rather than paying labor costs for mod installs?

Just curious.
--cheston

 

I've pumped my own gas one or two times. Does that count?

 

i try to do stuff that i can. and if i have the needed equipment...

 

With the exception of some body and paint work from a freak hail storm, an alignment and tire mount and balance, I have done it all. Never even been through a mechanical car wash!

 

So far I have installed everything myself. (I'm so proud!) But if I feel like its too hard, I'll take it to a professional. The thing is, my friend does this kind of stuff as his profession. I just take the car to him and he lets me work with him. I learn best that way.

 

Does washing and cleaning the car count?
Seriously, I pay others to do the work so I won't hurt myself attempting to do it© And when it's this cold in the winter, you don't want to go out there for too long©

 

I've ('with a little help from my friends') done everything (except tires and alignment), so far...

 

I've done everything except for in-warranty work (which was nothing), tire mounting/balancing, alignment and body work. Other then that, my most challenging project was taking the transmission out of my 90 camry before. I've installed all of my aftermarket electronics (remote starter on the camry), stereo, foglights, airhorns by myself.

 

i just feel that lately, i'm just getting tired of pullin' the car out onto the driveway, and using a floor jack and jacking up the car, and physically taking out rusted bolts and what not. i mean, i used to all the time. every mod on the car was installed by me or with the help of my friends...

just lately, i kinda wunder what it would be like to have a spider lift and a set of air tools. oh man, that would be fun.

reason for the biatching?

konis, sprints, and camber bolts STILL sitting in the closet after like 3 weeks, the udp on my desk, and now, a gauge pod, a clock, and removing my old ECU from the car...

for some reason, i just feel like paying someone to mod the car is
1) a waste of money that i can use for other mods and
2) doesn't make me a true automotive enthusiast (?)

huh. maybe i'm just lazy. hehe.

the worst is not actually attempting it and asking for a "professional" install... i mean. what makes some guy who charges $50/hr more "professional" than me? The greasy blue overalls and the fat gut? hmm... possibly..



[Edited by Chebosto on 02-14-2001 at 06:31 PM]

 

I'm usually the one installing parts for the other Zers/Maxima-ers lol

The only thing I won't touch is the transmission.

 

Has anyone done the SC install personally?

 

i want to attempt that tooo. i installed everything on my own car. and uninstalled what i have installed then reinstalled.

 

engine swap
brake swap
suspension work
maintance
fixes
brake job
exhaust work, ie welding

I've done everything on the car up to this point... except for some "major" exhaust work.

-Shing

 

Ah guys... What do you mean "done everything?" You really shouldn't say that unless you have rebuilt your engine, rebuilt your tranny, replaced your supension components etc....

If you haven't done that, your not even close to doing it all. Don in Texas is probably the closest to having "done it all". I classify myself as pretty damn good but Don has done more.

Installing Y pipes and spring/shocks is not exactly brain surgery...

 

I try doing everything myself

 

I've installed everything on my max, minus the rebuilt tranny. One thing is for sure I wasn't going to pay $900 labor for a head/cam install. Another note replacing broken exhaust studs is a major PITA. Its almost harder than installing cams! LOL

 

what you guys are talking about. I have my h & r springs and my konis just sitting on my floor. my suspension is shock and im not even attempting to put them on. does anyone know a shop that does this and alightment. the shop has to been in NYC. thank you

 

I have done most everything that I have tools for, can't weld so none of the exhaust work. Although if I can't do it I will watch the mechanic who does it, for two reasons 1. to learn and 2. to make sure they don't try to take any cheap shortcuts.

I have done alot more work on my friends race BMW, ie rebuilt engine, full suspention

 

I've done everything except mount and balance my wheels. So far I have installed:

Koni fronts
strut bearings
KYB struts
ST springs
RSB
Y-pipe
B-pipe
RT cat
brakes
shift light
FSTB
intake


I'm not afraid to do anything as long as I have the right tools and a good manual. Without those, you can't do anything the right way.


Dave

 

Umm the way I took it is that everything that is done to their cars they did themselves... not they did everything there ever was to be done in the history of automobiles...

/aac

 

I do everythimg myself including oil changes. These cars are easy to work on.

