Mr. G. Brettin's Slow Motion Leg Hump

gbrettin · 07-01-2025, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooler

Need some gaskets on those turbos. RTV won't cut it.

I'll keep an eye on them. I've seen it used on race cars with out issue, but I also heed caution when certain people speak up.

gbrettin · 07-03-2025, 05:13 PM

I took some time off work to push this thing forward — right in the middle of a humid heat wave, in a shop with no AC. I was soaked through by noon and wrenching from 8am to 10pm on a few of those days. Didn’t have much time to post pics until now.

Wiring is complete!
We chased a few gremlins during the process — loose AN fittings, a failed hose on the power steering line, and some minor plumbing cleanup. Nothing major, just typical new-build cleanup before real issues show up.

Shoutout to Dave for welding up the BOVs. I’ll admit it… I butchered the clamp-side of the aluminum pretty badly. His comment:

Dave: “A truck could be driven through the area of aluminum filler rod I had to use.”

Me: "Tough sh*t, Dave. I believed in you."

First start didn’t go great.
Turns out I didn’t have a pushrod properly seated in the lifter — that’s on me for not double-checking. On top of that, the injectors aren’t flowing properly. They’re 220lb injectors (plenty for 500whp), but fuel delivery is inconsistent. I cleaned them once, but I don’t trust them. Plan is to run the car on low boost until I can get them professionally cleaned or replaced.

The car is ready for a dyno run, but another car had some issues and pushed back the schedule. Totally fine. I’m right at the tail end of this thing, and at this point I’ve got the patience to ride it out a few more days.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dYzZyz6q1es

Snapped some pictures in-between the chaos — I think they tell the story better than I can.

gbrettin · 07-14-2025, 11:00 AM

Updates in video format:
Car up and running at the shop
https://youtube.com/shorts/dYzZyz6q1es?feature=share

Low power dyno action:
https://youtube.com/shorts/SYePP0HarQc?feature=share

ECU and Mystery brake fluid leak.
https://youtube.com/shorts/NAhrJH2vYas?feature=share

So… the car is running — but it’s definitely carrying a little baggage.

Not mad about it at all. Wish I had dyno numbers to share, but the dyno itself started acting up. It was reading fine until around 400whp, then things went bonkers. Based on how the car felt, I’d say it made around 600whp on 10psi at 7,500rpm — conservatively.

After getting it home, I took it out to fill up with E85. That’s when I noticed the car completely shuts down under power, almost like the ECU dies. Light throttle is fine and I didn’t feel unsafe, but definitely not right. On that same drive, the digital display stopped working entirely (got a short video of that too). I think the shop has a spare MS3 ECU I can try. Long-term, I’d like to move to FuelTech or Haltech and rewire the car entirely. (not the parts that have already been wired)

One more thing — I still need to cap the trunk where the Winters Quick Change peeks through. I can deal with noise, vibrations, and rattles… but the sound of straight-cut gears is next level. Think 100 banshees screaming in your ear. It’s that loud. I ended up wearing noise-canceling headphones just to go get gas, and honestly, that made it tolerable.

Last photo is from when I stopped for a Mexican salad. Within 10 minutes, three different people came over to check out the car. Kinda wild.

gbrettin · 08-11-2025, 09:01 AM

Nut and bolt checks are frequent... because I know the guy that put most of this together:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMl6L...JqZG5yeHg4cw==

Took the car back to the shop and swapped the MS3 EVO for a brand-new MS3 Ultimate edition ECU. The EVO has less I/O, but more importantly, the injector drivers kept crashing. It passed bench testing, but my theory is the board would heat up and fail because of bad capacitors… probably a side effect of the ECU being underwater for two hours a while back.

Video of the car leaving me stranded after the fuel line blew out... I thought it was exclusively the ECU at the time
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMn4y...J0NDZtdWpkZw==

After that, Nick at Auto Dynamix and I ran through some tests and noticed we weren’t getting fuel line pressure. Nick didn’t hear the “pressurizing” sound inside the tank, and the ECU showed zero pressure. The sound was the giveaway. I peeled the tank open and, sure enough, one of the sending lines had ruptured. Replaced it with a Holley fuel sending line, buttoned it back up, and the car came to life — snappy and responsive… for about 90 seconds.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNCm_...NiOW0yczQ2dw==

Then it died again. Same symptoms. Fuel pressure dropped off, tank went silent. I pulled the pump again and found the other sending line blown out. I had inspected it earlier, but it still failed. Didn’t have the right e85 compatible line on hand, so I used a temporary hose just to get the system running.

