Yes, the newest RJM pedal is a pretty easy install if you consider working under the dash of a Z "easy".......

Nothing really challenging with changing out the Z's clutch. It's not that much difference than most other cars. Not easy, but not all that difficult provided you have a lift.

My recommendation would be to get an oil cooler kit and install it first. Get a feel for working on the car and having to remove the bumper cover and belly pan. You will see how things fit and what tools are needed. After making that a successful weekend project you should be ready for the SC install. Plan on that taking a couple of days at least. And then there is the tuning.......

Thanks again, Jayhovah and TBatt! I don't own a lot of tools, and no jacks or lifts, so, I have to weigh the costs of outfitting my garage along with my inexperience with involved mechanical stuff, too. There's a lot I don't know, and sometimes instructions assume you know little things that they don't include, but are vital to doing a job right. That's the sort of thing that makes me hesitate about tackling the clutch, for example. I know the pedal is supposed to be "easy," but again, easier if the car is a few inches off the floor. (I did read a thread somewhere about someone building a low padded bench alongside the rocker panel. That might be doable. But then the HD clevis and master cylinder I'm clueless again!)

I've also considered doing the rear bushings and subframe collars myself in the future, but, the same cautions above come to light. Now I've got the car all apart and rear axle inoperable, and no easy way to get it to someone to do right!! The distance from our home to even the nearest Billy-Joe-Bob-We-Hack'm-Right Shop is twenty miles.

TBatt -- you mentioned the tune, and I noticed you did Ecutek and Seb, which is the route I plan to go. I've searched and read everything I can (including Seb's blogs), but nowhere mentions recommendations on laptops, OS, that sort of thing. We've got a desktop and two older iPads, but no laptop, so I was thinking of finding a cheapo one on Craigslist or something just for this purpose. Does the interface use USB 2, and what operating system does the software require?

That brings up another issue, am I going to have to prepare for the inevitable codes? I was looking at the BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII scan tool and app. Folks don't seem to talk too much about that sort of thing here, but I don't want to have to be tethered to the dealership all the time...who might be reluctant to touch the car once I've voided all the warranties!!

Your fear is really getting the better of you here... We all started somewhere and at some point you just need to bite the bullet and start turning that first bolt to the left. Just be careful, mindful, take your time, seek plenty of advice from good sources (the more knowledgeable members on this forum are a treasure trove of information), and buy the proper tools as you need them. This type of work isn't rocket science and you aren't going to need to start taking welding classes or anything. If you want to learn how to do this stuff there really is only one way and I think you'll find its a lot easier than you think if you just take your time and think everything through. Mistakes will happen and you will learn how to avoid them in the future, and how to correct them when they inevitably happen.

When I started tearing my car down and installing my TT, I hadn't modified a car for almost 20 years and even then I was just a clueless teenager. Just go for it. Eventually you will get to the point where you stop worrying about how much tools cost, and start looking for reasons to get new ones lol.

OR - just decide to hire all your work out... there is nothing wrong with that either if you can afford it. I personally like to do everything I can myself because the build itself is what gets me the most excited.

For the RJM pedal - people rave about Ryans customer support. If you start to get confused I am pretty sure he will help you through it. Email him and ask about it up front if you are apprehensive.

For the Ecutek updates - I use my 5 year old windows laptop. You need two USB ports. Email or call Seb and he will help you, he is a very helpful guy! If you stick to the good vendors that have a track history of tech support you should have a fine experience!

For the code reader - if all you want is to read/clear codes, you can buy a cheap bluetooth one. I used one for a couple of years that was $12 on Amazon Prime and I only got rid of it to upgrade to a nicer one that was fast enough to handle realtime data display.

Do you have a buddy who has done any modifying? Even simple stuff like an intake or something... I think you just need someone to be there with you and help you through it to get you started with some confidence.

Edit: You should check if there are forum members in your area that are willing to lend you a hand... there was another thread around here not too long ago where someone was apprehensive about doing some work and someone invited them to come over and offered to help them through it. It gave me the warm fuzzies just reading about it. Car guys love to help car guys. If you were in my neighborhood I would absolutely offer to help you out.

Thanks for your thoughts, Jayhovah. I've been haunting this board for over a year even before I bought the car, trying to learn as much as I can, and you're right -- I'm always blown away by the helpfulness of members, and the amount of good, solid information here.

I like to do things myself, and generally live by the mantra, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." But I also understand my limits, too, and respect what good mechanics know from experience that I'll never know. After examining all that I want to do with this car, I have a pretty good idea what I'll be able to do without too much difficulty, and the things that are probably beyond my capabilities. This car is by far the priciest and nicest car I've ever owned, and I don't want to mess it up.

I'm astonished that you installed your TT yourself! That, to me, represents about the highest level of DIY I know of, not to mention a serious investment in tools!

I'm kinda an old married guy, and don't know many folks nearby...let alone those who enjoy working on cars. This part of the Florida panhandle is a weird place -- hard to describe. (My wife and I moved here in 2005 from Vero Beach, FL, because of a promotion for her.) For a time I was checking the subforum for possible locals, but gave up after a while. I will only see another Z on the roads around here maybe two or three times a year, and they may be vacationers and not locals.

Thanks for the tips on the OBDII and laptop -- I'll keep my eyes peeled for something appropriate and utilitarian.

Thanks again for your help!

Right on... you know you better than anyone else! Sounds like you have it pretty well figured..

Installing the TT was difficult because of inexperience, and I had the benefit of another amateur mechanic and a lift... it STILL took more than two weeks working every day because we had no idea what we were doing and the instructions were trash. Gamma did eventually provide us a support contact and that guy was able to help us through the whole ordeal... even still, a TT kit isn't that bad. At the end of the day, we were still only removing parts and replacing them with one that were designed to fit in their place. If I did the same kit again on another car we could probably do it in 3 or 4 days.

I remember when I had a 350 and a user named "Boosted Probe" on the my350z.com forums started a build thread where he was fabricating his own one-off turbo setup. It was coming out so good people started to ask if he would make it into a kit... that guy became Boosted Performance and is responsible for turbocharging a ton of Z's and G's. Now THAT guy was a serious DIY'er!

Keep us updated on how your build goes... next time I am driving through maybe I'll stop in and let you buy me a beer lol

Absolutely! I'll buy you two! :tup:

I'm 63 and have been playing with cars since I was 16. You will never know it all.

Invest in good tools and lots of them! They will last you a life time. Never ever hesitate to buy more tools. You will eventually need them.

A QuickJack portable lift is a great investment, I have a review in the DIY section.

Good luck! Just go for it! A boosted Z is a life changing experience!

Thanks, TBatt. Any tools I buy will likely only be used for this project, so I am weighing those costs alongside the tasks that might be better done by a shop. (Plus, I just don't have ROOM in our small garage to store things.) Some guys really enjoy digging into their cars...I'm not one of them, but I will do what I need to do with an eye on the finished goal! Part of the problem is time -- there's just too much else that needs doing and not enough hours in the day or energy in the bod.

I'm almost your age, but you are an inspiration, sir!

What is that damper for ? I've never seen it before

Also dose anyone know what intercooler gtm used on there supercharger kit that fitted behind the stock bar I know the inlet and outlet wouldn't work with topz kit which I have but I'm looking at getting a custom one made so was after dimensions

The fi bar looks nice but not very substantial and the point it bolts on .

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Place as many spacers on the original one as can fit and if that isnt enough (some say it is, some say it isnt) then cut out the extra needed space off the crash bar. It has been done on here before.

Cool I'm going to try that
Anyone got any links to people who have done it ? Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk