someone in this forum gave me the idea to make this up...i forget who, but through my research, i feel i should pass on the knowledge i have gained and also help those who are planning to do conversion in near future like me.

First off, combination of all parts and labor shouldn't cost more than 1700 dollars, and that's with a ACT clutch which everyone on this board would recommend. So nobody flip thinking it's gonna cost an arm and a leg and a half sister

There are about 20 to 30 parts to get for conversion including mini bolts and stuff. Most important stuff are:

transmission - recommend getting from junkyard/ebay/.org member along with the rest of the other small parts besides the ones i'm going to display here.... (800 max if you pick one by mistake, can definitely find a lot cheaper)

master/slave cylinder - recommended to be bought brand new no matter how new the car u getting it from. Prices for these parts are high but there are a few members on this board selling them CHEAPer...look them up in Parts for sale section.....

ACT Clutch - nissan clutches supposedly slip during high shifts (according to consumer guide) also, the ACT clutch (aftermarket clutch) is supposed to take more dammage without messing up than nissan clutch even if it is brand new. A lot of people on this board have it and have nothing but great things to say about it. I am getting one and i recommend to all getting conversion and all wit stick already....There are also people here selling it cheaper than regular prices...just gotta look it up (350 to 400 MAX)

drive shaft- don't need to buy brand new but should be taken off a max with low mileage (85,000 or less miles)

everything else, u can ****** off of the same max u get your trans from. Definitely recommend u do it this way so pieces are a lot cheaper

Trickiest part is labor. Labor goes between 300 to 1500 depending on where you go. No one on this board has paid 1500 for labor...doubt they paid 1000. I recommend finding someone local who has done conversion to their maxima and paying them to do it for u. More than likely they'll do it for a lot cheaper than 1500...most likely 300 to 900.

P.S. all parts can be taken from any 4th gen max between 95-99. There was some speculation about axles from 99 max not fitting other 4th gen's so to make sure you are ok, i would stay away from them when it comes to axles. All trans are definitely the same though.

I gave all of you the worst scenario's here. The prices will definitely vary but with everything together, you're looking at 1500 to 2000. Just gotta shop smart and remember, after all this you still have an auto trans to sell which should go for around 300 to 700 depending on mileage.


I hope this info helps. I plan to do conversion real soon and i just can't stop talking about it.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, you can do a lot wit the money used for conversion (kit, ypipe, CAI, and still have like a 1,000 left over) but when u throw your car in 3rd and u feel it chirping and what not, it's definitely worth it. STICK IS gOD

 

At this hour you should make them shorter.

 

it's made for reference for those doing conversion, not a quick story to entertain u...hell, at this time, i don't want to read it either but 5 days from now or a month from now, someone is gonna ask questions about conversion and i just helped him out

 

Young buck...U entertain Me J/K ...but on the real...



5spd tranny (try and get the I30 LSD or Canadian Maxima LSD if possible – doubt it)
Both Manual drive shafts (if you have ABS you need specific ones, if you don't have ABS you can use ABS ones)
1 clutch kit (clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out bearing)
2 shifting rods (support rod + control rod) (acquire used w/ all the hardware)
Return spring (connect to the 2 shifting rods (Buy this new, the stiffer the tighter your shifter feels)
1 5spd starter
1 shifter (Acquire used to get nuts and bolts (buy with the shifter rods)
1 shifter console piece (interior)
1 shift consul bracket (Replaces your auto one) (interior) (dealer name plate bolt and transaxle hole cover)
1 brake pedal
1 clutch pedal
1 master cylinder
Hydraulic lines for clutch
1 slave cylinder for clutch
1 extra set of tranny harnesses (might come w/ 5spd tranny)
1 18ga wire and wiretaps
Assorted cotter pin set.
1 Manual Fly wheel
1 Manual motor mount
Tranny Fluid (GL-4 or redline is preferable)
Locking pin and clip for the clutch pedal to the master cylinder (you could bend a nail but I would go to the dealer and pay $4)
2 nuts that fit the threads on the clutch pedal.
1 bolt that bolts in the top of the clutch pedal (the dealer can find it's size for you)
1 bolt that connects the control rod to the tranny (the dealer can find it's size for you)
1 Haynes Manual just in case you need extra help

 

I'm looking into a conversion as well. My strategy is to find
a wrecked 5 speed max and buy the whole car...that way I get
all the interior bits, ecu, etc. and I can see for myself how
everything in the 5 speed connects up...i've been looking around
and you'd be surprised how cheap a wrecked max can be had for...

