Porting & Motor Swapping a 'NASCAR' Retail Gun: How Much Power it Can Make? 

The custom TGSL isn't staying on the rank list of course, because you can't purchase one. We're working to try and get REAL motorsports pit guns run on nitrogen tanks, hopefully soon! Torque of TTC is working for Astro Tools who also make impact wrenches (whose experience we leaned on when making modifications to this gun here). TTC is not the only testing out there, always consider multiple sources when looking at a tool!

One thing to remember is the F1 and other "race" guns are meant for speed first and only need to get to the spec torque, where as well our "working" guns are meant for more ugh duggas.

Instead of getting a nascar pit gun, can you take your dyno rig to the nascar pit? I’m sure there has to be someone out there that could get you there. That way you can test it under their conditions.

Sometimes it’s not just psi, it’s volume at a psi. 1/4 NPT is very limiting, as is 3/8. At those pressures I would say push it through a 1/2 in line and retest. Just my 2 cents. Love the videos. Keep up the good work.

The Ingersoll Rand Titanium is still the best gun I have ever owned, had it about 18 years and it still outperforms most newer guns..

I would imagine that a lot of the NASCAR mods really limited the life expectancy and would be a warranty nightmare

I remember watching high speed film of the lugs being removed in nascar. They were onto the next lug before the first lug has spun itself of the bolt. It was interesting seeing a nut spin itself off after a brief touch of the air gun. Very cool.

I think a new series where you use those old school tricks on other air guns to see if you can steal a few more beans out of them would be cool. Especially on some of the weaker, less impressive guns

It would be interesting to port the Harbor Freight air impacts to see how they perform after. Everyone likes a good "how can I squeeze more performance out of my Harbor Freight value" themed video!

That was the first impact I bought as a professional tech! Lasted me like 10 years!

I purchased this same thunder gun impact over 2 years ago and have have used it and abused it in heavy diesel truck environment all the while using non regulated 180 psi air going into it from a 1/2" over sized hose. It lost the grippy strip and the rubber cover but the paint coating has held up very well, I oil it every time I use it and it hasn't failed yet. It gets the job done 90% of the time and the other 10% you have to use a bigger impact anyway. For the price you pay on this impact you get a very reliable model and one that can handle what you throw at it.

It would be fairly cool to see the performance of an actual pit gun with the 250 PSI behind it.

Ha. My dad called them "ripems." Thanks for a 5 second nostalgia trip.

I would love to see more of the old timers’ info on hopping up air impacts.

I really hope you can get your hands on a Paoli 1” gun. I’ve seen them torque to 1100 ft/lbs under pit stop circumstances. Would love to see what they can do maxed out.

It would be interesting to run the tests again with larger quick-connects to see how (if) they're choking the flow, or even just from the line only. I have a vague memory of TTC already doing something like that, but with a hot gun it might be a more dramatic change.

Back in the day, I 'ported' my air die grinders and it made a noticeable difference to them, too. I expect pretty much any air operated tool would benefit.

Thank you for doing this. As the tire changer on two different race teams I’ve always been interested in what makes the “old school”nascar guns so fast. That being said, I’ve been using a Ridgid R86011 for the speed not necessarily for power.

Fantastic video! Learned a ton! If you guys need to practice on a car, let me know and I'll drive by for 1.82 seconds. :)

My thunder gun was bought in 1992 from a Mac tool truck. Never had any problem. Still running it today.

Thank you so much for making this video! Mad respect for RU-vidrs acknowledging requests ❤️

This channel is becoming a go to no one vid I pass even if I don't care what he is doing or testing thank you for the amazing content

shortly after the pit gun was released I bought 2 one I kept stock the other i had molded by a guy in Tennessee. it was definitely faster and had alot more power. lasted about 8 yrs of hard use b4 it wasn't worth using anymore. the stock one I still have as a backup and is just as good as it was when I got maybe a little down on power but not enough to really matter.

I’m scared to cross thread my bolts using my impact while the people at nascar are going full beans the whole time

Really nice comparison. Loved how you hopped up the air gun.

You're definitely starting to be air flow limited. When I set up our industrial maintenance shop I had reels run for 3/8 and 1/2" air line. For the big guns the 1/2" air line made a tremendous difference. High flow fittings also made a small but noticable improvement.

