AMS Alpha 9 : A review
#1
01-09-2014 | 06:28 PM
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AMS Alpha 9 : A review
AMS Alpha 9: A review
It has been about 9,500 miles / 12 months since having AMS install their Alpha 9 Turbo kit on my 08 Turbo and I wanted to give forum members my (car enthusiast) review of the kit. In short, I can say that I am incredibly pleased with the Alpha 9 kit and the service provided by AMS! The core of their kit are custom Tial Alpha 28 turbos and their AMS intercoolers. Boost is controlled by a Greddy Profec-B mounted in the rear center console.
In 'close-to' stock form I was already impressed with the 997.1 turbo. It only had Milltek exhaust and tune and made a nice amount of power. I've had a few modified higher horsepower cars in the past and approximately 6 months after purchasing my car I started to get the itch for more power/torque. My goals for the car were power/torque to about 6xx whp/wtq while still maintaining OEM drivability and sensibilities (minimal change in turbo lag, no crazy loud exhaust, no ECU hiccups, etc.). The car’s primary use is street driving, but I am scheduled for my few DE events this year with the car.
This car was one of the first to have their Alpha 9 kit installed. As I understand, it was also used as the car to document the installation of the Alpha 9 kit for their dealers. In addition to the install of Alpha 9 kit, I also had the Sachs 2.5 clutch installed, GT2 Slave conversion, and welded coolant fittings done by AMS.
Timeline: Total -16 weeks – If I remember correctly, it was supposed to be a 4 week turnaround for the car. However, there were a few issues along the way, not all were issues from AMS. This wasn’t the first time I’ve had a delays with modded cars, so I wasn’t surprised, even if it was mostly for bolt-ons. I will let AMS chime in on this as now I’m sure they have a smoother timeline for doing the install.
Intercooler delay – 3 weeks - AMS was not happy with the initial castings for the end tanks for their intercoolers. The arrived the same time my car was received by them. They contacted me immediately to notify me that there would be a delay to recast the endtanks.
Exhaust issues – 7 weeks – There were multiple complications (my fault- in many ways) with what exhaust I initially wanted on the car and what eventually wound up going on the car. For the sake of brevity, let me say that I should’ve just listened to AMS from the beginning and gone with their suggested exhaust for the kit (AWE).
Dyno broke - 2 weeks– their dyno broke down and stalled the tuning of the car for a few weeks.
Results - This car essentially has 200+ more whp/wtq on tap everywhere along the rpm range when in boost. Power band is very favorable, and moves to the right every so slightly (see pre/post dyno sheets). The torque curve on this car is incredible. There is a LOT of power under the curve, it is not a peaky high power setup. It is a blast to drive!!! The Sachs clutch/Slave conversion requires significantly more pedal pressure, but produces a more repeatable pedal position to engage the clutch and modulate engagment. The exhaust note is ehh.... It helps the Alpha 9 kit make the good power and obviously flows well. Better and more aggressive sounding than my old Milltek, but I’d still like something with a deeper tone.
PRE Alpha 9 Dyno (Dynojet) 93 Octane (461 whp/485 wtq) – previously tuned w/ Miltek exhaust.
The car was tuned for both 93 octane ( 687whp / 661 wtq) ) and Shell URT Advanced (763 whp / 695 wtq). AMS did say that they did want to see the car back at some point to follow up. A few months after I received my car back, AMS notified me they had made some adjustments to the intial tune (with EPL) and were also tuning with MS 109 instead of URT Advanced due to race gas availability. Because of my distance I did not initially feel the need to send the car back, as I was pretty happy with the car and the power it was making.
About 4 months ago, I had an issue with my clutch (slave conversion issues) that I was going to have serviced by my local performance shop with some suspension work, I notified AMS and they asked to see the car back. We worked out a fair agreement to ship the car and they performed the clutch service and upgraded the tune at no charge. The car came back with slight bump in power and felt even smoother in power delivery.
Alpha 9 - 93 Octane 1st tune (They dialed back the tune to 687 whp)
Alpha 9 - URT Advanced
I was hoping to get a 60-130 time, but no P-Box was under the tree this Christmas. ☹
AMS has documented a 60-130 on 93 octane in my car here. This was before the car went back to refine the tune. I know that many will want to see 60-130 on full kill, so I will try my best to see this happens on race gas in due time.
Alpha 9 - 93 Octane (693 whp) - 2nd tune
Alpha 9 - MS109
AMS Service – I wrote this review really to just let other forum members know about the Alpha 9 and the excellent customer service I received from AMS.