End of this video has Steve and Kyle Morris looking over the "Better Half Camaro"... I fired my car off while they were all trying to get their car fired. Noice.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNEso...NiNDkyN3pmazMy

And that was the moment. After years of building, tearing down, and rebuilding. The TT swap is operational. Not “done,” but alive. My buddy caught the exact moment it hit me on video, and the photos really captured the vibe. Surreal doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I hope that someone finds this build thread and it helps them.... Maybe even entertaining? None the less, I wanted to stay committed to posting the nitty gritty of an extended complex build with all the setbacks. It's not all rainbows and sunshine, but it's sure nice when it works out sometimes.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNE4f...p3Y3dya3c4Yg==

I sweat through the shirt because the dyno room is like a green house. It's soooooo hot!

filip00 · 08-14-2025, 12:45 PM

I absolutely applaud you on your effort and I'm super happy I can follow this build here on the forum. Thank you very much and please keep updating us.

sx moneypit · 08-15-2025, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filip00

I absolutely applaud you on your effort and I'm super happy I can follow this build here on the forum. Thank you very much and please keep updating us.

gbrettin · 05-10-2026, 10:35 AM

OH MY! We're back! After the site being down for a number of months... lol

Well... My Z is about to go into Auto Dynamix for some drivability. Last Oct I had the car out to Street Car Take Over at us131. I ran twice down the strip and the tune was not on point, so Nick Diehl is going to address that AND wire up paddle shifters at my request because I didn't like how the power was delivered.

If you were wondering about the time slips... They sucked(slip posted below). The second time down the track was good until I blew oil over my window. I didn't check the catch can (oops). The slip I posted was a terrible launch because 2-step, but by the 330 - 660 the engine came alive and started to absolutely rip. I was out of the gas at the 1/8th and coasted to the 1/4 (context to the slip).

What I'm saying - More updates to come.

Picture from SCT and paddle shifter stuff:

EZT · 05-14-2026, 05:08 PM

We are so back!

filip00 · 05-15-2026, 11:00 AM

Happy to read about this project again!

gbrettin · 06-24-2026, 10:10 AM

Alrighty, been about 1mo but my car has flowed into prime time with Diehl Brother's Racing and is getting the rough areas ironed out.

1. Safety first. Nut and Bolt check.
2. Hardline A2W and Power Steering for abrasion/heat resistance.
3. Cap the hole in the trunk. (based off template provided)
4. Hard mount turbos to chassis and mirror perfectly.
5. Electrical (not started)
6. Mount remote power steering reservoir.
7. Mount Nismo front bumper and hood.

Brief list, but you get the idea. Trying not to write a book here. Basically having the shop taking care of loose ends because Jeff (guy in picture) can do the work better and faster than me. Ideally I get to enjoy my car in a month or two.

08-11-2025, 09:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
gbrettin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 2,304 Drives: Tricycle Rep Power: 589452	Nut and bolt checks are frequent... because I know the guy that put most of this together: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMl6L...JqZG5yeHg4cw== Took the car back to the shop and swapped the MS3 EVO for a brand-new MS3 Ultimate edition ECU. The EVO has less I/O, but more importantly, the injector drivers kept crashing. It passed bench testing, but my theory is the board would heat up and fail because of bad capacitors… probably a side effect of the ECU being underwater for two hours a while back. Video of the car leaving me stranded after the fuel line blew out... I thought it was exclusively the ECU at the time https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMn4y...J0NDZtdWpkZw== After that, Nick at Auto Dynamix and I ran through some tests and noticed we weren’t getting fuel line pressure. Nick didn’t hear the “pressurizing” sound inside the tank, and the ECU showed zero pressure. The sound was the giveaway. I peeled the tank open and, sure enough, one of the sending lines had ruptured. Replaced it with a Holley fuel sending line, buttoned it back up, and the car came to life — snappy and responsive… for about 90 seconds. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNCm_...NiOW0yczQ2dw== Then it died again. Same symptoms. Fuel pressure dropped off, tank went silent. I pulled the pump again and found the other sending line blown out. I had inspected it earlier, but it still failed. Didn’t have the right e85 compatible line on hand, so I used a temporary hose just to get the system running. End of this video has Steve and Kyle Morris looking over the "Better Half Camaro"... I fired my car off while they were all trying to get their car fired. Noice. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNEso...NiNDkyN3pmazMy And that was the moment. After years of building, tearing down, and rebuilding. The TT swap is operational. Not “done,” but alive. My buddy caught the exact moment it hit me on video, and the photos really captured the vibe. Surreal doesn’t even begin to cover it. I hope that someone finds this build thread and it helps them.... Maybe even entertaining? None the less, I wanted to stay committed to posting the nitty gritty of an extended complex build with all the setbacks. It's not all rainbows and sunshine, but it's sure nice when it works out sometimes. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNE4f...p3Y3dya3c4Yg== I sweat through the shirt because the dyno room is like a green house. It's soooooo hot! Last edited by gbrettin; 08-11-2025 at 09:20 AM.