 

woohoo, there's actually a recent post about this exact subject. since you guys obviously have had your share in this, i'm hoping you're going to be able to help me out. i've found sources for a lot of the parts except for the 5-spd starter, axles, and tranny harness. mind helpin me out? there's not a junkyard for hours that has a maxima, let alone something like that. in any case, i still look forward to having that third pedal....

 

You do not need a 5spd starter. The automatic one fits just fine. You dont need any tranny harnesses, none of the wiring is used anyway. Plus your ecu still thinks its an auto. Axles (driveshafts i think you mean) can be purchased at autozone. Rebuilt ones are 150 for the passenger side and 100 for the drivers side. Buy these, and return your automatic ones as cores and you get 50 bucks back on each (i know its 50 on the passengers side, i'm not sure how much the core refund is on the drivers one, but might be the same). That means you pay 100 + 50 = 150 for rebuilt shafts. They will not know that you returned automatic ones, $hit, I couldnt even tell the difference myself. I know this b/c I did it to my car.

 

One question, when you do this swap, isnt there a relay or something that requires you do depress the clutch in order to start the car? Im not too inclined with this stuff so someone fill me in please.

 

Something like that. There is a switch on the bottom of the clutch pedal. When the switch is pressed, the car thinks it is in neutral. This switch is wired to one of the plugs that used to go into the auto tranny, but is no longer used. Basically, pressing the clutch fools the "automatic" brain or ecu, into thinking you just pushed your shifter into neutral.

 

well, the ecu's not a huge deal anyways because i was looking to get the g-force ecu upgrade anyways. i was just going through the "shopping list" for the 5-spd conversion and those items were on there. also, is it a must that i get the stock shifter for the bolts and such? couldn't i just buy the needed ones at the dealership or a hardware store? i was probably going to go with the pacesetter sts and i don't feel like buying the stock shifter as well if it's just for bolts.

 

I got the bolt i needed at home depot. It is tricky b/c the bolt you need is metric. Also,I dont see what the big deal with the g-force ecu is. What does it have to do with an automatic tranny or a 5spd tranny? I still see no reason why you would need a new harness. There are no electronic parts inside a 5spd tranny that the ecu has to control. If there were, I wouldnt be driving a 5spd with an auto ecu.

 

trying to get drive shaft used hopefully and i'm unfortunate (can't believe this is true) to have ABS. So what do i look for in a maxima to know the drive shaft will fit on my car? does the driveshaft on the car i take it from have to be from an ABS maxima also? what am i looking for?

 

It has to be a driveshaft from a manual car with abs.

 

do you know of any cheaper place online, ex. a nissan parts dealer, that would sell them? if i have to go to our local autozone or parts plus to find the driveshafts, i will, but i don't want to. the reason i mentioned the harness is the fact that it's part of the forementioned list of parts needed. i didn't figure it would matter. the reason for buying the g-force ecu is because i've found one i think i can get for cheap and i wouldn't have to worry about sending mine off or finding another ecu then getting it worked on. it's just an extra power adder for when the tranny would go in. the tranny i'm purchasing has a bad release bearing, is that gonna be hard to fix? i've never done any work on a transmission before, so some of these things are new to me. i'd like to do the conversion on my own though. i'm competant enough to follow the instructions to do it, i just don't wanna have the tranny in and figure out that i should've replaced one part or another.

 

www.autogator.com

 

u 99 auto guys mite have a prob if u want to do the swap...after reading the haynes manual more carefully....the 99 is a lil "special" compared to earlier 4th gen...don't flame me guys....i knoe some of u will post saying "all fourth gen has same engine therefore it should have same tranny"...i haven't seen a 99 in person but per haynes manual...there are differences....

 

tustin nissan sells nissan parts a lot cheaper than dealers around your area