Looking to buy a 92SE, original owner, perfect interior/exterior. These owners installed UV protective tint and replaced it whenever it got ugly. On top of that they would put those sunshades across all the windows when they left the car in the sun. I took a look, and there is no sun damage anywhere, all leather interior. Usually we see cracking on the steering wheel, but its perfectly smooth.

Engine has 177k miles or so on it =\

So I was going to find someone to rebuild me an engine with long-lasting performance parts, and slap the sucker in there, change all the fluids, new wheels and tires and maybe a body kit later.

I dont drive a stick though, I know I can learn, but I like the handsfree freedom from my old Auto. So can you install one of those airshifter units on a 5spd?

And I saw that nice sticky on the 3.4L VG (was it VG?) and am interested in finding a quality rebuilder that might explore that option for me. 3.2L would even be nice. Slight mod in the engine bay is what? Relocating engine mounts? Or relocating other things as well? I will pay 5-6k for a nice 92 Max that has what im looking for already. But I'll pay for your lunch and plane ticket back home instead of the freight =)

Oh yea, Do the guys who swap engines, or install new ones, take the old engine and apply it as a trade-in value? Give me a credit on it? I mean, its still a running engine right? parts all work. I would imagine someone would refurbish and clean it up to be sold as a used engine elsewhere. That would be a help in other upgrades to the car if I could get a small credit on it.

 

In order to swap in a VG like that, I think you would have to do more than minor engine bay work. Because the 92 SE doesn't even have the VG engine, it has the VE which mounts up differently.

edit - And most people here would die for a 5 speed VE. Be happy that it's manual. The auto trannies in these cars SUCK! (well, at least the GXE auto tranny)

 

My GXE auto would kill most cars. It can shift faster than a manual, you just have to work the accelerator so that it shifts itself early. Playing with the ratios a little helps as well. It also needed another 40-60 HP behind it.

Anyways! So alot of work in the bay. Forget it then. Anyone know a shop that does performance rebuilds on nissan engines? Someone who has done work for a Max owner before?

 

Wow, that's almost sig material. Are you saying that your auto is faster than a 5 speed?

 

I was thinking the same thing... and it's a VG no less.

 

He said it SHIFTS faster than a manual...which it probably does if Im not the one shifting the manual.

Yes Im still around the 3rd gen section...so what.
But I have the guy for you if you were local.

 

Your whole post doesn't really make much sense.

Basically, you want to buy a car, but without the engine and without the manual tranny?

Why don't you just have a new leather interior installed in your car and add nitrous?

If you would learn to drive a stick shift, I will sell you my car for less than $5k. I will guarantee you that you can't shift your AT faster than I can with a Fidanza and ACT. Your car probably runs in the 16s in the quarter mile, while mine runs in the 14s.

I have a JDM engine put in mine, but it does need the VTCs rebuilt. My leather is also in very good shape, since the car has been garaged for a lot of it's life. It would be much cheaper to buy mine and rebuild the VTCs. Everything else was taken care of when the swap was done.

 

hmmm I found that quite disturbing, putting a VG Auto in what used to be a perfect VE-5. no offense to Timber though.

 

the AT WILL shift faster than you can, however the M/Ts main advantage is the person can more precisely choose when to shift and the power losses are lower on a M/T than an A/T

 

I think those milliseconds of difference are more than made up for by the manual's extra gear and associated ratios. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

 

Still tryin to sell them autos again i see..


VE 5 speeds will own any ve auto out there...

 

*** Highly modded and lightened Aaron excluded. Mod for mod, it's not much of a contest.

You might think that an AT shifts faster than a manual, but without some kind of shift kit, an AT doesn't fully engage the gears quickly (torque converter), almost like a slipping clutch. When you add a grippier clutch (like an ACT or Exedy Stage 1) it grabs between gears almost immediately.

I have beaten an auto tranny AE (2001) Maxima at the track and pretty much any other AT that doesn't have tons more hp. I know that ATs can be built to outperform a manual (like Aaron's), but generally speaking, I much prefer a MT in a race, as long as you know how to drive.

 

^^^^^^^^

You forgot the

 

Yes, he did, but in context I think the inference is apparent.

 

Finally someone with a lick of sense. hehe. Autos can shift pretty fast. BUT John Force himself couldn't make up the WIIIDDEE gear ratios that the 3-gen autos features with only THREE forward none OD gears.

The VG/Ve 5-sps have 4 none OD gears. And spaced much better.

 

I drive teh wifey's vg auto from time to time,and the time between shifts is like waiting for cliff clavin to deliver a check...

 

Didn't you know?

We keep the checks

 

Hey, can you help me out or ask anyone else? I can't start a thread yet. I am wondering what contributes to the sluggish acceleration in 3rd gen. Maximas. I just bought the car and it was cheap. I needed a car since my old Civic died.

I really like the car and would buy one in better condition, perhaps, down the road. But, I am hoping the problem with the current car isn't expensive to fix.

The car shakes and vibrates a lot when idling or moving slowly. It revs too much, I'd say, and then goes back down when accelerating from a low speed. It's really sluggish and I'm wondering if a mechanic can determine the problem easily or whether a bunch of tests need to be conducted. It's an auto. :-/

 

what year / model is it?

 

I'm pretty sure it's a '92 GXE. The gauges are black (not white), the mirrors match the colour of the body and there's no spoiler.

Update: I went to a Nissan dealership just to get some input of what might be the problem(s). A service guy told me it might be the MAF sensor but they would have to do a diagnostic to get a better idea. It would cost $90 and each hour afterwards is 90 bucks. I have a mechanic who charges a cheaper rate but I don't want to spend too much to fix this car so I hope it's not the tranny. But, I like Maximas. Perhaps, I should have waited and got one in better condition. But, the car I got is acceptable if the two main problems can be fixed fairly cheaply.

 

I'd inspect the plugs to check for even discoloration.
then ohm out the wires and injectors.
also check your cap/rotor for wear

 

Exactly. The ratios suck in my automatic. The final drive really sucks, that's why I need smaller tires at the track to help it out drastically. And STILL the 3rd gear ratio sucks.

I plan on keeping all my individual gear ratios the same, just changing the final drive when I need to get the tranny rebuilt.

Yes, the automatic with a normal shift kit will shift faster than any manual, but that doesn't make up the fact that autos are at a huge handicap for power at the wheels and sucky gearing. And does it shift so much faster than a 5spd that you will noticably see a difference on a side by side race? NO!

But, when you start pushing some serious HP, the automatic should be easier to drive down the 1/4 mile than a 5spd pushing the same HP. It's more consistant on the launch which should provide better traction. But, unless you are in the 10s or the 11s, the 5spd will rule supreme (with a decent driver) in the 1/4 mile. And I shouldn't have to mention that bracket racing a 5spd is not easy.

Now, for EVERYTHING else... power at the wheels, gearing, street driving, road course, autocross, rally, and just all around fun factor, the manual is on top.

Don't we have this type of thread weekly?