08-14-2025, 12:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
filip00 Track Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: slovenia Posts: 605 Drives: 370z pack Rep Power: 125429	I absolutely applaud you on your effort and I'm super happy I can follow this build here on the forum. Thank you very much and please keep updating us. __________________ ride epic drive epic

05-10-2026, 10:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
gbrettin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 2,304 Drives: Tricycle Rep Power: 589452	OH MY! We're back! After the site being down for a number of months... lol Well... My Z is about to go into Auto Dynamix for some drivability. Last Oct I had the car out to Street Car Take Over at us131. I ran twice down the strip and the tune was not on point, so Nick Diehl is going to address that AND wire up paddle shifters at my request because I didn't like how the power was delivered. If you were wondering about the time slips... They sucked(slip posted below). The second time down the track was good until I blew oil over my window. I didn't check the catch can (oops). The slip I posted was a terrible launch because 2-step, but by the 330 - 660 the engine came alive and started to absolutely rip. I was out of the gas at the 1/8th and coasted to the 1/4 (context to the slip). What I'm saying - More updates to come. Picture from SCT and paddle shifter stuff: Last edited by gbrettin; 05-10-2026 at 08:58 PM.

05-15-2026, 11:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
filip00 Track Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: slovenia Posts: 605 Drives: 370z pack Rep Power: 125429	Happy to read about this project again! __________________ ride epic drive epic

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07-03-2025, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
gbrettin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 2,304 Drives: Tricycle Rep Power: 589452	I took some time off work to push this thing forward — right in the middle of a humid heat wave, in a shop with no AC. I was soaked through by noon and wrenching from 8am to 10pm on a few of those days. Didn’t have much time to post pics until now. Wiring is complete! We chased a few gremlins during the process — loose AN fittings, a failed hose on the power steering line, and some minor plumbing cleanup. Nothing major, just typical new-build cleanup before real issues show up. Shoutout to Dave for welding up the BOVs. I’ll admit it… I butchered the clamp-side of the aluminum pretty badly. His comment: Dave: “A truck could be driven through the area of aluminum filler rod I had to use.” Me: "Tough sh*t, Dave. I believed in you." First start didn’t go great. Turns out I didn’t have a pushrod properly seated in the lifter — that’s on me for not double-checking. On top of that, the injectors aren’t flowing properly. They’re 220lb injectors (plenty for 500whp), but fuel delivery is inconsistent. I cleaned them once, but I don’t trust them. Plan is to run the car on low boost until I can get them professionally cleaned or replaced. The car is ready for a dyno run, but another car had some issues and pushed back the schedule. Totally fine. I’m right at the tail end of this thing, and at this point I’ve got the patience to ride it out a few more days. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dYzZyz6q1es Snapped some pictures in-between the chaos — I think they tell the story better than I can.

07-14-2025, 11:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
gbrettin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 2,304 Drives: Tricycle Rep Power: 589452	Updates in video format: Car up and running at the shop https://youtube.com/shorts/dYzZyz6q1es?feature=share Low power dyno action: https://youtube.com/shorts/SYePP0HarQc?feature=share ECU and Mystery brake fluid leak. https://youtube.com/shorts/NAhrJH2vYas?feature=share So… the car is running — but it’s definitely carrying a little baggage. Not mad about it at all. Wish I had dyno numbers to share, but the dyno itself started acting up. It was reading fine until around 400whp, then things went bonkers. Based on how the car felt, I’d say it made around 600whp on 10psi at 7,500rpm — conservatively. After getting it home, I took it out to fill up with E85. That’s when I noticed the car completely shuts down under power, almost like the ECU dies. Light throttle is fine and I didn’t feel unsafe, but definitely not right. On that same drive, the digital display stopped working entirely (got a short video of that too). I think the shop has a spare MS3 ECU I can try. Long-term, I’d like to move to FuelTech or Haltech and rewire the car entirely. (not the parts that have already been wired) One more thing — I still need to cap the trunk where the Winters Quick Change peeks through. I can deal with noise, vibrations, and rattles… but the sound of straight-cut gears is next level. Think 100 banshees screaming in your ear. It’s that loud. I ended up wearing noise-canceling headphones just to go get gas, and honestly, that made it tolerable. Last photo is from when I stopped for a Mexican salad. Within 10 minutes, three different people came over to check out the car. Kinda wild.

05-14-2026, 05:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
EZT Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Gainesville Posts: 560 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 317	We are so back!

06-24-2026, 10:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
gbrettin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 2,304 Drives: Tricycle Rep Power: 589452	Alrighty, been about 1mo but my car has flowed into prime time with Diehl Brother's Racing and is getting the rough areas ironed out. 1. Safety first. Nut and Bolt check. 2. Hardline A2W and Power Steering for abrasion/heat resistance. 3. Cap the hole in the trunk. (based off template provided) 4. Hard mount turbos to chassis and mirror perfectly. 5. Electrical (not started) 6. Mount remote power steering reservoir. 7. Mount Nismo front bumper and hood. Brief list, but you get the idea. Trying not to write a book here. Basically having the shop taking care of loose ends because Jeff (guy in picture) can do the work better and faster than me. Ideally I get to enjoy my car in a month or two.