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Nailed a pig, need advice for upgrading whilist reparing damage

Old Jun 4, 2014 | 08:20 PM
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Nailed a pig, need advice for upgrading whilist reparing damage

No No NO I'm not mocking the Police.

I was driving home from my sisters graduation this last weekend and whilst on a country road at about 10:30 pm hit a 250 lbs. hog at 70 mph.

I just fixed my radiator sub-frame maybe six weeks prior and added a new condenser... well now its all gone south.

Needless to say I need to repair the car, however I am considering upgrading the car while I am getting it fixed. Any advice or direction as to AC, Brakes, Suspension and maybe exhaust, as I do have an exhaust leak.

I will post some images of the wreck. (as soon as I figure this out)

First things first. I got that Texas Hog!
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 02:37 AM
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Well it's time to get rid of the Browning 30-06 and just use my Maxima from the sound of it. Hahaha. Shame about the bad luck, but good on you taking him down.

Lol's aside, if suspension is being replaced anyways, then it certainly would not hurt to drop in a good set of coilovers or at least new struts with improved springs. Bushings are also a good thing to do. Find a good set of poly bushings. Really tightens up a suspension nicely. There is a sticky here on the forum for suspension questions for our resident suspension expert, djfrestyl. Find it and post up there, he'll steer you in the right direction.

EDIT: Not a sticky, it's a thread in this 5th gen forum. Link below.

https://maxima.org/showthread.php?t=645426


Brakes I would recommend the 6th gen brake swap. Lots of info about it here on the forum. Searching for 6th gen bbk should net some good results for details.

Exhaust system demands at least headers to be able to eliminate the pesky precats. They have a tendency to destroy VQ35's. Not as big of a problem for the VQ30, if you have that, but better safe than sorry as it were.

AC is nothing that can be modded, but rockauto usually has a good selection of Four Seasons AC products which I have had great success with for quite a number of years now.

As for pictures, host them on photobucket and tag the links here.

Last edited by dfj240; Jun 5, 2014 at 02:41 AM. Reason: Misinformation corrected
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 10:00 AM
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free bacon!
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Amerikaner83
free bacon!


If he's in Texas, it's probably a feral. They're yummy.


Ummm, you changed the name of the thread?

I'd go OEM on the AC, but everything else is a preference thing. Do some thread research here to get some ideas of what's what.

Pics? Of car and hog? Where in Texas are you?
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 11:10 AM
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Mishimoto rad unconditional lifetime guarantee
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by The_Fixer
Mishimoto rad unconditional lifetime guarantee
even against pigs?
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by L_U_D_I_AMaxima
even against pigs?
Old Jun 5, 2014 | 12:58 PM
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Even in a front end collision read the info on their site
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by TexasTex


If he's in Texas, it's probably a feral. They're yummy.


Ummm, you changed the name of the thread?


Pics? Of car and hog? Where in Texas are you?

Its was a feral Texas hog. I'm out here in Longview. I didn't change the name I was surprised to find it changed as well though. And as far as images go I've yet to hit the bucket.

I'm taking it to a collision specialist today to get an estimate.
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 07:09 AM
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http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/ti...=recent&page=1

HL to the hog and some front end damage. I'll get some better images up this evening
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/ti...=recent&page=1

HL to the hog and some front end damage. I'll get some better images up this evening

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Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:47 AM
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Dang. You need new radiator support for sure.
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 08:53 AM
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that'll do pig, that'll do.
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
Its was a feral Texas hog. I'm out here in Longview. I didn't change the name I was surprised to find it changed as well though. And as far as images go I've yet to hit the bucket.

I'm taking it to a collision specialist today to get an estimate.
Yea, that's what I thought. Boy, have I hit a few of those in my time. You take him? I'd imagine some pretty good sausage outta that boy!

Originally Posted by clintb3astwood
that'll do pig, that'll do.
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:26 AM
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Well the collision guy says he can fix it for about $300-$400 just the radiator support. I was thinking about using rockauto to order parts and replace them myself as I don't want to spend $2,475 on fixing a car I paid $3,500 + $800 previous repairs.

so any one have a clue as to the spec sizes for radiator, condenser?
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
Well the collision guy says he can fix it for about $300-$400 just the radiator support. I was thinking about using rockauto to order parts and replace them myself as I don't want to spend $2,475 on fixing a car I paid $3,500 + $800 previous repairs. so any one have a clue as to the spec sizes for radiator, condenser?
Car-part.com
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 09:33 PM
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Please get a new rad & ac condenser
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by george__
Please get a new rad & ac condenser
If it isn't leaking there's no way I would touch the AC.
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
If it isn't leaking there's no way I would touch the AC.
Couldn't agree more. If it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT!

You open a can of worms, you're just looking for a squirmy sitch-i-a-chun!
Old Jun 6, 2014 | 11:31 PM
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^
Yeah you are right. Went back through emails/this site and found it was the radiator, the AC Condenser and maybe the rad fans.

Last edited by george__; Jun 6, 2014 at 11:36 PM.
Old Jun 7, 2014 | 01:13 AM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
Its was a feral Texas hog. I'm out here in Longview. I didn't change the name I was surprised to find it changed as well though. And as far as images go I've yet to hit the bucket.

