*****Fast Intentions Twin Turbo: OFFICIAL REVIEW THREAD*****
 

To all,

Often threads can become watered down with topics that do not pertain to the title as they grow in size. We wanted to create this specific thread as one place where our TT Kit reviews can be posted and reviewed.

That being said, the floor is open...

Thank you, Tony

Reoccurring update below:
Review #1: TerribleONE / Post #2
Review #2: HotRodz / Post #25 & Post #93
Review #3: faceglide / Post #97 & Post #137
Review #4: DJTodd / Post #149 & Post #171
Review #5: NixLimited / Post #159
Review #6: Arrvaxx / Post #160
Review #7: Hjo1078 / Post #170

TerribleONEs review of my experience with Fast Intentions!

First let me just start off by giving Tony, Dan, and Seb from Specialty Z a huge thank you. This dream could not have become reality without them! A little history before I go on to my prototype TT experience. I have known Tony and Dan for about 5+ years now, and have loved their shop ever since I met them when they installed my F.I CBE on my G37 at their old shop in Northridge. Didnt take long for me to feel welcome by the entire F.I. team and the atmosphere in the shop was great! I would always tell Tony that he needed to bring a TT kit out for the VHR platform after drooling over their 1000HP turbo Mustangs. Unfortunately my G37 was totaled by a family member and I got out of the car scene for a while.

Fast forward a few years, and I picked up a 2010 370Z touring and knew right away who I was going to call for my exhaust. Sure enough, the timing was perfect and Tony said he had something even better for me. We got to talking and were both drooling over the idea of a TT kit. I put a few hundred miles on the car before handing it over to Tony & Dan to work their magic.

Set backs: I will start with the bad first since I like my dessert last! ;) Tony and Dan originally told me this project would take around 6 months. Obviously, things were extended FAR past this. Overall, F.I. had my car for just over a year and a half although I did drop it off a bit early. To be fair, I need to go into detail of what held things up as IMO it was not a lack of drive from the F.I. team. From losing loved ones, F.I. moving to a new and much improved location, and major setbacks in getting the manifolds casted properly, really gave all of us a challenge. I just kept telling myself everyday that it would be worth it in the long run. Were there some days when I wanted to just snap on them? Yes absolutely! However, Tony and Dan definitely did do everything they could to make up for delays and it really shows their dedication to customer service! Dan and Tony basically installed everything on my car from my Powerhouse Amuse body kit, wheels, seats, gauges, sway bars, and are still going to install my BBK when all the craziness dies down. On top of that, they also paid my way to ZdayZ so we could debut the TT kit their. Wow was that an amazing experience! Overall, even with all the delays if I could go back I would not of changed a thing. This kit fully exceeded my expectations as well as Tony and Dans service.

Prototype phase: During this point, Dan put some miles on the car to make sure everything would hold up in real world conditions, and we also went to the 1/4 mile to see if the car really was making the power (546WHP/457WTQ) Sure enough with Dans awesome driving, we were able to get the car to set the stock block 1/4 record which was very cool! I am confident I could get the car to run mid to high 11s no problem after some practice. They were also cool enough to let me put some miles on the car which was awesome but a huge tease! Lol

Zdayz: As I said, what an awesome time! It was amazing to have the car all the way on the other side of the country and get to drive Tail of the Dragon. Beyond that, it was a blast to run the car at the Forged Performance airstrip event, meet tons of Z enthusiasts, and get to know the F.I. crew a bit better. On top of the show itself, Tony and Dan put in tons of late nights to get the car ready and did not rush anything even with the shortage of time. This again shows their dedication and passion for this industry. I am really hoping all of us get to make it out there again this year!


Okay, now on to the REALLY good stuff and what most of you are actually interested in! Be prepared because I am going to sound like a broken record as this kit really just takes the TT market to the next level IMO. I will be honest and say I have not personally driven in another TT 370Z however I have seen tons of dyno charts, as well as driven a TT HR 350Z and there is just no comparison.