I must compliment AMS on the high level of customer service and attention to detail regarding the work they’ve performed. Anybody on this forum is a car enthusiast to some degree. So most can appreciate that it took a lot for me to trust AMS to perform the work on my car 1000+ miles away. I appreciated the constant communication from my AMS Rep (Larry H.), I was literally updated weekly – car’s arrival, pre dyno, engine out, install pics, post dyno, delivery, etc. Even after the delivery I would periodically still get email followups from AMS regarding the car. Thanks again AMS for making a great product. I will be enjoying this car for many many boosted miles!
It has been about 9,500 miles / 12 months since having AMS install their Alpha 9 Turbo kit on my 08 Turbo and I wanted to give forum members my (car enthusiast) review of the kit. In short, I can say that I am incredibly pleased with the Alpha 9 kit and the service provided by AMS! The core of their kit are custom Tial Alpha 28 turbos and their AMS intercoolers. Boost is controlled by a Greddy Profec-B mounted in the rear center console.
In 'close-to' stock form I was already impressed with the 997.1 turbo. It only had Milltek exhaust and tune and made a nice amount of power. I've had a few modified higher horsepower cars in the past and approximately 6 months after purchasing my car I started to get the itch for more power/torque. My goals for the car were power/torque to about 6xx whp/wtq while still maintaining OEM drivability and sensibilities (minimal change in turbo lag, no crazy loud exhaust, no ECU hiccups, etc.). The car’s primary use is street driving, but I am scheduled for my few DE events this year with the car.
This car was one of the first to have their Alpha 9 kit installed. As I understand, it was also used as the car to document the installation of the Alpha 9 kit for their dealers. In addition to the install of Alpha 9 kit, I also had the Sachs 2.5 clutch installed, GT2 Slave conversion, and welded coolant fittings done by AMS.
Timeline: Total -16 weeks – If I remember correctly, it was supposed to be a 4 week turnaround for the car. However, there were a few issues along the way, not all were issues from AMS. This wasn’t the first time I’ve had a delays with modded cars, so I wasn’t surprised, even if it was mostly for bolt-ons. I will let AMS chime in on this as now I’m sure they have a smoother timeline for doing the install.
Intercooler delay – 3 weeks - AMS was not happy with the initial castings for the end tanks for their intercoolers. The arrived the same time my car was received by them. They contacted me immediately to notify me that there would be a delay to recast the endtanks.
Exhaust issues – 7 weeks – There were multiple complications (my fault- in many ways) with what exhaust I initially wanted on the car and what eventually wound up going on the car. For the sake of brevity, let me say that I should’ve just listened to AMS from the beginning and gone with their suggested exhaust for the kit (AWE).
Dyno broke - 2 weeks– their dyno broke down and stalled the tuning of the car for a few weeks.
Results - This car essentially has 200+ more whp/wtq on tap everywhere along the rpm range when in boost. Power band is very favorable, and moves to the right every so slightly (see pre/post dyno sheets). The torque curve on this car is incredible. There is a LOT of power under the curve, it is not a peaky high power setup. It is a blast to drive!!! The Sachs clutch/Slave conversion requires significantly more pedal pressure, but produces a more repeatable pedal position to engage the clutch and modulate engagment. The exhaust note is ehh.... It helps the Alpha 9 kit make the good power and obviously flows well. Better and more aggressive sounding than my old Milltek, but I’d still like something with a deeper tone.
PRE Alpha 9 Dyno (Dynojet) 93 Octane (461 whp/485 wtq) – previously tuned w/ Miltek exhaust.
The car was tuned for both 93 octane ( 687whp / 661 wtq) ) and Shell URT Advanced (763 whp / 695 wtq). AMS did say that they did want to see the car back at some point to follow up. A few months after I received my car back, AMS notified me they had made some adjustments to the intial tune (with EPL) and were also tuning with MS 109 instead of URT Advanced due to race gas availability. Because of my distance I did not initially feel the need to send the car back, as I was pretty happy with the car and the power it was making.
About 4 months ago, I had an issue with my clutch (slave conversion issues) that I was going to have serviced by my local performance shop with some suspension work, I notified AMS and they asked to see the car back. We worked out a fair agreement to ship the car and they performed the clutch service and upgraded the tune at no charge. The car came back with slight bump in power and felt even smoother in power delivery.
