I really want a 5 speed and I've been giving a lot of thought to converting it. If you were in the situation I'm in, which would you do? Also, is there anywhere I can find a parts list for the conversion?
Thanks for any input
Kevin.

 

I have been sitting around thinking about that for a while, and here is what I decided to do.

I will do the conversion if the automatic dies, and I'm feeling lucky.

If anything should happen to my car (wrecked, stolen, explodes), I will buy a 5spd 240SX instead.

If insurance/practicality/parents/availability will not allow the 240, I will find a manual transmission Maxima (probably on Autotrader), and feel better about being me.

 

If all you have is an HAI and clear corners for mods, then I would sell the car and buy a 5 speed. Look for tranny swap information here...
http://www.hlh0501.com/5spdconversion.htm

I myself would love a 5 speed, but I have put so much into my car already that I'm kind of stuck.

 

Do some searching and find a 5-speed...unless you have tons of time and a lot of cash, the swap isnt worth it. If you can spiff up the one you got and sell it privately you can probably even use the situation to come out with more money afterwards...if you look hard enough you can probably find one thats an awesome deal. I looked for about 2 months and wound up with a 97 SE with EVERY option (but of course 5-sp) for 7K!!! Only 72K on it! Just find a new one!

 

 

 

Just sell your car and buy a 5sp...



Eric

 

Unless you can do all the work youself, just buy a 5spd. You can have a tranny out in 2-5 hours alone (2 for experienced guy with air tools, 5-6 for first-timer with hand tools)

The conversion is hard enough - troubleshooting problems is much harder.

 

What's the justification for owning a 5 speed over an auto? If you want to drag race, then auto is the way to go. Autos are more consistant with shifts and manuals leave room for error.
If you're into autocrossing, then a 5 speed would be a better choice.

 

some people need to hold on to their cars. my '95 was purchased new w/ 11 miles on it almost 9 years ago. it's only been driven by people i know. and if you have mods already, i would go w/ the conversion. but that's me, because i wouldn't give up my car for a 5 speed, because it may be hard to find a similar one in simlar condition (i jus hit 73,600 miles)

 

More fun.

I won't get into the what's faster argument, but I think the evidence is pretty conclusive.

 

I just like driving manual transmission cars better, that's why I'm thinking about it.

Here's my situation. My parents paid for the car years ago, so I have no money in it. It's been wrecked several tims and has very high mileage, so it would be worthless on trade-in and nearly worthless if sold to a private party.

But, the car runs great and will look great when I get it painted. I honestly dont ever plan to sell it.

For these reasons, there's no financial reason not to do the conversion if I can afford it.

 

Exactly. I just passed 34k miles on my car. The first 7k miles on my car are someone else's but the rest are mine. I think I would have a hard time finding a 5spd 99 that is in as good a shape as my car is with those kind of miles, hence the conversion although costly and time consuming would be the smart play.

 

I've had my car for about a year now, and I'm very attached to it. Its a 95 and it just turned 57000 miles yesterday. I'd be hard pressed to find another one like it. The reason I want to do this is because I've never had a 5 speed and everyone I've ever driven was so much fun. It made the driving experiance that much better. I figured why not make the car I love more fun to drive?

 

If it were me, I would sell and buy a 5speed car.

 

95 with 57,000 miles? damn. I'd do the conversion. then when you want to get nasty with it you can get an ecu.

 

I was in the same predicament about six months ago. It took me five months to sell my 99 SE Auto with 64k on it. I had all my mods taken off before I sold it too. However, your 95 (no matter how many miles are on it) isn't going to be as worth as much as you want to sell it for. This is from Kelly's Blue Book:

Nissan Maxima

Trim Typical Price Range
Sell your car
GLE Sedan 4D $5,225 - $5,225
GXE Sedan 4D $4,225 - $4,225
SE Sedan 4D $4,525 - $4,525

Luckily I bought a fellow ORG member's car and am very much enjoying it.

 

which will last longer a manual or automatic? Which will have more problems thorught its lifetime?

 

Buy the 5 speed unless you're mechanically inclined and good at debugging. If anything at least wait until you have problems with the tranny and then change it but you'll be ****ed if you give up a working auto to install a 5 speed that gives you headaches for the first few months.

 

right now i would do conversion. Unless u r buying a brand new maxima its so hard to find others in 5 speed with a lot of the stuff u want in them. I'm looking for a 5 speed for my friend and things are hopeless, i would just convert and be happy, its kind of cheaper in the long run and u keep your sentimental stuff and you happy wit your car.

 

I just did conversion and I love it do it!!

 

I am in the same sitution I have a 96 with about 75,000 miles and I want to swap it, I am going to try to it when I get more moeny.

 

5speed is a whole new thing much faster then auto and more fun to drive.

 

I was planning on doing the conversion an dbought about 80% of the parts needed...and after riding in Jane97SE car with VB mod and SC...since then I sold it all and got the VB mod,,,and am now combining the SC and ZEX...waaayyyy too much fun as it is ,,,but i can imagine it would have its benefits as a 5 speed still...

 

I traded in my Auto for a 5spd on Saturday. I'm super happy with it. Better gas mileage and a tighter car combined with performance that blew away the but-dyno.
Cheers,
Matt

 

if your a decent driver, then the manual will outlast the auto, if your a terrible driver and just dont learn, you'll be frying your clutch left and right, grinding gears etc

 

does anyone know what i need for a manual transmission conversion? also, where can i get these parts at? i've been trying and its kinda hard to find the parts.

 

read teh stickies, yet? wealth of info.


since I am too lazy to tell you how to use the forums, here is the link:
http://www.vqpower.com/v2/articles.php?article_id=44


AND STOP BUMPING OLD THREADS!


have a nice day

edit: link in how to thread seems broken, link above should take you there, if a mod would so graciously fix it....

 

Look at post number 3 ... Click that link, all of your questions will be answered

 

think you should just get the new 5sp maxima ....... if you can afford it why not