I'm glad someone finally touched on the thunder gun....about 10-12 years ago at I shop I worked atworking on paving equipment a Co worker bought one and kicked the shit outta my snap on IM6100 and that led me into buying a mg725 which I think kicks ass plus now I have a supplied IR231 china made and I kinda hate it 3 air guns in total and no 1/2 cordless.

Awesome as always, I love the experimentation. You should try the secret techniques and a 7 vane rotor or your basic IR classic and see if there's a bigger difference between them. Would save alot of money vs buying a brand new gun. Curious, will TTC be testing any 3/4" air impacts? I work in a paper mill and use the larger guns often, and am very interested in their performance !

I love your BLEVE icon for the 175 PSI run!

Commenting on 11/27/2022. As a user of the Paoli race guns in Indycar and Sportscar I can tell you that the difference between the guns shown here and those used on current center nut spindles is night and day. We run nearly 500 psi line pressure through huge hoses from a manifold with at least 5 full nitrogen bottles wide open. High pressure, high flow. These bottles are often changed during a race (multiple times during Sportscar races). They will break a wrist if you aren't ready. In the event of a stubborn nut it's always best to "burst" the trigger, a constant pull is less effective. Guns, which tend to be custom built by he teams, are rebuilt after every race weekend, race guns are only used during the race itself, we have separate practice guns for the other sessions. The motors tend to be titanium, the vanes are carbon fiber, the front housing is also carbon fiber. They have oversized heads on the reverse shuttles to enable the user to hit it easily or in the case of Indycar (where the tire changer swaps wheels himself) to drop it and switch it as it hits the ground. Some guns are auto reverse after sensing the load decrease after loosening the nut.

These Ingersoll Ran guns are one of the best (even the regular ones) they are my personal favorite use

The IR Thunder Gun is based on the IR244A, which was the heavy duty upgrade from the venerable IR231 from years ago. Just an FYI. Also the IR244A was a revised and more powerful IR212.

Hey I suggested this long ago on your Instagram. I'm amazed you actully did it

Can you do a general how to video on freshening up a gun like that? Knowing how to polish out and pep up an old gun might keep some out of dumpsters just for haha's and giggles

I found that going to a high flow coupler, and larger diameter hose, made a noticeable impact (see what I did there) on my IR thunder gun. I've been very happy with it's performance, and like you, I have an 80-gallon, 175psi compressor setup. I ran 1" line from the tank to the regulator, then high flow 3/4" line to the coupler, and use Milton high flow couplers. You should see what it does to my blow nozzle. lol.

I have to say thank you for testing the thunder gun. I have one of these and it wore out after one year. I was always curious if it actually lived up to the manufacturer's hype.

Now I want to see what I can do with my old Sears gun, which I am pretty sure is a clone of the 231 line. Cool video.

Used to used Ingersoll rand guns to bolt and unbolt molds at the factory I used to work at. I loved playing with the 7 vane thunder guns. Always trying to make them faster

Thanks for the metric 👍🏻🤘🏻 Nice tune on the airgun ✊🏻😎

On the last run it sounded just like mine first time I’ve seen that impressed

I use an old IR from the 90s, it was used in the Australian V8 Supercars and I got it as a give from one of the racers cos I’m friends with his son, anyway it kicks ass, I expect its more powerful than the regular guns cos it was actually used in the pits.

Could you do a video of torque sticks and compare accuracy between brand, and maybe seeing if there is a bigger differential from advertised claims in the higher rated sticks? Also maybe if there is any difference (except for speed until the required torque is applied) if you use a mid torque or a high torque gun? I read that mid-torques RPM/IPM (when set to high) makes is so the stick cant flex back so they might overtorque the bolt.

If you want rpm/ipm you need to lighten the rotor. Drilling betwen the vanes would help. Increasing exhaust size will slower exhaust air flow,and reduce pressure period duration timing, unless they are oval. You need to ovalise to not loose pressure timing. It's like a fixed ignition timing on an engine, or a two stoke / rotary engine : you are stuck with a window of efficiency if you make round exhaust ports.

super cool they use ir. i use one every day

Where can you find the seven vane and eight vane rotors? What additional porting would you have to do on a IR 231 and is there an advantage to doing it?

More vanes means more friction and them rubbing the front of case doesn’t help. A Frankenstein of a drywall screw gun with an impact would be like the NASCAR version,sorta?Flywheel and clutch on an impact basically.

Ever since your channel started I was hoping a video like this would come. Wonder if you couldn't get ahold of some of the not-racecar-spec Paoli guns.

Could you guys do some ratings on some of the pneumatic impacts with different air compressors? Most of us home mechanics, don't have massive air compressors. I'd like to see the effects of an 8 gallon hot dog style compressor, versus a pancake compressor against your much bigger compressor. Because of watching this channel, I bought the Thor impact. I haven't used it yet but, it would be nice to know the specs of what I, or other like me, should be expecting. Love the channel guys!!

I think it would be cool to have that chart you use in a clickable format that leads to your video of how you got those numbers.

Any plans to do a detailed video on the porting of an impact?

After watching this video I went on a complete nerd search and ended up finding a used TGSL for 80 bucks on Facebook. Hooked it to our air supply to make sure it worked and good grief is it loud haha. Still super stoked I found it for the price I did.

OHH I DROPPED A COMMENT ASKING FOR THIS ONE A WHILE AGO! Exited to see it dinoed

As a young man many years ago I remember some guys hard lining their air tools in (no quick disconnect) just right into the hose. but when you think about it the quick disconnect fitting works as an orifice restricting air flow because the hole Is only 3/16 in most cases in the fitting itself

Two cordless brands you have not tested and I think you should are: The Skil ID573902 & IW5739-1A, and Hilti SID 8-A22 #2149908, or SID 4-A22 BULK #2141090 & SIW 6AT-A22 bulk #2112642 or SIW 22T-A BULK #2149753. Just a suggestion. Regardless, I really appreciate what you guys do. Thank you and I hope you all have a joyful holiday season.

Teasing us hard with those old timer tips

Good that I found this channel ahahaha Interesting stuff, subbed :)

Love this channel so much information

I would have used paper as a gasket/ shim for the end cap while using the 7 and 8 vein rotors. I bet the low end loss of torque and some speed is due to the rubbing.

I got 250psi nitrogen bottles in my pit cart in my racecar hauler. One for tires and the other for pit gun. Yes us oval track pro latemodel and super latemodel asphalt teams use pit crews for live under green pitstops but mostly under caution pit stops. Wide five hubs makes it 3 seconds longer then regular size hubs. My guys are all 15-18 year old highschool football players that volunteer to put for me at huge races and they are fast we got it down to 14.5 seconds on average. that's fast for a few kids doing 4 tires on wide five hubs and 10 gallons of fuel and if needed the Jackman also does rear jackbolt adjustments through the two holes on rear window to adjust cross and rear bite and add 3 seconds for a sway bar adjustment under the hood. And also NASCAR and asphalt race teams have a special socket that won't strip the lugs and goes on by it's self so you don't ever have to let off the trigger for the whole tire if you want they are flanged wide on the end. Sounds like they let off the trigger cuse the lug slows down the motor every time you hit a lug taking tires off and on

Thundergun! “..it’s as much a love story as anything else. Plus I hear the guy hangs dong and I’m very interested in seeing that.”

Definitely need to open up the air volume with 3/8 or maybe even 1/2 hose and fittings. After so big the larger flow will decrease pressure so it’s a trial game to see where the ultimate size is. I like 3/8 id hoses and fittings.

That gun will do great with the single hub lug, from 20 down to 4 lug nuts

Stopped what I was doing to watch this.

I'd prefer that you kept it's data in the chart for comparison, and talk to a shop and see what the cost of those mods would be to have done and figure it into its score, do some air impacts blow it away with similar mods? For an idea how would the Thor stack up to it in a modded competition?

Porting? looks menacingly at my HF Earthquake....