Alpha 9 - 93 Octane 1st tune (They dialed back the tune to 687 whp)
Alpha 9 - URT Advanced
I was hoping to get a 60-130 time, but no P-Box was under the tree this Christmas. ☹
AMS has documented a 60-130 on 93 octane in my car here. This was before the car went back to refine the tune. I know that many will want to see 60-130 on full kill, so I will try my best to see this happens on race gas in due time.
Alpha 9 - 93 Octane (693 whp) - 2nd tune
Alpha 9 - MS109
AMS Service – I wrote this review really to just let other forum members know about the Alpha 9 and the excellent customer service I received from AMS.
I must compliment AMS on the high level of customer service and attention to detail regarding the work they’ve performed. Anybody on this forum is a car enthusiast to some degree. So most can appreciate that it took a lot for me to trust AMS to perform the work on my car 1000+ miles away. I appreciated the constant communication from my AMS Rep (Larry H.), I was literally updated weekly – car’s arrival, pre dyno, engine out, install pics, post dyno, delivery, etc. Even after the delivery I would periodically still get email followups from AMS regarding the car. Thanks again AMS for making a great product. I will be enjoying this car for many many boosted miles!
Last edited by amw; 01-17-2014 at 04:41 AM.
#7
01-10-2014 | 08:34 AM
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 512
From: West Chicago, IL
Rep Power: 0
Alan
We all want to say thanks for your patience throughout the build and working with us thru the unforeseen setbacks. The intercoolers, dyno issues and exhaust issues surely tossed us off course for completing the car anywhere near our expected date. There isn't anything we dislike more than not delivering on time, but there are just times likes these we just can't win.
I really enjoyed working with you thru the course of the build and staying in touch after. I love that you drive and enjoy this car while keeping it so mint.
This is still my favorite Turbo as I've told you a few times :-)
I look forward to hearing from you after your upcoming events.
Kind Regards
Larry
We all want to say thanks for your patience throughout the build and working with us thru the unforeseen setbacks. The intercoolers, dyno issues and exhaust issues surely tossed us off course for completing the car anywhere near our expected date. There isn't anything we dislike more than not delivering on time, but there are just times likes these we just can't win.
I really enjoyed working with you thru the course of the build and staying in touch after. I love that you drive and enjoy this car while keeping it so mint.
This is still my favorite Turbo as I've told you a few times :-)
I look forward to hearing from you after your upcoming events.
Kind Regards
Larry
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#8
01-10-2014 | 08:37 AM
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 512
From: West Chicago, IL
Rep Power: 0
The motor on Alan's car is untouched other than the Torque Solutions coolant pipe kit.
Regards
Larry
#10
01-10-2014 | 10:56 AM
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,677
From: London (UK)
Rep Power: 154
Car looks awesome, love the wheels congrats!!
From what I can see from the way the revs pic up the A28's are laggier than the hybrid VTG's but once in the high rpm zone they pull harder!!!
Peak boost at 4500rpm?
Sounds evil.
From what I can see from the way the revs pic up the A28's are laggier than the hybrid VTG's but once in the high rpm zone they pull harder!!!
Peak boost at 4500rpm?
Sounds evil.
Last edited by GTRNICK; 01-10-2014 at 10:59 AM.
#11
01-10-2014 | 11:25 AM
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,866
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 171
Nice write up Alan! Glad your happy with the car. I know how you feel with the build taking a long time. I was quoted 4-6 weeks and took 17 lol. That's good that AMS stayed in contact with you so often though. It makes things a lot easier when the communication is good. Sounds like they have very good customer service and that is hard to find! Enjoy the car and drive safe.
#14
01-12-2014 | 07:47 AM
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Thanks for the comments guys. I did consider other options before I chose AMS. I considered quite a few things:
There are quite a few companies that offer excellent packages making similar power. I did make contact with companies close and far to me. I'm sure companies such as Switzer, Protomotive, and Champion (just to name a few) also provide excellent service/products as seen on this forum. It ultimately came down to customer service and value I felt I would be receiving. I'm happy I chose AMS.
- desired power goals
- simplicity of their kit
- the time spent custom tuning my car (dyno/street)
- ease of converting back to stock/retention of stock parts
- upgradable turbos
- value/cost
- reputation of company / service
There are quite a few companies that offer excellent packages making similar power. I did make contact with companies close and far to me. I'm sure companies such as Switzer, Protomotive, and Champion (just to name a few) also provide excellent service/products as seen on this forum. It ultimately came down to customer service and value I felt I would be receiving. I'm happy I chose AMS.
Last edited by amw; 01-17-2014 at 04:34 AM.
