't embarrass you. Repressing in your mind what a ho you are won't last too long either. You'll begin having latent effects of this and I know you are thinking "This motherfucker has me good" and as mentioned, let that truth hurt And each time you get real dumped on you, it becomes clearer and cleaer. Shiiit. I say let it go and change your ways. However, you won't. You'll dislike this and everything else I publish. But as you know, each time you analyze why things have 'gone wrong' in your life, little actions li ke this play a role, and certainly question the correlation (most everyone would). But not ever one provides an answer. That's why I'm the one laughing at you, which is different for you as it is with any bully. But I knocks em down every which way (don't gloss over that). I always fucking have. So you aren't the first or the last.

SMH...I do admit I like it though. At least create an alias and bring your shit. I'll still know it's you, but It'll still be funny.  You know it. ;-) I speak for everyone when I say take that energy and let's do this. 

Being Good with the Internets

Bring it, just bring something.  Anything. Please.

One of the great things about our "Internet" is that for better or worse, many people become caricatures of themselves...

I rarely have negative comments left on my YouTube channel. I'm fortunate in most folks realize I try to go out of my in helping people be successful by sharing whatever success have found. 

At the same time, for those who have not seen my videos, I lay it down. I have a growing footprint and am easy prey for anyone with a differentiating opinion because I leave it out there. I don't pussy foot around with it, but if I say something, I mean it. I tell you I'm not expert and to take what I say with a grain of salt just like you should with everyone. I can only tell you what I know. 

I realize there are those looking to go in on someone and to that I say: Hear ye", Hear Ye...Come one come all. I put that in big font, didn't I? Shiiit. Ha ha It's an OPEN invitation to anyone trying to come up real quick who thinks they have something to say IN trying to make some point. Motherfuckers come in yapping then get slapped down and cry about it. (I told you I would give you real shit.)

I have been lucky. For some reason there are  plethora of folks who claim 17+ more years "experience" than I have...but know very, very little. A lot less than I do, at least. I don't know. Am I wrong? Come tell me if I am.

The true old skool guys (1998-2006), those of the old breed  have always shown our channel love...and that is flattering as they are a distinct type of people. Good people.

It's the 2nd gen fakes/psuedo/wannabe/buster/fraudscker (2007-2011) that really want to leave negative comments, but they can't. Well they can but they look real silly in doing so. They have no substance and know it so most just sit and fume while I go to work and show it and laugh at them. Ha, ha, and ha.

Now, a few have put away the front, I've helped them out, and am friends with to this day. And every not and then one might have a glass too many and try bow up on me....but then I say please do it. For me? Please come talking that noise as sometimes I get bored and love dealing with clowns like that. 

I am of the 3rd gen nitro rc hobbisyts 2012-Presenti. Some of the guys in my generation are straight up an embarrassment. As an example, I get the following comment today on starter box review vid.

"This is worst box ever....please stop recommending it" WTF? That sure is an odd-ass comment to make. Why would someone write that?

I don't know this guy from Adam, and looking at his YouTube profile pic I'm not surprised. This is your typical "Chris-Chris:" d-bag type character. Oh...he has all the answers so comes in to the hobby gunz-a-blazin like he's fixin to make some form of an impact or difference, but he's simply another dummy who will be chewed up and swalled by nitro rc as it's always something or someone elses fault...never theirs. 0% 

Let's break down this shichachun..

1. Holmes ignores the fact there are people dropping real shit on these boxes and going to work!
2. New guy who doesn't know how to use a starter box comes to strangers channel and scolds him for recommending a product he haa proven out.
3. Never mind the author has a LIBRARY of videos proving the box is as legit as ANYTHING out there.
4. Never mind 100% of those who know how to use a starter box agree.
5. Never mind Ive started 20x morea engines than he can even name on the tt box.
6. Never mind his claims of the starter box make no sense, as it's the batteries that catch fire when overloaded.
7. Never mind he fucked with a Lipo battery havin no prior experience.
8. Never mind he could not start his engine on the box and blew his battery. 