Go

Power: Awesome! There is power all the way through the power band, and a TON of it. The car just pulls and pulls all the way to redline and there is no noticeable drop off like some other TT cars I have driven. I have had the privilege of driving tons of fast cars and while dyno #s are one thing, a lot of it is how the car actually drives! The power is so linear and it is very predictable! I have not once got on the throttle or got more or less than I was expecting which is also pretty common with F.I. cars. This is extremely important for the guys who want to hit the track or really push the car in the canyons. I have been running the car @ 8PSI and have put about 1000 miles on it so far personally. We are planning to have the car back on the dyno within the next few weeks to check the tune and a few other things. Then it is 100 octane and 10PSI time! From what Dan has told me, I am gonna have an even better review once I drive it on the race tune. :tup: :driving:

Throttle response: Again, really amazing. This makes driving the car even around town so much fun! Say you are cruising around even under 3k RPMs, gone are the days of kicking down a gear to pass someone. Just tip into the throttle just a little and there is tons of torque to get you moving! Even just spooling the turbos to 2-3PSI. As I said, I have driven plenty of other FI cars from TT V8s, 6s, and 4s. Nothing compares to the throttle response my car has, stock, or aftermarket. Hell, even my Dad's GTR with a axle back, and a tune doesnt spool anywhere near how my car does. Another great example, I was fooling around with my buddies Mazda Speed3 which uses a VERY small turbo. Still he does not out spool my car. He even brake boosted and did not once pull ahead of me. Again, Dan told me that this is even better on the 100 octane tune, and on top of that we can reroute the wastegates to make boost come on even stronger. :driving: Stay tuned for more on this as well.

Drivability: This is arguably the best part of this kit. As I said I have about 1k miles on it so far, and I have not once had any weird issues. The car is quiet and docile when you want it to be, but make no mistake you get on that go pedal and it will take off like a bat out of hell. With the power being so predictable, it makes it easy to enjoy boost even in town without causing to big of a scene. I see no reason why someone could not DD this setup, even running the Specialty Z 6 puck clutch. What an amazing unit! Barely a stiffer pedal feel than stock, but grabs like a 6 puck should! I would definitely recommend this to any true enthusiast. The car has no problem staying out of boost, and honestly gets better MPG IF you can keep your foot out of it. Acceleration is so effortless and you can get up to speed so quick with such little throttle input. I have hand calculated a few of my first tanks and got between 17-19MPG with some hard driving and about 80% street and canyon driving. This is not a concern to me at all however I know some people do take this into consideration. Another thing I would like to touch on is how cool my car is staying. I have read a ton of stuff on here that FI creates a ton of excess heat and a lot of guys are having to run aftermarket radiators, etc. I am only using a 25 row F.I. oil cooler setup, stock radiator, and no other cooling mods and I have yet to get the oil temps over 210. Water temps haven't moved at all either.

Overall opinion: I am more than pleased with my TT kit, and all the other work F.I. did to my car. They really are "fueled by passion". All of the work that was done is clean, and top notch. Even things that are not their specialty! The car pulls like a raped ape, and has not once left me sitting there wanting the boost to come in quicker. I definitely would recommend anyone looking for FI for their Z, to not look any further! From the looks of terror I get from the BMW, Audi, and Porsche drivers when I give them a little BOV action, or the smiles from my dad sitting shotgun who owns multiple supercars, it really goes to show you how well this car performs on just 8 pounds of boost!.


Between the bad days, and the good days I am more than happy to be apart of the F.I. team. Tony and Dan definitely made the delays up to me, and some! On top of that, I am very glad to be apart of bringing this amazing kit to the market for our platform. I know it is not the cheapest, but I really can promise you this kit performs the best. Not only does it perform, but it is honestly beautiful to look at. The manifolds really belong in a art gallery. I cannot wait to see other reviews as I think this kit is going to be a game changer. I want to thank Tony, Dan, and Seb again for coming through on all their promises, and some. I cannot wait to do more business with them in the future. Call me a fanboy, but I am a lifetime customer forsure of both F.I. and specialty Z as they provide excellent service, and definitely go above and beyond where ever possible.

