The Lab is a light engineering & automotive/repair fabrication company specializing in Nissan modifications, Nissan Navara V8 conversions & carrying out mild to wild modifications on almost anything owned by someone wanting special attention to detail & high quality workmanship.
Owned & operated by Glenn & Christine Hodges, Glenn has over 12yrs experience in the aircraft servicing & repair industry & has been working on cars & selling car parts professionally for over 30 years.
The Lab was founded in 2010 & we operated from a modest unit in Tawn place in Hamilton, we have since relocated for the short term while we try to enjoy the early years with our little girl.
One of the best things we offer is on the spot quick thinking & solutions to problems other places may struggle or not even be able to solve, This ability is demonstrated fairly well with our little Nissan march racecar that now holds ~650hp & AWD, a fairly serious upgrade from the factory layout!
TIG, MIG, arc & gas welding, lathe work (up to 320mm diameter max) & general fabrication done on site with access to virtually unlimited machinery via sub contracting.
From basic maintenance to complete engine rebuilds, making a letter box through to a full automotive restoration/rebuild, The Lab can help you.
Please feel free to check out our extensive albums on out Facebook page or view our brief descriptions of notable projects listed here (we will be adding more very soon!)
Contact Glenn directly on 027 2789691 
Here's a little tip for those that don't know:
Why do some race cars use ice or dry ice in their intercooler systems?
It makes the coolant colder right - that's obvious BUT there is more to it than meets the eye - or brain - or data logging in the shed at home even!
We have to get slightly techo to explain but I will keep it as simple as possible!
We have to talk about energy and substances changing state.
The Specific heat capacity of water is 4200 joules per Kg per degree C
That happens to be in the ball park of twice that of air at 14PSI - and that's why we can have a smaller water to air intercooler to do "the same job" as an air to air unit.
If we add ice to the coolant or have an ice box with a heat exchanger (normally dry ice applications) then we lower the coolant temp a small amount initially, normally nothing significant or worthwhile but here comes the good part....
While we are busy changing the state of the ice from a solid to a liquid we use a crap load more energy to do that.
It takes 334000J per Kg to take ice from a solid to a liquid.
Suddenly our cooling system has a massive increase in effective capacity at the point where all the ice is trying to melt
Now we are all smart enough to have a stab at coolant capacity in a given system Vs the volume of ice we might be able to smash in there and have a rough stab in the dark on how much better off we might be.
At Leadfoot with the March we had condensation running off the outside of the intercooler at the start line (after Paul asked for less power 😂 )
As above depending on the size of the system, the volume available for ice and a bunch of other techo factors it would be EASY to achieve up to say 20 times more capacity to absorb energy before we even try and get rid of it via the radiator at the front :)
Cool (ha ha did that on purpose) now that I've said that there is birthday cake to eat.....
With a lap time of 1.05.8xx a Nissan March holds the Superlap track record for Pukekhoe with the long back straight 🤣
OK maybe because there were no times recorded for that layout prior BUT a fact is a fact 🤣
Should I clean the bugs off from Taupo?
The silicon coupler can't fail in your racecar if the silicon coupler is sitting on the shelf in your workshop!
The first Wiggins style coupler is fitted, the second will go on tomorrow then it's time to go testing again!
We famous!
Thanks Brodie Envied Geerlings :)Getting that perfect framing of the plane flying over pit lane!
NZ Superlap Series
Prowear
Premier Events
Demon Energy Drinks
Penrite Oil
Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park
Upgrades for the March!
Identify issues
Take action to prevent repeats
That silicon coupler is the second one to do the same thing, there won't be a third!
Well not in the same spot anyway 🤣
Our resident BMW fans will rejoice!
Progress on.... wait did we give this one a name or not yet?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvd5ViXKwF0
www.youtube.com
This one has been a slow burner but we are on the home straight and might see a running car this week! :D#TheLabLimited#EngineConversion#ToyotaPoweredBMWConfirmation of a diagnosis is always a good feeling, yip we had a leaking head gasket alright and the evidence is there for all to see...
Not going to put a happy face here because actually it's a bit sad.
Anyway forward progress continues!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuFUoNegEug
Z32 300ZX repairs and restoration part four
www.youtube.com
Carrying on from the can of worms we opened yesterday.....#VG30DETT#BadBuild#ShameOnThemShes's pretty long but there was a LOT to cover
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BRBjonLVOo
www.youtube.com
A bit of a long watch - but there was a LOT to cover!#VG30DETT#BuiltBad#EngineTearDown