Why don't more people install their own TT?
 

I was kicking around the idea of installing my own APS TT kit vs. having it installed professionally, and wondered if the reason people have a shop do it is because it's too difficult, or that they don't have the time, or just plain don't want to deal with the hassle. I've read the instructions and diagrams on the APS site at least three times now, and it would seem to me that as long as you can follow the VERY detailed instructions on the their site, and you have the proper tools, anyone with a moderate understanding of mechanics could put one on themselves. If I'm wrong on this please let me know, otherwise I'd really like the challenge of installing the kit myself rather than dropping it off somewhere for a week and paying for all of that labor.

ya i think i would try that sounds like fun and saves money but the only thing thats stoping me is that thought in the back of my head...what if i mess up. i dont know i guess i just dont trust my self to do mods that can kill the car if done rong.

if you feel you have enough automotive mechanical, tuning, and electonic systems knowledge to diagnose a problem with a 350z after a complex install such as an APS kit... then by all means go for it.

but if you fired up the car and something wasnt right and you dont have the means to figure out what it is... then your potentially putting yourself in a world of hurt.

in complex installs such as this, there are also many things to do that are not covered in install manuals. This is not a problem with the instructions not being complete enough... but the creator of the kit and instructions is going to assume that the person installing the kit is qualified to do so and knows what to look out for and correct during install. some things just go without saying, that is unless you have no idea what things go without saying.

if you have experience building highly custom cars, then its not too big of a deal. if you dont, its could be very easy to get in over your own head.

think of it this way... you pay people every single day to do things for you that do not really look very difficult to do if you watch... but thats only because they make it look easy with all their experience. many things are much easier said then done, and converting a 350z to a turbo car is one of them.

if you have the factory service manual for your car... read thru it.. you will find that it sure makes it look easy to do your timing chain, or swap camshafts, or even rebuild the entire engine. they give you step by step instructions to follow for every single procedure in your car. they make these for the service technitions at your dealership... all the things that you would take your car into the dealer for... well.. all those things are much easier to do then install a turbo kit on a 350z properly and not only install it properly but diagnose and resolve any running conditions and also ensure that the vehicle is safe to be driven hard.

those of us who do it every day... well none of this stuff is really hard to do at all... hassle? definatly... hard? no. sometimes its hard for me to imagine how its hard for anyone because I am so used to being around it... but then in all the 1-5 calls I get every day asking for technical assitence with a 350z reassures me that nothing can compare to hands on experience and I certainly do not take for granted what I have learned how to do using it.

You could probably do it, I helped out with my install, but the main things I see that are an absolute are time, you can't be in a hurry because it will probably take 2-3 times as long as someone like phunk, proper tools, like air power tools, special or modified wrenches to get at hard bolts, and lift, because on jack stands installing the trbos will be next to impossible but has been done.

So basically if you do not want to get frustrated and take 2 weeks to do it or have access to the above then take it to someone to do it.

Ive been in both shoes. About 12 months ago, i installed the ATI SC and it is suppose to be a relatively straight forward operation. I only ran into 2 or 3 problems that i had to work out on my own because there was no mention in the instructions. I invested maybe 34 hours total in the garage, this includes a few trips to the autoparts store and hardware store. I both enjoyed working on the car and at times wished i had just sent her out to get done by a shop. But because i pay alot of attention to detail, i think the finished product was just as good or even better then what most shops could of done. With having a professional shop work on your car, your paying for their years of expeirence along with the hours they worked on your car. In the end, there are still pros and cons to either choices, so make them wisely. :icon16:

These are all great points; thanks for the replies. I'll definitely give this alot more thought before to committing to anything. If I do decide to try it myself though, I'll take lots of pics for you guys!

What special tools would I need? The kit supposedly comes with a modified wrench for installing the turbos, is there something else I'm missing?

I am not familiar with the APS one so my comments are from experience with the Greddy, but I do know the APShas some of the areas where the greddy was difficult to get wrenches into addressed by machining the parts.

Other than that just the general stuff like extensions all possible wrenches and sockets and extensions, and power tools just make it easier and faster, and again the lift is the biggest helper and patience getting the turbos in place.

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago. I just started to install my greddy tt kit. I think anyone with a decent knowledge can complete this kit. Just have all tools needed available, have alot of patience, and it doesnt hurt to have a few buddies with extensive mechanical backrounds that you can call when stuck of something. As far as the wiring goes i have been doing wiring on cars for about 7 years so it comes easy to me. Good luck if you decide to take this project on !!!

I do have access to my boss's lift, and I'm not too worried about the wiring since I work with electronics and wiring for a living. I also have tons of tools I've collected through the years and if I'm missing something I'll just go buy it.

Once (if) I get it installed properly, I'll have the guys at SGP check it over before they tune it. That is if it makes it down to Houston in one piece haha.

I'm really excited about this. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's going to be a piece of cake by any means; I'm sure I'll invent a few new curse words in the process, but IF I can get through it, it'll just mean that much more to me. Ya know?

I guess I'll go buy a service manual and study it for the next 3 or 4 months till I can afford a kit!

AT least you are realistic, hopefully your boss will let you leave the car on the lift for a week or more :)

There is no tunning with the APS it comes with the unichip preset and very few unichip tuners around, so it is just plug and play other than a dyno run to see your numbers.

Don't forget you may have to fabricate parts.....make sure you have access to that as well. I'd just let a pro shop do it for all the reasons you mentioned. It would be fun and a challenge but I'd rather not risk screwing up my car when someone like phunk can do it well. These guys know what goes and if i were to miss something or wasn't sure if something was to go a certain way, I'd feel uneasy about the whole process and I'd be afriad to push my car. I dont want to spend 6 grand on a kit and feel like I cant push it or have fun with it. Definitely something to think about...