I have prepared a little build video for you guys. Stay tuned for part II of my review @ 10PSI and also a lot more video to come! Thank you for taking the time to read my review. If you are local and want to go for a demo ride, or just ask me some questions do not hesitate to send me a PM! :tiphat:

Wow, you are making it hard on those of us who have to follow your lead. :rofl2:

Hey man I'm sure you will have plenty to say as well. I heard you have been having some fun with it!

Yes I have...All I can say is if this kit doesn't light your fire, your wood is a wet!!!:bowrofl:

Reading this just makes me get more pump for this awesome kit :excited:,can't wait for Tony to ship mine. Thanks for the great review TerribleOne and glad does of you guys that have the kit already installed are having an amazing time. :tiphat:

Glad to know there is someone else that has made it through losing their car for so long! Congrats on the sweet ride.

One word............AWESOME!

Outstanding writeup Blake! Very detailed and touched on many different perspectives. After reading this, its not even possible to have one bit of skepticism about this kit itself.

I couldn't help but chuckle while watching the last 30 seconds with Danny driving....you can just tell Sheriff has a huuuuuuge grin on his face!!

Sharif was definitely blown away! Hope to see you out in CA again sometime soon man!

another amazing product from FI keeping the workmanship and customer service as top priority. Please dont keep us G37 owners waiting too long :D

Simply amazing. Great review TerribleONE, and keep the good work F.I. :tiphat:.

Cool review. Would love to read more in the future about long term results. Congrats FI and to all those who ordered.

Nicely said Blake, I can't wait to see what it feels like for myself. And a big Thank you to FI for producing such a beautiful kit. And Tony... Youuu... Hahaa :cool: special thanks for ALWAYS taking the time to keep me in the loop, always fun shooting the **** bro.

Blake, that Z is to diiiiirty bro, I love it! \,,,/

Hmmm just take my Tax Return F.I!! I want Twin Turbos to go :tup: hahaha....All in All that is one Sick and Impressive Machine!

My car is on the way to CA as we speak! Bummer I'm stuck with this for the week/month:


http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws...0ae90d5b_7.jpg

Thanks TerribleONE for the great write up, man. Grats on a freaking amazing car!

and Grats Tony and F.I. Team for yet another monster product!...

I will definitely keep everyone posted as far as how well the car holds up. Right now, I am extremely confident!

Thanks bro! You are in for a treat

Do it! :tup:

Thank you!

My man, I just sent you a pm and left you a voicemail. Please feel free to call me when you are ready to talk.

Thanks, Tony

Awesome Thread.

Reading these reviews sold me on FI kit...

Ill consider changing to FI kit from GTM when they release it for G37 coupe! (hint!)

If the price was right without the turbos and fueling system etc.. ill really consider it!!

Tony this is masterpiece you should really sell samples for people who want hang them in their living room!

I am talking to him right now into making me a Fast Intentions TT header coffee table....the wife will love it for Valentines!

You have known for over a year that we plan on offering this same kit for your G37 Coupe! That along with a full 2.75" exhaust system...

Thanks, Tony

I just finished my initial review and it is lengthy and there is more to come. So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy. Also, I pulled a rookie mistake. I went out on a drive to get some video and I forgot to put the SD card in the camera.:ugh2:

Acknowledgement:
I want to first thank my friend, mechanic, and tuner Sebastian Chacoff as he has provided me with solid advice and service over the last year. I made the choice to have him tune my Nismo last year after reading about him and his business SpecialtyZ on the Forum and on Mike Bonanni’s blog. He and his crew will be the only shop to do any meaningful work on my Z.

Equally speaking I want to thank my new friend Tony for all he has done to provide me with the best of the best for me and my car. Some of you might want to know why there is so much hoopla around Tony and his products and customer service. Well the answer is easy; Tony is not just focused on selling a quality product but thrives on the shared experience that he has with every one of his customers. My (our) joy and satisfaction fuels his passion. What’s not to love about that???? Also I want to acknowledge Dan, the man behind the design of the turbo kit. He was very gracious in sharing his knowledge and experience in bringing this very special product to the market. It was a very cool experience watching Dan turn a wrench while work on Terrible’s Z. Let’s put it this way, I don’t think the wheels in Dan’s head ever quit turning on how to improve on an almost perfect design!

