3rd Gen VE Progress Pics and Timeline
#1
3rd Gen VE Progress Pics and Timeline
Hey, my name is Taylor, I'm 18,... I've been a part of the .org for as long as I could legally drive with my permit. I've had a hand me down 1994 Emerald Green GXE, a 1993 Pearl White SE, and a 1994 Gold SE-5 Parts car. Over the past year and 3 months in the time owning my 93' Pearl SE, I've started getting sick for these cars and almost all of my money has gone into modding it and making it mine... I've put countless man hours into this car trying to get it how I want it, whether it be detailing every little spot, installing new bolt on's, creating new little innovative electrical enhancements, routine maintenance, or just driving it... if anyone knows me... they know I love my Maxima(s). So I've decided to put together a little time line showing the progress my car has gone through, and hopefully give a heads up to some people with certain parts I am looking for.
Here is when I got the car in January 2007, this was after I cleaned it up and waxed... and swapped over my GXE rims, the sawblades on it looked horrific like they were sitting in a bucket of acid for the past 14 years. The car's pep was at a modicum, running 0-60 times in 11 seconds or so with absolutely no low end.
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/0.JPG)
I then installed a magnaflow muffler that I kept on for a while, and just kept finding small area's to detail hoping to better it's appearance and performance. I also wired and put on fog lights.
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/01.JPG)
After diffuser plates were removed:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/02.jpg)
Clear Corners:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/03.JPG)
After my 1157 Blinker conversion and amber stained glass paint job:
Here is when I got the car in January 2007, this was after I cleaned it up and waxed... and swapped over my GXE rims, the sawblades on it looked horrific like they were sitting in a bucket of acid for the past 14 years. The car's pep was at a modicum, running 0-60 times in 11 seconds or so with absolutely no low end.
I then installed a magnaflow muffler that I kept on for a while, and just kept finding small area's to detail hoping to better it's appearance and performance. I also wired and put on fog lights.
After diffuser plates were removed:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/02.jpg)
Clear Corners:
After my 1157 Blinker conversion and amber stained glass paint job:
#2
A few mods later, and I had my GXE's previous CAI modded to fit the SE, along with a strut bar, Warpspeed Y-pipe, and ASP underdrive pulley:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/05.JPG)
Soon there after I bought a set of BBS RX 16"x7" rims and Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position 225/50/16 tires to go with it. The center bore of the rims were too small, so after another $100 to a machine shop, and a few mounting and balancing fee's... the rims were on the car:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/06.JPG)
bLiNg:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/07.JPG)
Getting where I want it to be, but not quite there:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/08.JPG)
Power seat conversion with rattle canned trim panels:
Soon there after I bought a set of BBS RX 16"x7" rims and Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position 225/50/16 tires to go with it. The center bore of the rims were too small, so after another $100 to a machine shop, and a few mounting and balancing fee's... the rims were on the car:
bLiNg:
Getting where I want it to be, but not quite there:
Power seat conversion with rattle canned trim panels:
#4
A night time photoshoot after I got some dark tint, and painted and sanded my calipers and rotors:
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/10.JPG)
And finally... the most recent pictures of the car are after I lowered it; Eibach Springs and Tokico Struts...
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/12.JPG)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/13.JPG)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/14.JPG)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/timeline/15.JPG)
Right now, I love the way the car looks and sits... but it still needs some suspension work as far as bushings go (poly) and I am still in the midst of my loooong 5-speed swap (since I am re-doing the transmission) My VE-5 Intake Manifold should be here any day and I will be setting that up somehow to open high end with an RPM switch, or swapping over a manual ECU; to go with that... I'll be getting some phenolic intake spacers from Aaron, A new Knock sensor from Brian, and getting it all powder coated in Jacksonville... though I haven't decided on the color.
If anyone has a fidanza or stillen flywheel available... that is next on my mods list, because I would like to get that in the tranny before I bolt it up. Thanks for reading.... I was bored, hah.
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/easter%20180%20(large).jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/summers/8.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/summers/13.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/rings/100_4417%20(Large).JPG)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/1.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/2.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/3.jpg)
And finally... the most recent pictures of the car are after I lowered it; Eibach Springs and Tokico Struts...
Right now, I love the way the car looks and sits... but it still needs some suspension work as far as bushings go (poly) and I am still in the midst of my loooong 5-speed swap (since I am re-doing the transmission) My VE-5 Intake Manifold should be here any day and I will be setting that up somehow to open high end with an RPM switch, or swapping over a manual ECU; to go with that... I'll be getting some phenolic intake spacers from Aaron, A new Knock sensor from Brian, and getting it all powder coated in Jacksonville... though I haven't decided on the color.
If anyone has a fidanza or stillen flywheel available... that is next on my mods list, because I would like to get that in the tranny before I bolt it up. Thanks for reading.... I was bored, hah.
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/easter%20180%20(large).jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/summers/8.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/summers/13.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/1.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/2.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/3.jpg)
![](http://indiextronic.myftp.org/Uploads/newest/6.jpg)
Last edited by Pearl93VE; 01-17-2013 at 09:06 PM.
#9
Thanks!
I'm pretty much going for performance and suspension for a bit... though I am going to get the black strip of paint around the bottom of the car redone, and I'm gonna try and source some stock fogs instead of the Walmart one's on there now....
Last edited by Pearl93VE; 01-17-2013 at 09:06 PM.
#10
#13
#15
It looks very nice -- way better without the spoiler.
When you put in the 5-speed, get an upgraded clutch. An ACT or Exedy stage 1 is fairly common. If you drive a lot in traffic, I would probably take the Exedy over the ACT. The latter is stiffer.
When you put in the 5-speed, get an upgraded clutch. An ACT or Exedy stage 1 is fairly common. If you drive a lot in traffic, I would probably take the Exedy over the ACT. The latter is stiffer.
#17
btw did you remove the door moldings when you bought the car, or were they already removed? I'm thinking about removing mine since I'm already missing paint on the front ones and I love the look of the car w/o the moldings.
#18
a) be prepared to paint the doors
b) remove them slowly, easily, to reduce paint removal
c) see a))
#19
#21
#22
I'm here to tell you that after 5 years and $8000 in maintenance / mods you will never get it exactly where you want it to be. For example, I still want tint and swaybars...And I need new tires!
Last edited by maxitech; 04-16-2008 at 05:57 AM.
#23
#27
Really nice work
Few questions, how'd you convert to power seats? How was the GXE CAI conversion done? I've got a brand new Place Racing GXE CAI that I might want to put in me VE..
Progression pics make you love the car even more..
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Progression pics make you love the car even more..
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