Would love to see an F1 gun measured

Just going to say rubbing them with oil is not the same as soaked like on clutches in a transmission, needs More time, put a time-lapse on it and will see the bubbles come out. But does phenolic resin absorb much? Maybe the edges do? But I know soaking does better for clutch material

I had this gun. It’s not bad it’s heavy and loud

This gun doesn’t really work for me as a Lefty. There is a thumb grip on the left side, and it started to cut my hand open with repeated use. I bought one used off the snap-on truck, ended up with the composite PT850 from snap-on. I really like the gun, I take good care of it (apparently they’re a bit finicky), and it’s treated me very well. I still have my Milwaukee 1/2 high tq in case I feel like breaking something or rattling my teeth out and snapping my wrists!

Very interesting Video. Maybe you could also try the Dino Paoli Hurricane Classic Handle

I have a 231 I bought in 1989. Never opened it up. I use it to bust 33mm semi truck lugnuts when other guns can't.

You should look at the $20 harbor fright 1/2 air impact

2:30 this was the realest joke you have ever made 😂

10k rpm, gonna change wheel studs everytime when wheels came off

with these mods, what would the 1894 THOR run like?

I used to own a thunder gun, and they are LOUD. My nitrocat has a whole lot more power and I don't have to wear ear protection under normal use.

The extra 0.001 of an inch could be causing a bit of drag which will lower the max RPM of the gun. Is there a way you can machine that 0.001 inch off and then test it?

I'd also like to see some of the hilti impact tools ranked on your chart list

Thank you for this information

Use a few drops of the old Prolong additive lubricant. I haven't measured any of my tools with a tach but they do sound like they zip up quicker. 😆😂🤣

I wouldn't be crazy shocked if an Indy team let you bring a rig out to test their gun setup on a testing day, they're pretty gung-ho and laid back compared to F1.. though both might see it as a chance for more fan exposure, you never know! Not sure how you'd go about asking around for that though..

my co-worker at my dealership has the thunder gun and man is it loud

I bought the titanium version years ago when I first started working, it's tired as hell, barely any torque. Maybe I can revive it with these new parts.

Mac tools used to sell this impact as the AW434

Can you compare cordless vs corded drills? Thanks.

Would a HD cordless impact gun work for NASCAR or is air the only solution?

I know this video is old now but seems to be the last time I can find you testing old school impacts. (not including the space age plug in unit) Aircat 1431 is what I'm curious about. looks like a hopped up version of a 231 like the thunder gun but cheaper and rated higher. Is it a contender for today? Someone send these guys one so I can see LOL. Great work by the way I really enjoy your channel!

Hey guys, could you test the Briggs and Straton BSTAH002 air hammer?

You should try one inch drive railway impact guns

I'm waiting for the cordless pit guns.

was the cylinder reverse bias model? who sells the 7 vane parts other than IR? aftermarket kit avail to upgrade to 7 vanes and 8 vanes also?

I'm an auto/diesel tech by trade and would love to see you test Anker brand flashlights. Specifically i use the bolder LC90 and LC40 rated for 900 lumens and 400 lumens with run times advertising 6hrs on high. They are my cheap quality flashlight of choice and i'm curious how they'd do in your tests. They can be found on amazon for around 30 ish dollars. Thank you for your effort to uncover the truth about these products. I feel sooo much better about my purchases after you've done testing on the products.

I know this is late but I converted one of my guns to work as my main impact gun if you don't hold on to it it will break your jaw or your wrist fingers anything that will get in the way of it. With it you can put a 2 inch drill bit on it and drill through anything you want seriously I haven't found anything to bug it down yet it snaps bolts if you over tighten it but it runs off a normal air compressor

Thats the tool what i need! How to brake bolts faster than usual way :D :D

So having the ability to ramp up speed before hitting the hammer helps their time to change a wheel, if I understood correctly. I know you're a torque test channel, not a speed test channel, I wonder if you can give speed a mark in the future, as it might help in real world scenarios. Having a faster gun might mean more bolts tightened in a specific time?

I've killed half a dozen thunder guns in a sand mine. They seem to be good guns.

Haven't finished the video yet, but seems to me the competition happens in the sub 5 second, 5 lug nuts zone. Let's see how your Makita does on that.

Didn’t know TTC was working for Astro Tools. When did that happen?

Where can I get the 7 vane kit ? I have an OLD MAC 234A that according to parts blow up runs the same internals.

Great south park reference