The Back Story:
My journey for more power began shortly after adding on a few bolt on parts and getting a tune. After reading everything I could hear on the forum and having talking and trading stories with my brothers who are motorsport junkies, well I started contemplating the merits of either a supercharger or twin turbo. I traded a few emails with Seb on GTM products as there were not many other products to choose from and I knew Seb was very familiar with GTM. Then it happened, Fast Intention announces that they would be offering a new twin turbo kit unlike no other on the market. I was excited to see what was going to transpire and what the pricing for this new kit would be. My budget for my build was $10,000 and I was in the middle of planning a 17 day trip to Europe with my wife and daughter. Let’s just say the trip was cramping my style LOL. I sent Tony and email fairly quickly after his announcement and he needed a significant down payment which I did not have at that time.

As we all know GTM came out with their kit shortly after and they promised a quality unit at a story book price. I waited for a while as I really wanted the FI Kit, but I did not want to miss out on such a great deal that GTM was offering. I finally committed to the GTM group buy when the number of those wanting to purchase the kit was at the third tier. In fact, I was number 51 which meant the price went to the third tier. I was very anxious about the release and when it might come out as my trip to Europe was in early May. I traded several emails with GTM and sent them a down payment right before I left on vacation. I wanted to be among the first to receive the kit. Not too long after returning home GTM announced that they were looking at the end of June early July release. I sent them more money.
Time passed by and I had paid them all but about $1,500 to my bill which included downpipes as well. I knew I wanted a 3” exhaust and the only one I wanted was the FI exhaust. It was the end of August and my financial situation had changed. I began talking to Tony about my exhaust and his twin turbo. I also called Seb and spoke with him after having spoken with Tony as Seb was responsible for tuning Terrible’s car and had a working knowledge of the kit. I was convinced that I really wanted this kit. Tony was not pushy, but really wanted me to consider switching over to the FI kit. He pointed out a couple very compelling points, I was having SpecialtyZ do the install and they are one of the few FI certified installers and FI need them to do an install to certify them and give them feedback from an independent perspective. He said if I would consider making the switch he would make sure I would have the first kit installed by someone other than FI. The only question was could I afford it and get a refund from GTM.
As you know I decided to make the switch. I called GTM and asked for a refund. They said cool send us an email and we will send you a refund. I did and I received a call from Sam asking me why I wanted a refund. I told him the truth that I had change my mind and was considering a change in direction. He was on to me and asked what my plans were? I told him and he ask me to give him a chance to make me a mind blowing offer. The offer included the MHI kit with upgraded Garrett turbos, 3” down pipes, 3” exhaust, GTM radiator and 34 row oil cooler at a very good discounted price. I turned it down!!! And after about two or three weeks of telephone calls, emails and Sam being out because of health concerns, I received a full refund. The rest as they say is history.

Bob’s Build List:
Fast Intentions Twin Turbo Stage I Kit
Fast Intentions 3” Down Pipes
Fast Intentions 3” TT-TDX Exhaust
Fast Intentions 34 Row Oil Cooler
Specialty Z SZ Max Street Clutch & Flywheel
Blitz SPC i-D Spec-R Boast Controller
Whiteline Differential Bushing
Eibach Sway Bars

I chose the component listed as I wanted the best free flowing turbo setup possible along with those driveline component to that will add to performance and reliability. On that note, I want to point out the not so obvious to some. There has been a lot of talk on the cost of FI TT kit. People have made comments such as “I don’t need to pay extra for a bunch of shinny parts and most of them you can’t see” and “I just want a kit which performs like OEM.” First off, the finish on the parts used in FI kit is a result of their attention to detail. It’s not all about autistics about the fit and finish of the parts. Many of the fittings were designed to eliminate flow and failure points as a one piece properly designed piece that will perform better and more reliable than a two part piece made for mass production. It is a commitment to quality control as all of the parts manufactured for production were completed by local vendor here in the good USA. This meant that there was face to face interaction between Dan, Tony and the vendor. I am confident that there were no compromises or short cuts made just to get the kit out on some predetermined deadline. I say this because I witness Tony in action when he received some parts from a vendor that were not to his standard. He sent them back even though this was the second time they had screwed up the order. He and his team spare no cost to bring forth a quality product.

