Bridge to Engineering - "We need more Power"!

While I do think the stock power of the slingshot is good enough...it's not good enough when you ride with a few other slingshots that are boosted. It all started on a trip with my 14 yr old and on the "run" home we hit a tollway where I found out just how fast a stock slingshot is. Needless to say this was the first trip we lost portions of the group, us included. This ended up working out as we would of split anyway some just split from the group way faster than others! As soon as I got home I started looking at options to boost my sling. I also had a conversation on the subject with another local slingshot owner who goes way back with some prior employers and after some research I was pretty set on a ZZP stage 1 setup for the price point and what I read is a reliable way to add power.


Almost as if it was a sign Dave from DDM works had listed a used turbo for $1600 that had come off a customers sling. Black Friday deals aside, I thought this was a smoking deal on getting into the turbo I was looking at anyway. After a great conversation with Dave I sent him the funds. I've honestly never purchased something used that was packed with as much care as DDM folks did sending me this turbo. I'm nervous still I bought someone's problem, but after talking to my buddy who is a mechanic he thinks I'm good. I hope to start on this upgrade soon as the sling is in my buddies garage just waiting for him to get back from Thanksgiving with the family. I also picked up a ZZP turbo rear exhaust that I'm hoping to have dump just in front of the tire vs the dual tip. We'll see how that works out after installed!

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The used kit had black pipes...so to keep with my red theme in the engine bay I had them powder coated at Tiny's Custom in Pueblo, CO. After getting quotes up to $350 to get them done...Tiny's did it for $150 and I think they did a great job!

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I also thought it might be a good idea to get a baseline for how fast the sling was before the turbo upgrade. Pikes Peak International Raceway hosted a truck event and had a run what you brung type event for anyone who wanted to get some 1/8th mile times. The video below is was the best of three runs I made. It was my first time with the sling on a track and I can really see why people like to push these things. For me it'll be more about having fun and hanging with other slings on the group rides. Here in Colorado we lose a lot of power to high altitude anyway, so getting a little more is going to be a great thing!


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Comments 6

  • next time try to remove the h7ge spoiler. You are creating quite a lot of drag believe it or not.

  • 3GunSteve what were your 1/8 mile times?

    • 10.40 was that one on video and best of the three runs. PPIR is 5640 above sea level - so I'd expect a lot better where it could actually breath a bit!

    • Roger that. I was able to do some timed 1/8 mile runs up in Canada last summer. I'm almost stock with CAI and cat-delete exhaust and I ran 9.776, 9.871, 9.875 and 9.984. Elevation was around 3,600 ft. I also had new rubber on the back.


      I thought that with fuel injected engines, the ECU adjusts the air/fuel mixture for the current altitude. I have experienced serious power loss on carbureted quads at high altitudes, but not noticeable on fuel injected quads. Have you driven yours at lower altitudes to compare? Is the difference noticeable or significant?

    • Stock tires, completely stock here for anything that would impact performance really. Those are good times! It's obviously driver too and this was 1st time with a 3 wheeler on the track. I'm not really a race/track guy...


      I have not had it much lower, maybe 3k feet but I have had it a lot higher taking it up to pikes peak and it was really doggy up there. I get what your saying about ECU and it adjusting vs carbs but it can only work with as much air as it has. We typically lose 15% give or take HP wise compared to what exact same engine does at sea level. It's why folks come to Bandimere and learn that turbos don't spool up the same here at altitude!