Worth it, to go F.I.???

Kirkster

I just finished my GTM SC install. Did it myself with a bit of help from my friends. If you can turn a wrench and follow directions you can bolt in the SC.

The tune that Sam sends you out of the box is pretty spot on so you can be comfortable that your car will not go boom till you get it to the shop of your choice. I took mine to ZdayZ (1800 miles all told with my 300 miles of shakedown) after Sam and a very experienced F.I. Friend looked at the logging info to ensure that the a car was running right. When I get home I am taking it in to do some dyno runs and get my aftermarket a/f welded in.

All told my kit was 7k with PLX a/f and boost gauges and an oil cooler and thermostatic kit for when it gets cold around here.

I think the power levels that I have are perfect. Not so much power that you are roasting tires, but more than enough for fun. I am not sure about the additional maintenance yet but aside from oil changes and a belt replacement I am not seeing much. Hopefully it will just run, much like my Ford Lightning.

Am I happy with it? Yes I am. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

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Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011
Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara
For eastwest:

FromG2Z

So Kirkster... I was interested in the GTM SC also. Pure bolt on? So does the kit come with an ECU reflash, and therefore, no need for me to take it to a shop for tuning (since I live so far away from one)? If I have to I have to... but just wondering if the kit comes with the full flash/tune.

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2012 5.0 GT Prem, Kona Blue, 6MT, HID, Brembo, 3.73 -- Ordered: 9/20/11, Born on: 10/20/11, Delivered 11/15/11"Marilyn" GT500 mufflers/flaps, MGW shifter, FRPP K springs, BMR panhard bar, Boss coil covers, 3DC spoiler, Llumar Tint (35% and 20%), 3M ClearBra

Kirkster

Yes it does come with uprev and a base tune that Sam provides. Pretty solid tune. But you will want to run it on a dyno to be sure where it is at eventually. The kits have come a long way from the 350 days where the car might not even run out of the box. No need to run right out and get a tune.

Yes it is a pure bolt on...

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Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011
Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara
For eastwest:

FromG2Z

Wow.... thanks for the info Kirkster. So around 7k or so, plus a little bit of wrench time (how long total for the install?), and I've got myself a reliable 460whp monster? Someone you recommend at GTM to speak to?

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2012 5.0 GT Prem, Kona Blue, 6MT, HID, Brembo, 3.73 -- Ordered: 9/20/11, Born on: 10/20/11, Delivered 11/15/11"Marilyn" GT500 mufflers/flaps, MGW shifter, FRPP K springs, BMR panhard bar, Boss coil covers, 3DC spoiler, Llumar Tint (35% and 20%), 3M ClearBra

Kirkster

My total wrench time was around 25~30 hours, which seems to be the typical run time for us do it yourselfers...

I would say that the 400 ~ 420whp is a realistic number for the GTM kit. That is also going to keep things conservative and hopefully in the long run keep the car going without too many problem.

Call GTM up and talk to Sam. He has been very helpful with me and I told him what I wanted to do with the car and he suggested the Oil cooler (which I was already going to do as my car ran hot in NA form), I chose the PLX stuff and the thermostatic kit on my own which is really what drove the price to the 7K mark.

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Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011
Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara
For eastwest:

98intrigue

The price of FI can vary greatly. Supercharger kits are less than turbo kits for the 370. Installation, if you don't plan on doing it yourself, will run $1k-2k. Then do you want accessories? Oil cooler? Gauges to meter oil, water, air/fuel, boost, etc? Aftermarket clutch/flywheel? Wider wheels/tires? Oh man...I can list more if you need me to, haha.

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Dembflyr

So far I am very happy with my TT kit.
I have the Stage I from GTM with external waste gates and the 34 row oil cooler.

I did the install myself and have been running the car with the canned tune from Sam. It isn't my daily driver but if I lived in a warmer climate, I wouldn't be concerned about using it that way.
I still need to upgrade the clutch but right now I have about $9k invested.

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2012 G37S Sedan 6MT - Project Practicality

2009-6MT-Sport/Touring-Dembflyr's Journal-TT Build Thread-CAR IS SOLD

Red__Zed

I think with the other car options on the market it is harder to justify FI. For ~$7000, you can swap your Z for a Mustang, and basically get the results of FI on the Z, plus more headroom.

I've generally not been impressed with the results of FI on the Z as well. I know the SC works well for guys like Kirk who autocross a lot, and I've actually toyed with the idea of SC just because I've never owned a supercharged car. I still don't really think I can justify the inevitable issues that often come with forced induction, when I could pick up a warrantied vehicle that would perform on the same level.

Kirkster

Yea but the Rustang violates my no more than 2 seats in a car policy. Been running strong on that policy since 1986 and am not violating it now..

If I was going to give up the Z for something else it would be an 08 Z06...

__________________
Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011
Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara
For eastwest:

Red__Zed

Can't argue with that


I love the "drives:" you have up.
How's it feel to have the second best "stock" Z at zdayz?

Kirkster

ZdayZ was bunches of fun... Can't believe that I was fist loozzzer in the Stock class... My car is all stock all day baby!!!

I was not the only one who thought that was pretty funny.

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Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011
Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara
For eastwest:

dwntwnall4u

If you have the money then it's definitely worth it. If you want it get it. Simple.

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Working my *ss off for a GTM Rotrex SC to go with my 2006 URD Rotrex SC 4x4 Tacoma.

98intrigue

I was laughing when they called your name during the "stock class".

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mikeSS

i didn't read this whole thread, but i am just going to say what i think from first post. if you have a second car to drive, and want to spend a lot of money then do it. but i must say the engine is not going to last long. with high boost. but if you put a lot of money into a car and go balls deep, i am sure it can last longer.
i know a guy with a 700WHP 350z. its a 2004, and he still has the car to this day. only has about 35k miles on it. spent 80k total on the car. the car is completely custom built , even engine. his runs VERY strong under high boost.

honestly i wont go FI , unless you wanna drop a lot of money.

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11 GT 432WHP. 10 SS 460WHP

98intrigue

Lets not spread any false information... this thread may be worthwhile to people on the fence about going FI.

The VQ37VHR is still relatively a new engine. It has not been pushed to its limits long enough to find its breaking point/weak points. No one knows that 500whp at 50k miles will require a rebuilt engine. That's the risk all of the FI guys are taking because no one knows...

I've only heard of 1 blown engine and that was with a Stillen SC, which means low power. Does that mean our motors are not safe at 450whp? No. The owner installed headers and didn't retune. That's the end user's fault.

Right now, it's all a guessing game.

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