FORGET ALL OF THE ABOVE: his goal for that moment in timw was to come on my channel to this vid and inform me to stop recommending it. I love Internet People! Want more real shit? What goes through my mind is, "Bitch you don't know me. So why the fuck are you telling me what to recommend and not recommend? Shiiit. You've got what...a whole lot of nothing on youe channel, right? 

Look....all you chumps in to motorcyles and 1:1 vehicles thinknig you will walk on to this hobby and put whatever 2-stroke, exhaust, centrifugal clutch, whatever intel you to use. Well...remember this post when you've had enough and quite the hobby...as it's coming. Please think "Dang. That guy had me pegged." Let that truth hurt. Self-awareness if a good thing.

Assuming you learn from it.

Rebuild vs Refesh: Dare to be Great?

REBUILD

Rebuild is such a vague term when it comes to this hobby. I've seen guys who put new tires on an later stated they 'rebuilt' their vehicle with new tires. Then you have those who rebuild without knowing why.

List-makers are those who define the hobby (and their success within) based on
'what they got in the mail today'.

List-Maker's Rebuild Process:
1. Purchase brand enew nitro rc vehicle
2. Ask total strangers what they should buy
3. Total strangeres respond with items they, themselves have never tried.
4. He compiles a li(st of items and publishes it, touting his pending rebuild. You can find these on any basher forum titled "(Name's) Rebuild!"
5. It takes him a few months procure all the items ($$$)
6. He rips apart a vehicle he is unfamiliar with, and implements the items.
7. When he (finally) gets around it to actually running his vehicle, he has issues and unsure where to begin troubleshooting. 
8. Additionally, how does he know if the upgrades are just that? What does he have to compare them against??

I learned early on that is a poor approach. Have you ever considered

Iterative Rebuild Process:
Problem Domains
1. Create your charter (what you want to accomplish) This can only be known once you are familiar with your vehicle.
2. Examples: Run faster, jump better, more durable in X areas.
3. At this stage, you know the "what", but not the "how". This is okay.
4. Take the "what" elements and categorize them in to "Problem domains". 
5. Work on one problem domain at a time. 
6. Try every permutation you can, run the shit out of it, and take notes.
7 Repeat #6 until you've worked through each problem domain

Solution Domains
1. Review each of your notes for all problem domains.
2. Implement the items/setups that worked best.
3. Run the shit out of the vehicle.
4. Modify as needed.
5. Repeat #3.

Here's the difference: With an iterative approach you learn by doing. You act on experience, . not what some total stranger suggests (of which he has no experience).

In other words...give the vehicle what it needs. Not what you want.

REFRESH
List-makers don't need to worry about this as they don't run their vehicles. For everyone else: consider doing this every gallon.

For everyone else who got to know their vehicle during the Rebuild phase, this is key to having a bad-ass vehicle, IMO. A refresh is different from a rebuild in that

A refresh is time based
A refresh is not intended to make the vehicle better. It's intended to keep it like new. I've not seen many new vehicles with mud lodged up in its rear diff out-drive. Basically after every x of running, you tear the vehicle apart and:

• Replace all worn components
• Log any parts that are about to go out sooner than you would expect, replacing with stock

A refresh is not iteratrtive

Because the idea is strictky maintenance, its important to not 'change' any parts or setup values. If you do, then immediately put it back together and try out because you have now started a Rebuild. A refresh is taking what is and making it the best it can be. The assumption is it will perform as the best it can be. Don't change "it". 

Guys, I understand the want to add cool shit to I your rides. I entered this hobby with a phat wallet, and because so I learned early on people will tell you shit with no substance behind it at all. Get busy with your vehicle, and you'll very quickly have the need to upgrade it. From there learn about upgrades to your specific problem domain, and only listen to those who had the same problem and fixed it.