It's my sisters. The auto started to jumping in and out of gears. This was about a weak ago. I've already done so much work on it and the motor seems to be going stong. That's why I agreed to give this car it's last chance.
It's almost complete. The tranny is in. I just installed the pedal assembly an hour ago. All I need is to install the clutch master and bleed it, fill tranny with oil and little stuff here and there. Test drive should be Friday hopefully. Later.

 

Cool, let us know how it goes. Definately gonna get more out of the VG now.

S

 

Yeah, and if you could, please docuemnt as much of the process as possible...this is a swap I'm seriously wanting to do on my wagon, if/when I can find a good used tranny, and the time to do it...

 

I actually was able to test drive it Thursday. Right away I ran into some problems. First, I couldn't turn it on with the key. Why, because the automatics have a selector position switch. The switch only allows you to turn on the car if it is in park or nuetural. And since may new tranny is manual it does not have that switch.
Second problem is the reverse lights. Third problem is the front brakes are dragging. I was able to bypass the ignition switch and turn on the car. That's when I found out that the front brakes were dragging.

 

if you have all of the hardware from the 5-speed car, you should have also gotten the clutch release safety switch, to require the clutch to be engaged to start the car...

The back up lights will just need to be connected to the tranny. Not sure how / where it's at...haven't had a chance to check it out yet...no trannys here for me to check out...

 

as for the brakes dragging,. I'd chacke the calipers...you may also be able to bleed the brakes, but I've only seen a MASSIVE amount of air cause that, and een then, they are STILL mushy...

Our calipers are notorious for going out...but i'f you're familar with it, rebuilding them is the cheapest way to go, no questions asked...

 

Keep in mind, not all maxima's got a clutch safety switch. 85-86 tranny's don't have that switch. So it would be a matter of finding the harness the neutral safety switch pluges into, and either shorting those 2 wires, or running wire to the clutch pedal and wire it to the cruise control switch. Either will work, but if you do the first, be sure to get in the habit of pushing your clutch pedal in before you start the car, or shifting to neutral. As for the reverse lights, first you need to identify on the wiring harness which wires go to the reverse lights. Then you just need to wire em to the harness where the wires from from a large black plug on the bottom of the tranny. If you have more questions on the conversion, lemme know. I helped on a few auto to 5-speed conversion on 4th gens. The process is relatively the same for any generation.

S

 

I have the switch. It is on the pedal assembly, but the plug is built into the cars electrical harness. And since the car is not originally manual there is not a plug for that switch.

 

When my nephew was removing the pedal assembly, he pressed down on the brake pedal. By that time I had already removed the drivers side axle and had the caliper removed. So the piston came out. I put the piston back into the caliper. But anyways I went to the junkyard and replaced that caliper and put in new pads. Then bled the brakes. Brake pedal was great, not mushy at all. While test driving it, I didn't feel any drag at first. But it gradually became very noticeable. So a returned home. I aready have a new master cylinder, but have yet to install it.

 

might still need to get the calipers rebuilt...the used replacement could have a bad o-ring on the piston, causing it to stick...of the caliper pins could be gunked up, and need a good cleaning and re-grease...

 

I already relubed the slide pins. It turned out to be the input shaft needed adjustment. I found out which wires I need to connect to turn on the car. Also the two wires that turn on the reverse light. But it seems as thought the switch on the new tranny is not working. But anyways, I was able to take it on a good test drive. It feels good. Picks up good. 1st gear doesn't have as much torque as the auto does, but it has enough to burn out good. The bad thing is that tranny is loud. It sounds like it needs some work.

 

I think all Maximas have the switch. Some have it on the pedal and some on the tranny. Mine is on the tranny. I had to replace the switch. The original didn't work. It's called a selector position switch. It has 4 wires. 2 are for the reverse lights and the other 2 are to allow the engine to start only in neutral.