I got a VE5spd! I got a VE5spd!
03-13-2005, 09:55 PM
#1
I got a VE5spd! I got a VE5spd!
After who knows how long I've been looking, and several deals that had fallen through (Brian! 
) today I finally have a beautiful 93 VE5spd sitting in the drive..It's dark now and I've been busy all night with work and other stuff, but pics will be up tomorrow ASAP!
Got up at 7:30 this morning and my mom and I took her minivan (Olds Silhouette) to Freeport, IL, where I met a fellow .org member (The Sleeper) at the Wendy's, I looked it over (although I already knew I was gonna buy it when he pulled up) and rode around with him then we went to Menards where he had to buy a screwdriver to remove the plates
and then I drove it home, and it was the most non-boring 3 hours ever, I usually hate road trips, especially alone, but I was just fine..
126K, new clutch, new tranny, Warpspeed Y-Pipe, CAI, ebay fstb, 35% tint on the side windows, body colored mirrors and a nice Blaupunkt MP3 player are the only mods I've come across so far, and it seems to have been very well maintained, I've yet to hear the VTCs tick!
It's the dark blue color, I think it's "midnight blue pearl" if I read paintscratch.com right, and it's a very pretty color, and looks nice with the tinted windows, all the people I've shown my new car to have complemented the color. Black cloth interior, airbag, non-power seats, and it's all about it mint condition, one burn hole in the headliner above the backseats and some minor scars in the driver's side a-pillar, but very minor. Sunroof works great, windows are very fast to move up and down, even the back ones, which were extremely slow on my GXE..overall I think I might a very good purchase and was lucky to find such an awesome car with an awesome owner at an awesome price (in total I paid $2300).
It has some issues:
-First, it has an 'exhaust leak.' Gavin, the guy who I bought it from thinks it's the gasket on the rear manifold, and actually included with the car a new gasket, but I'm not sure if it's this or the exhaust manifold studs or what, the car is very loud and it sounds like when you put a baseball card in your bike spokes, very loud clacking, it also varies according to RPM/acceleration..
-It has some door lock problems, the passenger side door lock doesn't go up and down with the master switch, you can lock/unlock it manually, and from the door (even though the lock on both doors is very stubborn, have to wiggle/fight with it a lot), but I locked the master switch and shut the door and came back; my friend opened the passenger door (it was still unlocked) and the alarm went off, so it still thinks that it's getting locked or something, not sure..
-It doesn't have any fog lights! Not a big deal but I'm gonna get some soon!
-The 2 rear doors are hard to open, might just need some WD40
-The trunk doesn't pop like my GXE one did, I have to push the button in the door a couple of times, then open it up by grabbing the bottom of the center-sail piece on the trunk lid, not a big deal but I think there might just be an alignment problem with the lock/hinge setup
-The car was broken into and his previous sound system setup (headunit) was stolen and now the radio trim piece isn't quite flush, the cd player sticks out way too much, and if you turn the hazards on it's hard to get the switch to come back off (rubs against the radio trim)
-Has very little rust, and most of it is surface, I've been talking to Brian (1992maxman) and I'm gonna look into sanding it/applying naval(?) jelly/painting it with rustoleum to try and get rid of it..
As far as that, I find the problem's very small and am gonna go work on it tomorrow when I get up, considering it's going to be warmer tomorrow (hopefully). As far as upcoming mods/projects I've got some things lined up..
>e36 projectors..w/ completely custom/rewired corner light harness
>Heads-Up Display..have it all wired up but still have to purchase the Main Control Unit and the harness that comes along with that, but should be in fairly soon
>240sx Steering Wheel..Similar to RedMax92SE's steering wheel, but it just has 'NISSAN' engraved in the middle
>LED (front) turn signals..to go along with the all custom lighting up front
I'm gonna be having my own little "project of the week" threads, to show my mods, sorry Matt, not trying to bite your style or anything, I hope you all find them interesting, I'll get pics tomorrow before I do any work to it!
edit: just a temporary pic to hold you all over, I think Craig is right, it's the same color as crazy4maxima's VE, a very pretty color, I might start on the projectors today!
..dmad
) today I finally have a beautiful 93 VE5spd sitting in the drive..It's dark now and I've been busy all night with work and other stuff, but pics will be up tomorrow ASAP!Got up at 7:30 this morning and my mom and I took her minivan (Olds Silhouette) to Freeport, IL, where I met a fellow .org member (The Sleeper) at the Wendy's, I looked it over (although I already knew I was gonna buy it when he pulled up) and rode around with him then we went to Menards where he had to buy a screwdriver to remove the plates
and then I drove it home, and it was the most non-boring 3 hours ever, I usually hate road trips, especially alone, but I was just fine..126K, new clutch, new tranny, Warpspeed Y-Pipe, CAI, ebay fstb, 35% tint on the side windows, body colored mirrors and a nice Blaupunkt MP3 player are the only mods I've come across so far, and it seems to have been very well maintained, I've yet to hear the VTCs tick!
