Lessons learned on the TT install

Spooler

A couple here recently. I have given up trying to help. Waste of energy.

Girald

Well to be fair, in my case anyways...

My parts list came out good for my project goals. The only thing i upgraded on the fly was the OS Giken GT dual plate clutch that is magic (feels like oem) compared to the 6 puck that i originally considered... Thanks to Z1 for accepting that return.

The worst part is prob the ECB-1 gauge... very high maintenance gauge and the ethanol is 5% off the mark.

Minus the serious need for a scavenge pump, the AAM kit isnt all that bad... After sorting out what paid mechanics failed to do, its working and she is good all around. The Borg Warner EFRs are fire...!

The big disappointments where in the install, local tuning attempt and also with AAM as a business. After seeing what they sent me at first, I was scared shitless at how the kit would come. But it was ok. I would never recommend their product because of their poor customer service and record keeping though.

Fixing other people's mistakes turned in to a win for me since i never fathomed pulling the motor, and I got to also make cooling upgrades i didn't think about the first time around.

I did pull some good advice from the370.com when making choices on the parts list. Some considerations were pretty straight forward while others were not ( i.e. try posting "what oil should i use - get 1001 responses, all different)

No worries now, thank goodness.

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AAM tt'ed // Soon: Moving back to the East Coast

Spooler

I wasn't talking about you. The couple I was talking about both popped their motors because of stupidity. Then they set a ridiculous hp goal but didn't want to spend the money to match that goal. You struggled but it didn't cost you a mint to get it right.

Dentt42

I've seen your story many times, and even had to be the one working at a problematic shop (not as a mechanic, but basically as a service writer) fighting to get an elaborate build put together, stuck between the customer and coworkers/management. Lesson learned: the more you control on your own project, the better.

I've had to clean up after mechanics multiple times over the years, because I do as much of my own work as possible, but life in general has dictated getting it to a shop from time to time. Multiple times I've found myself under the hood, or under the car, looking at missing bolts or a leak that wasn't there before while muttering, "I paid them to do this?".

Spooler

You have to choose the right shop to begin with. MA-Motorsports has been great. They are great communicators too. I always knew what is/was going on. We had some challenges but they were great in the way they handled it. Big build will have some issues, just part of it.

Girald

Yes and no... Choosing the right shop, you either have to be a fortune teller, or have a friend that boosted their car and had a great experience.

Unfortunately, people lie to massage their egos or shops promise you the world, as did the shop i brought mine to. Getting the gear is simple research .. thats the easy part... now going to a shop... its like going to jail and asking who there is innocent.

Who to tune my car, what software to use, all my parts fell under the research category. Who to install on my car... crap shoot.

At first, I ws going to transport my car out to AAM - they built the kit, theyt should know how to put it in... right? but after the fiaso w them, that was a no. Then I thought, Soho, or Z1... after getting a quote, I could literally buy another 370z... point of diminishing returns there. So after this process started becoming a bit scary, I decided id canvass local.

IDEAL: is to find the local gem that is magic to your car... form a great relationship and dont have to transport the car every time theres a glitch. local dyno , tuning, maint etc.. This is what my mind was now thinking.

summary: You cant just trust people, because everyone is right, and everyone is wrong. If you can see things first hand and shops are local dealing in your car, then perfect, if you live 1000 miles away from shops that may or may not be reputable, then there are hard decisions to make.

In my case, I decided the best shop is in my garage and scored. But again, ill say it, it sucks repairing what paid certified mechanics couldnt

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AAM tt'ed // Soon: Moving back to the East Coast