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Why did I just buy a rot box 97 about to be crushed? Because rare parts!
This POS popped up on a for sale page. One measly picture had me ready to drop everything to check it out. I saw some goodies that caught my eye. I could bearly make out a Stillen Type 2 spoiler. I bet there are more gems to be found if I check it out.
To cut to the chase, here is a list of parts I saw which made me get it.
Stillen type 2 spoiler EDIT: Custom Enterprise Type 2
Stillen side skirts
Stillen short throw shifter (99% sure)
Cattman gen 1 headers
Cattman b pipe
Progress rear sway bar
Steel mid pipe and aluminum MAF sensor adapter, Cattman? Place Racing?
red clear tail lights
clear bumper lights
clean head lights
A few other notable parts
Aluminium dash kit
Sprint springs, EDIT: Custom Enterprise
Black leather seats
Ricer blue bulbs
Blaupunkt speakers
Sure, it's in terrible shape. I could not let this thing go to the scrap yard with such rare parts. Thankfully I got it in the nick of time. They were ready to haul it off tomorrow.
Lucky you! I was about to get a pair of perfectly good beige door panels for mine last week. But when I went to pick them up, they had since crushed the car! ARRRGH!
Gotta keep looking!
Nice score!! I think the Stillen STS has to be the rarest thing of the bunch.
I've read it is really notchy and a pos shifter. I'll do you a favor and take it off your hands...Seriously though, enjoy it, and when you get tired of it or retire from the Maxima game, hit me up please as I'd like to try it.
Lucky you! I was about to get a pair of perfectly good beige door panels for mine last week. But when I went to pick them up, they had since crushed the car! ARRRGH!
Gotta keep looking!
It's an omen. The car gods are telling you to go with black leather heated seats, perfect for CO winters.....
Nice score!! I think the Stillen STS has to be the rarest thing of the bunch.
I've read it is really notchy and a pos shifter. I'll do you a favor and take it off your hands...Seriously though, enjoy it, and when you get tired of it or retire from the Maxima game, hit me up please as I'd like to try it.
I thought of you instantly actually. It is very stiff, I think the bolt is too tight. I have a Pacesetter quick shift (or whatever they called it) in my 98. Very similar with the adjustable pivot ball. I have always liked it. One of them will be going into my 99.
Is there a reason why it's at the junkyard? Is it not running? Otherwise very nice pickup.
So much rust. Not sure if it runs. There are spark plugs and crank sensors on the floor. I don't hear the fuel pump at all. I turned the key for a second and it spun freely as if there are no plugs in it. No plans on making it run other than to see if the trans is ok maybe.
This was a car someone put a lot of pride and joy into. It must have changed hands a few times. It has been very neglected and sat for quite some time. The Flintstone's would enjoy it.
Lucky you! I was about to get a pair of perfectly good beige door panels for mine last week. But when I went to pick them up, they had since crushed the car! ARRRGH!
Gotta keep looking!
Nothing like getting your hopes up. Then they get crushed, literally.
If I go with black leather seats then I'd have to do the entire interior in black!
Off topic, but wasn't leather and option for beige interiors as well? Would like leather seats though. Easier to clean than cloth.
And back on topic, would love some Stillen parts!
You don't have to swap it 100%. There are plenty of cars with 2 or 3 tone interiors. There is blonde leather available. Leather is easier to clean yet is harder to keep maintained. It cracks and wears from getting in and out or dried out from the sun.
While it's not much of a looker, can take more. My cousin and I started pulling parts. Now it's even more of a mess.
While doing that, I found the cam PHASE wires cut on both ends; at the ecu and sensor which is new. The crank POS was also replaced and they broke the bolt. It was duct taped on. There was a harness unplugged at the battery fuse box as well.
The intake appears to be a Cattman. The lower tube is missing.
Made good progress removing parts. So far I piled up all the speakers, rear sway bar, rear struts and springs, all exterior lights, side skirts, spoiler, rear seats, door panels, shifter and a few other little bits.
Found some hilarious body work. So many patches, screws and body filler everywhere. The rockers are non existent. Radiator support is rigged so crazy awful yet still some how holding up the engine. The best is the replacement fender that was cut and welded to the old rusty one where it meets the side skirt. Not sure what the heck they were thinking.
Some other things I found but have been long gone: aftermarket alarm/remote starter, A pillar gauges (at least an air fuel ratio), 2nd battery in trunk, under glow lights, sub and amp, and Tokico Illuminas.
I thought the springs were Sprint because they are blue. They are Custom Enterprise. I think Tokico made those for Custom Maxima? Rear struts are Sensen.
Also the blue bulbs are Polarg, made in Japan. I thought that was kind of neat.
I thought the springs were Sprint because they are blue. They are Custom Enterprise. I think Tokico made those for Custom Maxima? Rear struts are Sensen.
I believe so. Years ago I bought a set of Illuminas and Custom Enterprise springs brand new in box from Tokico.
Rusty crusty rat mouse hotel. Cars here in New England take a beating. I hate rust more than you can imagine. This 97 makes my 98 look beautiful. It makes my 99 look brand new.
My cousin and I made good progress today. We checked fuel and spark. Got it running pretty easily. It's been sitting 2 years. Looks like someone could not get it running even after a new fuel pump, fuel filter, plugs and crank/cam senors.
With no muffler, holy moly it's loud. Headers sound so good, even with leaks galore. Scared some mice out of their mind. Perhaps I'll keep the engine now I know it runs.
it's good that you have 3 maximas that are running now. You have 3 that are in the late 97,98,99 nice combo. I know rust sucks and restoration is a painfull process. The worst part here is the rats yuck they are dirty and contaminated. The rats love chewing on anything especially wires and seats. I really would hate getting sick from rats and the feises contamination. It's time for some good sanitation for the maxima. The gov and the states have to do something about the rats just yuck.
I'm pretty causious around the mouse activity. I'm pretty used to it sadly. I used to install appliances and would see it way too often.
I won't be keeping the 97 and 98 much longer. Both will be stripped and then off for scrap.
The 97 is way too much work to even consider getting road worthy. Not a clean body panel to be found. Fuel and brake lines, rotors and pads are down right scary. Cracked windshield too.
I did start rust work on the 98 years ago; I put a new radiator support and fenders. Then I found out how bad the rust was underneath. Basically from rockers to rear bumper are all gone. I already gutted the interior and put the leather into the 99. Planning on putting the 00VI and VLSD into the 99 as well.
On the 99 I replaced the radiator support and welded in small patch near the sun roof & antenna drain. This car is about as clean as a 20 year old NE car can be. I will garage it as much as possible like the original owner did.
While trying to find info on the spoiler I found a few pictures that make me wonder what brand this one is. Stillen type 2 had a narrow 3rd brake light. Mine is wider. Perhaps it's a Paradox Systems Type X? I couldn't find a picture of the X. Anyone remember those?
I took it off the trunk. The trunk is all rusty on the bottom edge and not worth saving.
It will need some body work, lots of large paint chips to fill. The LED works but the lens turned white some how. The inner bolt holes fit the stock holes in the trunk nicely. There are no holes for the outers so they used dry wall screws to mount it. I'd have to come up with a better solution. Stock uses plastic clips there.
Anyway, it's a project that I won't get to for awhile.
04-12-2018, 10:24 AM