It's the dark blue color, I think it's "midnight blue pearl" if I read paintscratch.com right, and it's a very pretty color, and looks nice with the tinted windows, all the people I've shown my new car to have complemented the color. Black cloth interior, airbag, non-power seats, and it's all about it mint condition, one burn hole in the headliner above the backseats and some minor scars in the driver's side a-pillar, but very minor. Sunroof works great, windows are very fast to move up and down, even the back ones, which were extremely slow on my GXE..overall I think I might a very good purchase and was lucky to find such an awesome car with an awesome owner at an awesome price (in total I paid $2300).
It has some issues:
-First, it has an 'exhaust leak.' Gavin, the guy who I bought it from thinks it's the gasket on the rear manifold, and actually included with the car a new gasket, but I'm not sure if it's this or the exhaust manifold studs or what, the car is very loud and it sounds like when you put a baseball card in your bike spokes, very loud clacking, it also varies according to RPM/acceleration..
-It has some door lock problems, the passenger side door lock doesn't go up and down with the master switch, you can lock/unlock it manually, and from the door (even though the lock on both doors is very stubborn, have to wiggle/fight with it a lot), but I locked the master switch and shut the door and came back; my friend opened the passenger door (it was still unlocked) and the alarm went off, so it still thinks that it's getting locked or something, not sure..
-It doesn't have any fog lights! Not a big deal but I'm gonna get some soon!
-The 2 rear doors are hard to open, might just need some WD40
-The trunk doesn't pop like my GXE one did, I have to push the button in the door a couple of times, then open it up by grabbing the bottom of the center-sail piece on the trunk lid, not a big deal but I think there might just be an alignment problem with the lock/hinge setup
-The car was broken into and his previous sound system setup (headunit) was stolen and now the radio trim piece isn't quite flush, the cd player sticks out way too much, and if you turn the hazards on it's hard to get the switch to come back off (rubs against the radio trim)
-Has very little rust, and most of it is surface, I've been talking to Brian (1992maxman) and I'm gonna look into sanding it/applying naval(?) jelly/painting it with rustoleum to try and get rid of it..
As far as that, I find the problem's very small and am gonna go work on it tomorrow when I get up, considering it's going to be warmer tomorrow (hopefully). As far as upcoming mods/projects I've got some things lined up..
>e36 projectors..w/ completely custom/rewired corner light harness
>Heads-Up Display..have it all wired up but still have to purchase the Main Control Unit and the harness that comes along with that, but should be in fairly soon
>240sx Steering Wheel..Similar to RedMax92SE's steering wheel, but it just has 'NISSAN' engraved in the middle
>LED (front) turn signals..to go along with the all custom lighting up front
I'm gonna be having my own little "project of the week" threads, to show my mods, sorry Matt, not trying to bite your style or anything, I hope you all find them interesting, I'll get pics tomorrow before I do any work to it!
edit: just a temporary pic to hold you all over, I think Craig is right, it's the same color as crazy4maxima's VE, a very pretty color, I might start on the projectors today!
..dmad
03-13-2005, 10:00 PM
#2
Get some pics up!
03-13-2005, 10:14 PM
#5
sweet, sounds pretty nice
I think the color is probably TK3 - Sapphire Blue. I have looked on paintscratch but dont think that midnight blue is actually a 3rd gen color (according to my brochures). I just had my prelude painted TK3 and I love that color (www.cardomain.com/id/craigbprelude for a few pics).
congrats and enjoy!!
I think the color is probably TK3 - Sapphire Blue. I have looked on paintscratch but dont think that midnight blue is actually a 3rd gen color (according to my brochures). I just had my prelude painted TK3 and I love that color (www.cardomain.com/id/craigbprelude for a few pics).
congrats and enjoy!!
03-14-2005, 07:41 AM
#11
congratulations. I have always liked that color.
You gonna keep it that color or paint it black like you have been planning for a while. I would keep it that color. Its one of the best 3rd gen colors and one of the more rare as well.
You gonna keep it that color or paint it black like you have been planning for a while. I would keep it that color. Its one of the best 3rd gen colors and one of the more rare as well.