Engine & Drive Train:
The overall appearance of the engine was perfect. The engine was clean and looked brand new. The setup looks totally like OEM in that there is very little that tips off that the engine has been modified. The sound is just like a sports car should be, distinct (head turning) and just loud enough to make you want to hear more. Because of the design of the manifolds and down pipes the turbos perform efficiently. There is no turbo lag and the spool up is incredibly fast. Sorry Terrible, but both Seb and Tony said they spool faster than your or Seb’s stage II GTM TT. It was pretty cool seeing them both light up when they gave me there impression. The car just wants to make boost!

The Fast Intentions Oil Cooler does what it is supposed to…keep the oil cool. The highest temperature that I have experienced is 224. It averages about 184. I reached 244 on a stretch of road that is high speed and twisty at the same time. My speed averaged between 65 and 100mp so I’m in third gear for all ten or so miles. Once I backed off and then leveled out to 80mp on the freeway it returned to 184 immediately. This was nice to see as my Z tends to run oil temps a little on the high side.

The SZ clutch and flywheel is a precision made product capable of holding the torque being made. The entire kit weighs about 31 pounds. I have not noticed any noise or chatter, but I have spent most of my driving time in a 4x4 truck so I’m accustom to noise. The clutch feels way better than OEM IMHO. It is more alive and responsive. I find it easy to change gears quickly when necessary to do so.

The upgrade in bushings and sway bars makes all the difference in keeping the car connected to the ground. There is absolutely no wheel hop and I have not experienced the car wanting to step out on me. It’s just a matter of waiting for the tires to hook up.

Drivability:
This is where this kit shines. I know I have not driven as many supercars or pony car as many of you on the forum, but I have been behind the wheel of enough to know that a Z with this kit will shine with the best of them. When I think of drivability my first of go to speed and acceleration. This kit brings great power and it comes on quickly. From full stop there is no way to overcome the fact that Z’s are slow off the line and is the sole reason there are no 10 second cars. First is to short and so is second for drag racing. There is so much power brought on so quickly you aren’t going to cover much ground in quickly in those two gears, but when it hooks up in third gear…hold on. The acceleration is incredibly quick and controllable. It will set you back in your seat. What I mean by controllable is that as long as the car is pointed in a straight line it does not step out on you or push you one way or the other as I have had seen or experienced with some built pony cars. You definitely need to make sure your braking is up to the job given the increase power. Driving home was fun as making passes was easy and quick. The biggest worry is, can the people who want to keep up stop as fast as I could. Also, the kit will make boost in all gears. Just as Terrible stated you don’t have to drop gears if you are cruising at 70mp and you need to get on it in 6th gear. I made 8psi in 6th gear on one run.

Throttle control is another important factor for weekend warriors and racers. Being able to moderate your speed heading into and mostly out turns is critical and because the power comes on smoothly this is not a problem. I have not found any issues modulating or feathering the pedal on sweeping turns or a series of s turns. It is simply mind blowing to be able to feather the power through a turn and then lay in down once you got it pointed down the next straight away. Cy, you are going to love your set up!

Having said all of this, the car is very compliant as a daily driver. I can easily drive it without boost. Not sure why…but it’s very doable. The funny thing is that even when I drive it without mashing the pedal to the floor, the responsiveness is better than it was before. The car just begs you to make it go. Seb told me the car will make boost just on a gradual uphill climb. It does, it’s not much, but it doesn’t like losing speed. I watch it make boost while being on cruise control!

