I will be dropping in every now and then since I have a Maxima again mostly just reading up on some stuff as problems arise.

Any OG guys still around?

I thought I was finished with 3rd gens forever but pervisanathema shot me a PM out of the blue and offered me my old 92 VE5 for a price I could not refuse. I traveled up to S.C. weekend before last and drove it home. I can not believe how well he has taken care of the car. The leather, paint and body are just as nice as the day he drove off in it. The only thing showing any wear is the shifter **** but thats just normal wear (ae ****).

I forgot how much fun it is to drive (especially compared to a small SUV and van).

Anyway here are a couple of pics I took of it a day or so after getting back. Its filthy from the drive (rained on me some) but it still looks good.





I never would have thought I would own this car again after he drove off in it almost 5 years ago.

anyway to all the OG guys and to the newbies I have not met that have furthered the community since I left it.

 

holy crap those rims look good

 

That car's already done.

I thought you might have some kind of challenge, buying something that needed freshening up.


BTW, I am painting some wheels. I already sanded them with 200 and I used a 320 "sponge" to get the nooks.

I was planning on priming, then sanding the primer with 1200, then paint and clearcoat. Does this sound like a good plan, or are there steps I am missing in there somewhere?


Nice to see you back -- chris

 

Nice ride man! Really Really clean! glad to have you back!

 

That's awesome, Michael! I was just re-reading your original thread a couple hours ago from when you were doing those wheels. Awesome job and great to have you back :-). What size and offset are those wheels, BTW. I know Goon was doing 17x9"s.

 

haha na I am too old and tired for Maxima restorations. I have some little issues I need to do...mostly de-modding it some to make it more comfortable. I have to get the rear links off and put factory ones back in. I cant handle the noise and since I am not going to really drive it hard I dont need them. I also want to put stock motor mounts in it because the poly ones he put in transfer too much vibration into the car for my taste.

sounds good for your plan but 1200 is a little high even for rattle can paint (assuming thats what you are using). I would use 600-800 to smooth the primer out and fill in the sand scratches from the first saning. You can use a red scotch brite pad from a paint store for the hard to reach areas. I wouldnt use it on the whole thing since you need to level out the primer to fill in the sand scratches.


I have gotten into powder coating. I might powder coat my wheel later on if the paint starts to chip etc. Its cheap, easy and a while lot less hazardous to my health than all those chemicals with paint.


18x7 I think. I honestly cant remember. I know the offset was high 40 or 45 I think. It has spacers on it to push them out a little (but didnt back then).

 

I remember how clean the engine bay was after you were done with it, hopefully that still looks the same as well.

Welcome back, hopefully you stick around awhile. Some things in store you might appreciate

 

Thanks, are you talking about the car with the painted engine bay parts? That is a different car I sold later (only 3 or so years ago).


haha I couldn't even remember the specs of the wheels I bought. In my defense it was close to 6 years ago lol.

 

I read this post and what immediately came to mind was "Guess Who's Back" by Rakim from the 1997 album The 18th Letter.

Good to see ya back, bro. And good to see you back in the saddle again. I guess us OG org-y members don't die... we just "VTC clack" ourselves into oblivion for a bit.

 

Damn...nice car! Where can I find a Max hat clean very very nice.

 

quick question, under your right front of car near tire, did you just wash it or do you have a leak??

 

Welcome back to the saddle

This is funny because just last night i was reading your thread on your silverstone painted valve covers/intake plenum because im at the point where im ready to get my stuff powdercoated and wanted to do the same/similar color. Im planning to pick up a jdm motor soon and meanwhile my project expanded way too much - i took the car down to the bare chassis/undercarriage to POR15 and undercoat everything

 

That is AT fluid. The HP PS hose was leaking when I got it. I replaced it a day or so later with a new one and that took care of it. I mentioned that it was dirty so obviously its not from being washed.

Not sure why that has anything to do with the thread though.

 

welcome back OG, crazy you picked it back up.