03-14-2005, 07:47 AM
#12
Definately gonna leave it this color..I love it. And mike the guy left the stock corners with me and they're in prime condition, so I'll be sending them to you sometime soon so you can tint them for me, just have to get money..
Brad92SE took pics when he was installing his turbo of what needs to be cut away to fit the projectors, so I may start on that today, I still need to test all the wiring for the headlights and corner light, I think I'm gonna do that now..hopefully by the end of the day I might have one projector in, assuming a dremel will be able to cut away at the car and not break too many times..
Brian I already know how to drive a stick very much..and I realize the mirrors are body-colored, his old ones were hit off with a bat and he made sure to get some heated ones and had them painted the Sapphire Blue, very classy IMO.
Brad92SE took pics when he was installing his turbo of what needs to be cut away to fit the projectors, so I may start on that today, I still need to test all the wiring for the headlights and corner light, I think I'm gonna do that now..hopefully by the end of the day I might have one projector in, assuming a dremel will be able to cut away at the car and not break too many times..
Brian I already know how to drive a stick very much..and I realize the mirrors are body-colored, his old ones were hit off with a bat and he made sure to get some heated ones and had them painted the Sapphire Blue, very classy IMO.
03-14-2005, 09:37 AM
#15
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 54
exhaust leak
Congrats, esp. on your VTCs not ticking!! I had a similar problem w/ my Toyota 4Runner (exhaust leak) - I was able to determine the location (loose nut on manifold) by putting my shop vac on "Blow" and duct taping the hose to the exhaust of the car. Of course, make sure the car is NOT runnning when you do this.... you could also find someone that smokes and have them puff into the intake side of the shop vac, which would give you visual sign as well....
03-14-2005, 12:02 PM
#18
Thanks for the replies..but now I have a little problem:
When I drove it home yesterday the turn signals worked fine, then I drove it to work and noticed they weren't working (no bulbs, no arrows in the dash), so I figured it was the fuse but I checked it today and it was fine..the wierd thing is the hazards still work (bulbs and arrows in the dash) so I'm stuck on how to fix it, I'm hoping it's not my turn signal stalk..anyone?
When I drove it home yesterday the turn signals worked fine, then I drove it to work and noticed they weren't working (no bulbs, no arrows in the dash), so I figured it was the fuse but I checked it today and it was fine..the wierd thing is the hazards still work (bulbs and arrows in the dash) so I'm stuck on how to fix it, I'm hoping it's not my turn signal stalk..anyone?
03-14-2005, 01:25 PM
#20
Need some more help! Went to autozone and rented a steering wheel puller (looks like a bunch of long screws and stuff) and am trying to take off my steering wheel, but have no idea where to start? I don't know if I can take off the center section (airbag) or what, there was a little pawl on the left side of the steering wheel towards the back but it just had a funny looking screw/bolt in there, can anyone help me with taking off an airbag steering wheel? I'm trying to put my 240 one on..
03-14-2005, 02:06 PM
#22
Is the airbag already deployed? If not, be VERY careful when workign in there. I think the FSM says to unplug the battery and wait 15 minutes before touching anything.
There are a couple torx head screws that hold the air bag center piece in. That's the funny looking screws you found. The FSM also warns about messing with the spiral cable inside the wheel so look at the FSM about that part too.
I see you changed your profile to sapphire blue
There are a couple torx head screws that hold the air bag center piece in. That's the funny looking screws you found. The FSM also warns about messing with the spiral cable inside the wheel so look at the FSM about that part too.
I see you changed your profile to sapphire blue
03-14-2005, 06:50 PM
#26
It sounds like you are going to need new manifold studs. I am sure you are lucky enough to need the rear ones.
Like Craig said, be super, duper careful with the airbag. Follow the instructions on taking that part out.
MrGone might possibly be interested in your airbag steering wheel if it's in good shape.
Car looks pretty nice. You need to paint it Aztec Red, so people will confuse you with Matt...
Like Craig said, be super, duper careful with the airbag. Follow the instructions on taking that part out.
MrGone might possibly be interested in your airbag steering wheel if it's in good shape.
Car looks pretty nice. You need to paint it Aztec Red, so people will confuse you with Matt...
03-14-2005, 07:40 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 402
David-
The turn signal issue is the hazard button. If you bought a new one, it would work perfect.. the issue is that you need to move it in and out until the signals work. The passenger door lock i have fixed more than once. Take the door panel off, re-connect the rod that goes to the power unit and it will work for a while. What really needs to be done is finding a way to permanently attach that rod in the hole where it belongs. I'd say go gentle on the clutch, trans and they'll last til 250k.