I'm taking it to a collision specialist today to get an estimate.
Longview, you say? Nice to see a fellow East Texan on here. I'm over in Tyler as it were. Well, south of Tyler actually, in Bullard.

As for the estimate, that seems like a decent deal for the core support work. And in further agreement with the posts above mine, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Old Jun 7, 2014 | 07:57 PM
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For REAL! mishimoto radiators.

I wish I had ten grand to pour into the car but golly!

Question: found the radiator, condenser, and bumper on an 03 maxima in a junk yard, will they all fit? And should I just go for new and not risk buying used.

I will say I wish I had a mentor for all this stuff. I'm more into classic car but a dishwashers hourly wages don't do much for upgrading a car.
Old Jun 7, 2014 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
For REAL! mishimoto radiators.

I wish I had ten grand to pour into the car but golly!

Question: found the radiator, condenser, and bumper on an 03 maxima in a junk yard, will they all fit? And should I just go for new and not risk buying used.

I will say I wish I had a mentor for all this stuff. I'm more into classic car but a dishwashers hourly wages don't do much for upgrading a car.
Yes. You can do it.

DO what us old fellers did growing up, get under her and get to the tools. You learn as you go...
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
No No NO I'm not mocking the Police.
Hell, I thought you were talking about your romantic life
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by jontyrees
Hell, I thought you were talking about your romantic life
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by jontyrees
Hell, I thought you were talking about your romantic life
Dang. Did you really have to go there?
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 05:06 PM
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well I think I will get into the car as it is not moving right now and I feel that It is the best time for me to work on it.

I failed to mention that rats crapped in my air ducts; http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ir-issues.html.

so yeah any ideas on how to start on cleaning the internal air ducts out?

I don't want to just bleach it and go. I wanna clean them out. With my hands. I know im asking for it but... I'm asking for it

Last edited by tinymotoking; Jun 9, 2014 at 05:09 PM.
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
well I think I will get into the car as it is not moving right now and I feel that It is the best time for me to work on it.

I failed to mention that rats crapped in my air ducts; http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ir-issues.html.

so yeah any ideas on how to start on cleaning the internal air ducts out?

I don't want to just bleach it and go. I wanna clean them out. With my hands. I know im asking for it but... I'm asking for it
WTF? Rats crapped in the ducts?
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:14 PM
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Yeah I had it sitting in my uncles back yard for about a year with out running it and the rodents invaded.
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by tinymotoking
Yeah I had it sitting in my uncles back yard for about a year with out running it and the rodents invaded.
Dang, that sucks man.
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:39 PM
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Jeez, with what has happened to this car, perhaps it's a better idea to cut your losses, and get another one for the next hog.

S
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:52 PM
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Taking the ducting out is not the end of the world. remove the radio trim and the radio and start from there. I sprayed ozium in there once and I didn't know how strong it was. It took two weeks to clear out. You might want to invest in some at walmart.
Old Jun 9, 2014 | 07:54 PM
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Background and Updates

Well its my first car and I'm a broke puppy so anything I have to buy is going to be expensive. Rock auto has all the parts i need for $400 and he can do the labor of pulling the core support and all in all I'll be out $800 rather than the original $2,400.

Now onto the Air ducts. I think if I pull the cabin filters and use compressed air to blast it out I might have a chance. Of course I would like to clean it out with soap and water but I don't know if i will be able to put the car back together after wards. All I have is some wrenches. No pneumatic equipment. I do however have some, very little, car experience.

Anyone know where to find schematics on the air duct?
Old Jun 10, 2014 | 08:44 AM
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Only buy an OEM lower radiator support if that what you mean by core support.

Thank me later.
Old Jun 10, 2014 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Fakie J Farkerton
Only buy an OEM lower radiator support if that what you mean by core support.

Thank me later.
I agree all the way.

I've always been a huge advocate of OEM parts.
Old Jun 11, 2014 | 12:48 AM
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How far into Longview are you? I don't have a lot of time, and it's a bit of a trip for me to go out there from Bullard, but if you need major help at all, it's possible I could be troubled to lend a hand for a fellow member, especially if you're sincerely interested in learning how to work on your own car.

I've been working on cars since I was 15, helping save my mom from being extorted out of money she didn't have to keep her car going, and I'll be the first to admit that I certainly don't know it all, but if I can be of any help, just let me know. PM me if you'd like.
Old Jun 11, 2014 | 01:43 PM
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I'm down by LETU.

OEM? could the radiator sub-frame/core support be pulled back into shape?
Old Jun 28, 2014 | 02:56 PM
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Well she's at a shop getting fixed up. She'll be home Monday and I'll post pics. I think that now that things are back to square one I will look into upgrading my cluster as it is having issues lighting sometimes, and my headlights, as well as adding fog lights.



Are there any stickies for adding fog lights. And old guys, no offense, what are your thoughts on xenon headlights, I feel that having more light wouldn't/couldn't be a bad thing.

Last edited by tinymotoking; Jun 29, 2014 at 04:38 PM.
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