 

Wow! I saw a few months ago he was selling the car but I never saw an update to it or heard if anybody had bought it. What are the odds you'd have bought it

Great to have you back, though.

*btw everybody Michael painted the corner lights in my sig pic for me

 

It's good to see you back. It sure is amazing that your old/new (lol) 3rd gen still looks as amazing as it used to.

 

Ohhh, I'm confusing the car with Bret's car. You're right. I was wondering what happened to the Stillen kit, but that explains it

 

Yeah Bret sold his as well (I think that is the one Hectic is thinking about with the engine bay paint). I cant remember who got it and I wish I could because I am supposed to send him some paint...maybe he will see this and contact me.

 

lookin good, welcome back playa lol

 

Yeah that's the one. Thought it was this guy. Which makes sense because I didn't think it seemed like 5 years ago in regards to the engine bay thread and pics..

 

Welcome back, Michael! Good to see some people making the effort to keep these cars alive...It still looks new! How many miles are on that car now?

Pervis - what did you replace it with?

 

Welcome back Michael, nice to see you back in your 3rd gen. Still looks great.

 

Excellent choice! Pics?

 

Welcome back Michael, glad to see our resident paint & body pro back in the game, hardly anything interesting 'round these parts in a while.

Pervis did an excellent job in taking caring of that car.

Have you done any work on the Chevelle?

 

welcome back Michael. i saw it for sale and was really tempted to make the drive and buy it from him. always loved that car!

 

You are thinking of my other black VE5 as well. I sold it about 2 or 3 years ago but never got to drive it or anything. This is the one I drove for a while and had lots of pics of (rebuilt VTCs, installed catzkin leather, ACC swap, HUD, 1st to try the 4th gen aluminum sts etc). Its probably the car you remember me having but not the one you think was for sale if that makes sense lol.

PA did not publicly put this one for sale. He offered it to me last year and again this year. As he stated he made sure I took it this time.

 

yeah i think I am! thought it was the same car.

 

Welcome back Michael, I always loved the work you put in on all your Maximas...

 

 

Wow, all sorts of familiar names from years past are popping up in here!

 

OG poster here too! i miss my 92 SE5.

it seems like yesterday when i used to ask Aaron92SE for advise on how to diagnose my 92 and buying coils off of internetautomart. and when people would get out of line Mr. gone would come in and delete useless posts.



how times have changed

 

Good to hear from you again Michael!

 

ABOUT DAMN TIME you came back into the 3rd gen world Michael, glad to have you back in the family buddy.

 

its good to see some of you guys still around. I just couldn't stay away for very long I guess.

Having a 3rd gen back has allowed me to finally use my press I bought about 6 months ago (had a big sale so I bought it for the heck of it). I got some control arms and pressed the bushings out. Man its a lot easier doing it that way than the way I did it last time I swapped bushings in a 3rd gen.

I am going to clean them up and powder coat them tomorrow hopefully. Then just wait on the poly bushings to come in so I can put them on the car.

I will probably go ahead and do the rear arms as well since I will have my PC equipment out.

 

You almost ready for another mini meet?

 

welcome back to the family. your car looks great. im a newbie to the forum still. ive had my 3rd gen for 2 years and 3 months. mines does that terrible clacking noise. wondering if its my vtc's or lifters. anybody have any idea what it could be?

 

It's the VTCs 99% of the time if you hear ticking that seems to come and go and vary in volume. Search around the 3rd gen section for "VTC" and you'll find gobs of information. Welcome to the forum!

 

i refuse to believe you ever left..LOL

 

that's the car when it all started for me. I think we are all in opposite directions now (I and Dave are still in the same location but you, Mike and Craig are not).




haha well technically I still have (and had all this time) an 89SE parts car in my woods near my house. There is not much left of it but I do still own the title so I guess you are right

 

Yeah, at the time of this meet, I was in the WPB, FL area. Now I'm in Eastern NC. But I am in FL several times a year. Where is Craig? I thought he was Atlanta, right?