Well summer is approaching, I got a pretty nice paying job for a teen and well, let's say I'm getting bored and tired of driving an auto. Steer, gas, brake gets quite boring.

What do you guys think? I'm only 17 years old, gonna be going to college next after this coming summer and I don't think money would be that big of an issue for me for college bcuz my parents are willing to pay(yes I know, a bit of spoiled-ism) but hey what can I say, my parents love me :-)

Right now I have around $1500-2000 stored in my bank account, and by summer time I'll probly have $2700-3000, probly more.

I have a 99' cali-spec auto and I probly will do a tune-up next week since its Spring break and I'm gonna be stuck at home. I also need to diagnose an issue with my car : During idle my car jerks alot and it may be a coil problem, but I havent found anyone around me that knows how to check coils, so I'm still working on it.

What do you guys think I should do?

And let's say I do pull through with the auto -> 5spd swap, how much money do you think it would run me? I know its a tough question, but some ballpark estimates would be nice. Also, how much could my auto tranny with 72k miles on it run for?

edit- Some more background info, I'm gonna have this car for atleast another 4 years.

 

go to a junk yard, and get some prices that way. Ballpark estimates would be around $1500 if you do all the work yourself. If not, add another 1-1.5k onto that number. The best thing to do would be to get a parts car for cheap (<1k) and just work off the parts from that car. Also, your auto should fetch some money, but you have to look around for buyers. I'm planning on selling mine, because it was rebuilt, and i'm doing the swap in the summer.

 

do the swap. and youll change your mind about selling it.

 

do the swap.


check the faqs for the coil pack issue. or your harnes manual if you have one. Just get a multimeter check each pack and you should get inifity or continuity something like that, if you dont you've found your bad coil pack.

or
start car you feel the jerking at idle, unplug a coil pack at a time, the coil pack you unplug that has no effect on the idle is you bad coil pack. an easy cheap (free) way of checking you coils.

 

Hopefully I'll have enough money for the swap, its definitely on my wish-list right now.

I've also heard about the I30 LSD, whats so great about it?

 

I would sell your car and buy the best stock 97/98 Maxima SE I could find with a 5-speed transmission. I would look for the complete maintenance history and get a low miler.

That way rather than be out of pocket you would have some money left over for mods, tires or whatever and not have to go through all the aggravation.

 

yes your better off buying a 5spd, too much butchering and money, even if you do it, it may not be as good as stock

 

yea, unless you really love your car and have put a lot of money and into it, it would be better to sell it and buy a 5spd, this is what I am planning to do. Money is a major issue for me so I don't think I can afford a conversion.

 

if u have the money go for it

 

When I was first learning how to drive a manual I was told to downshift when slowing down because it would save the brake pads, never told to rev match or anything like that. I always hated doing that so I just ended up working the brakes instead.

 

sell and buy a 5speed.

 

you can downshift to slow down the engine speed versus clutch in and just use the brakes to slow down the speed of the car. I rarely downshift at stop lights, etc I just clutch in and brake. I only downshift if I'm going to fast and dont want to slam on the brakes and risk locking up.


Dont think it wear too much on your clutch but I personally just dont do it. Ofcourse my clutch being in not to great shape I definately dont do it.

 

again....5spd swap....you'll get to know your car alot better, and it beats the hassle of finding a car with the same features as your car.....My car's a GLE, and it's hard as hell to find a 5spd with all the features mine has, so i'm just gonna do the swap.

 

If I were to sell my car, it's going to be real hard to find one that is in nearly as good condition as mine. I have also put alot of time into my car, like replace all the speakers, subs, HU, etc and I cant put it all to stock anymore.

I'm leaning more towards the swap..

 

its great because BOTH WHEELS Turn not just one.....its great for Auto-X and the track it gives better traction........in normal words.....NO 1 WHEEL PEEL

 

Alright let's have you guys quote me on my 99 black 4th gen SE with 72k miles and a clean record and in good condition?

If I were to do the swap, wouldn't it be better to get some aftermarket parts? Like instead of a stock clutch, an aftermarket one?

 

do the swap. if you dont know how tell me where you are. give me 300 and ill do it for ya.

 

if I had an auto I'd take you up on that offer.

 

**** ill take you up on that offer

I'm in Maryland, we should communicate some more through PM's

But lemme say again, this probably wont happen til summer time.

 

well im going back to school in baton rouge this fall (SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY!!) so ill be "near" your area. you take your time getting your items. and we'll see what comes of this. you get to help too so you can do this for another member someday. you wont be sorry. just dont sell the car you'll regret it later down the road.