The turn signal issue is the hazard button. If you bought a new one, it would work perfect.. the issue is that you need to move it in and out until the signals work. The passenger door lock i have fixed more than once. Take the door panel off, re-connect the rod that goes to the power unit and it will work for a while. What really needs to be done is finding a way to permanently attach that rod in the hole where it belongs. I'd say go gentle on the clutch, trans and they'll last til 250k.
03-15-2005, 11:28 AM
#29
Thanks for the replies everyone! You're welcome for the keypad write-up, I'm gonna link it into my sig so there won't be so many posts about it..
Got a little something for you guys, yesterday I started on my e36 projectors and have a pic for you guys, one is in, but it's not in the way I want it to be. It's not as flush as it should be and I'm having problems with the corner light installing (you'll see in the pic) but here you go..
Back to work I go
Got a little something for you guys, yesterday I started on my e36 projectors and have a pic for you guys, one is in, but it's not in the way I want it to be. It's not as flush as it should be and I'm having problems with the corner light installing (you'll see in the pic) but here you go..
Back to work I go
03-15-2005, 04:16 PM
#32
Originally Posted by MrGone
Trade you white for bloo?
Brad requested some closer pics, so here they are...I worked on it for about another hour and a half after I put that first pic up, and it's looking better..
If you were looking at the headlight from the front, the whole thing needs to go to the left a little more, to sit better with the grille. The bottom left needs to go backwards a little, and the top right (opposite corner) needs to come forwards a little, you'll see in the pics..
PS I'm. Never. Going. To. Let. This. Thread. Die.
03-15-2005, 04:19 PM
#33
And to make all my ex-fellow-GXEers drool..also notice the FSTB and CAI, and my you-could-say-complicated-but-that-would-be-an-understatement headlight/corner light harness..
edit: it got dark so I thought I'd show off my headlight and what the corner harness is all about..
parking lights (one turn of the switch):
lo-beam (2nd turn of the switch):
There are amber LED 194 bulbs in the headlight housing and the smaller part of the corner light, the lo-beam is an XD5 h1 bulb from ebay, what Chris (with the ugly red car with the blue stripes) has, and the 1157 bulb is a "Xenon Lightning White" but I also have some PIAAs I might throw in..
edit: it got dark so I thought I'd show off my headlight and what the corner harness is all about..
parking lights (one turn of the switch):
lo-beam (2nd turn of the switch):
There are amber LED 194 bulbs in the headlight housing and the smaller part of the corner light, the lo-beam is an XD5 h1 bulb from ebay, what Chris (with the ugly red car with the blue stripes) has, and the 1157 bulb is a "Xenon Lightning White" but I also have some PIAAs I might throw in..
03-15-2005, 05:51 PM
#35
buy a roll of electrical tape and spend 10 minutes taping up that harness
it will look 100x better
trust me
looks good though so far. One of the problems with the BMW lights and moving them like you mentioned to cover the gaps is that then the aim might be way off - seems like it'd they'd be cross-eyed if you moved them much further.
it will look 100x better
trust melooks good though so far. One of the problems with the BMW lights and moving them like you mentioned to cover the gaps is that then the aim might be way off - seems like it'd they'd be cross-eyed if you moved them much further.
03-15-2005, 06:40 PM
#37
Originally Posted by internetautomar
can you do the whole headlight cover swap deal on the euros?
03-15-2005, 08:14 PM
#39
Originally Posted by DMad8724
And to make all my ex-fellow-GXEers drool..also notice the FSTB and CAI, and my you-could-say-complicated-but-that-would-be-an-understatement headlight/corner light harness..
03-15-2005, 11:20 PM
#40
Originally Posted by KLoWnPR109
I dont think anyone is gonna be too jealous of a dirty dirty engine bay
When Caleb gets back from wherever he is this spring back I'm gonna see if he'll help me clean mine, although it's not that bad if you ask me, but he did his and it looked pretty nice..
Craig I know what you mean about the headlights, I'm just trying to get mine to sit more like Brad's, his setup covers the gaps a lot more and I know they can be aimed right from looking at his cardomain..
I plan on wrapping the harness with electrical tape but I still have to install my LED turn signals and the whole harness is connected to that too (amber part of the corner is going to blink with the turn signal) so I'm waiting to have it all hooked it up then I'm gonna try to clean it all up..
They don't have angel eyes but I think they look pretty cool already...I drove around the block with them tonight and they're facing way too far up, I could see birds sleeping in the trees it was so bad, so that's gonna get deal with tomorrow and if I have time I might try installing the turn signal (just the driver's side) and maybe paint the lens amber while I'm at it...I'll update you guys