Parting Shot:
In the last part of my 1st career I was trained and educated as quality manager and was a State quality examiner for AZ State Quality Award program. The program is based off the Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria. All I am saying is that I know good business practices and what it takes to make a quality business. Fast Intentions and SpecialtyZ are in a league that few can compete with because of their commitment to quality and customer service. They are committed to making the whole transaction to project completion one that their customer will not forget and that their product will exceed your expectation. This is what they have done for me and I am glad to tell you all about it. So a little advise from an old guy; you don’t want to spend money on your most expensive possession (for some people) and only want an OEM reliability or operation. I don’t! If it does not work any better than OEM why install it on my vehicle. So do yourself a favor and save up your money and buy this kit. You won’t be sorry. Please PM me if you have any questions you don’t wish to share and just like Terrible if I have the time and you are passing through or I’m in your town and you would like to go for a ride…let’s do it!:driving:

Nice review man! I can't imagine your car spooling harder than mine but the dyno doesn't lie!

Bob, my man...Thank you so much for the review. The journey that we have taken together is one that will never be forgotten. That being said, I cannot wait to see the look on your face after the first time you drive your car on the 100 octane tune and a little more boost. For now, I have attached a copy of your dyno chart below.

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps5632340a.jpg

Thank, Tony

Great review, Hotrodz! Tony, what guidelines are you/Seb using for octane/boost combinations?

Hi Bob

Thank you for sharing your experience with everyone on the forum. Its hard to put into words and explain to others how much work goes into everything that is done PROPERLY! Thank you for allowing us to touch your Z. We hope you enjoy every minute of it.

Tony/Seb, It has been a great ride and I am having the time of my life with my upgraded toy. The way everything came together could not have planned any better if we tried. I can't wait for the next step up to high test. It is just like so many boosted owners say, boost is addictive and you just want more...well I'm there and it's just been a week! Thanks again for a job well done!

Another thing I love about this FI team is they are not afraid to show each and every dyno sheet starting at 2k. It always eerks me that so many other shops/product developers start theirs after its too late to see when the boost really ramps in and how the down low dig performance is acting. Like their hiding their lag or something. FI is proud to display it, in every right.

Also super eager to see this on E. Perhaps I'll be the first to share the good news! :-)

Agreed. Show me the dyno where I spend 90% of my time in the rev band! :tiphat:

Realistically you don't need the sheet to start that low, if you are in the right gear you would have no buisness being WOT below 3500rpm with the exception of being too lazy to downshift. Even dragging these cars already have a hard time hooking in first and second and if the track is loose the shift to third as well, so you aren't even going to be balls in untill you are already moving anyway. Afraid to show the lag from a dig :rolleyes: you show me a car that can actually hook from a dig with 450+ hp first without feathering it.

It's good to see the difference in the boost onset when deciding on a kit. At least I like to see how my car is performing at those rpms. Sometimes I get lazy and want the boost on tap. :tup:

Meh....when you are spooling to max boost about 1k earlier, 2700 to 3900rpm, yet somehow have much more power up top, I am thinking its nice to see the 1000-300RPM to support the ***-kickery of this kit.

Keep in mind, these are very safe and reliable tunes, not dyno jockey tunes(no blown motors). This tune is what is being driven on daily, not something for numbers and advertising.

While driving under 2k is pretty moot, it goes to show that the range and efficiency of the kit is unseen. It is nice to see as much as the curve possible, in this case, we are looking at the spool, and jesus spool there is! It will be hilarious popping the BOV on a 2000-3000rpm "tap".

All in all, it is a very honest graph for a very honest tune. This is what you will get, no smoke, no mirrors, no lies.

God bless tires, I hope the price of rubber drops and I can just stockpile.

:icon18: :iagree:

Actually in 6th gear when I floor it at 2K RPMs I make boost.

This low end power is what you will feel 95% of the time when you drive the car on the street. I think this is almost the best part of this kit.

Great question. Sebastian actually taps into the ECU with a special pair of headphones. He can listen to what the engine is doing very similar to a doctor with a stethoscope. We have found that on the GT2860/91 octane the safe level is 8-9 psi with no detonation. For the GTX2867R/91 octane combination, we can go a little higher.

I do not want to go in to A/F and ignition timing specifics out of respect for our tuner. Tuning for driveability and WOT is definitely an art. Not everyone can do it and those who can, have the combinations that they find to work well for them.

If you want to call Seb or myself for more specifics, please feel free to do so. Btw, your car arrived this morning. Let the fun and games begin!

Thank you, Tony

You are making me sad Tony............