 

If you have the tools and the time it is easy to get it done yourself. I am going to do my springs and shocks when I get them too. y-pipe was a breeze. I actually even welded my own muffler on.

 

I enjoy working on my car and do a lot but sometimes when I can't find the time and have too much going on and it's something that needs to be done right away like (can't think of anything,) I'll have it done. Most things can wait for me so I just always have a laundry list of things I gotta do to our cars. We have four and the list is pretty long right now. Most complicated thing I've got on the agenda is an engine swap on my truck. Got a 97 SBC Vortec motor to put into an 89 TBI SBC. Can't decide to go with multi port fuel injection or keep the TBI that's on now. Anyone done this and got any advice?

 

i do it all myself...i wouldn't have it any other way...it just wouldn't be any fun...

 

I'll do alot of the mods myself or with the help of my friends. I'm waiting till the summer to do the more laborous mods. My reason for waiting is that I work at a gas station in the summer and I have access to the lift and a **** load of tools. Workin on the max is easy... if you have the right tools. And MaximaDriver.com has some pretty good directions for mods that I found to be very helpfull.

 

Hrmm, well, I never rebuilt a Nissan motor... honda motor count?

but I agree with what you say. I think I am "ok" to "decent"... I think it's more like I am not scared to wrench on the car. espeically after the engine swap.

-Shing

 

what i really want to do is Direct!

 

I consider myself a "1 Wrench" according to the Stillen catalogue.

 

taking the toilet booth off a Boeing 747.

does that count?

oh, u guys r talking about cars.
"here is 50 bucks, anybody?"

 

ROTFL!!! Aren't the light bulbs 3 wrenches?

 

I just took a part my Max=
Swapping the suspension,
Swapping the whole exaust system,
RSB,STB.
I have also done the following crap,
Body kit install, Brakes, Fuel filter, Headlights {5 times lol},Battery,oil,MTL,spoiler, tons and tons of speakers and amps,capacitors,head units,rear bumper,wood Dash, chopped shifter,custom Hid retrofit installes.

The only mod I had installes is my clutch and flywheel because I would really need better tools and a garage for that matter. I am thinking of installing my SC but not sure if I can.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Y2KevSE
[I]I hope it's not!!!!!

 

Check again...

 

an intake and FSTB.

 

If it doesn't require getting under the car i can do it, i just don't trust myself down there, installed my intake, fstb, lites, harness, shift *****, ebrake handle, stereo face. thats it.

 

A few folks helped turn some wrenches, but she's mostly my work.
Here it is
MAX8MYCASH

 

These are the services/mods/add-ons that I've done myself...
Air filter no brainer here
Mud flaps wohoo
PCV valve
Spark plugs
ECU reset - forgot what the code was but hopefully it was nothing
Coolant drain - still can't find the 2 engine block drain bolts
Oil changes - now Mobil 1
Transmission fluid drain including dropping/cleaning the pan with new gasket and filter - Also Mobil 1
Fuel filter - truely a pain in the butt
Porterfield brake pads 4 corners - hated removal of e-brake lines
APC headlight bulbs and harness with inline fuse
Rewired blinkers
Fiamm tripple tone air horn
Pioneer tape player with CD changer in trunk
Hayden tranny cooler
Tire rotations - now that i have an impact wrench

All of this thanks to the Hayden manual/Maxima.org forums/mailing list/Maximadriver.com/MegaMax website/Max FAQ

Too bad i let the dealer did the 30k service back then and wasted $300+ which could've gone toward new rims

 

does the max.org decal rolls in as a mod? if yes then i can do that. that's about it.

 

Ever since I scratched my finger trying to change my wiper blades, I gave it all up.

Actually, I'm lucky enough to have a friend with a lift and a full set of professional tools (air tools, welding equipment, etc). So anytime I need work done (not very often on the maxima) I go to his place and he helps me out...the right tools make life much easier.
I just can bare to spend money when I can take a little time and do it myself.

 

but... yeah I do most all the work on my car(s).. about the only things I haven't done is rebuild an auto trans.. (I hate autos!.. ) and I haven't done any "actual" frame work.. well other than some of the welding/grinding I did on rebuilding the wrecked 90SE....
I'm unfortunately to the point that others "assume" I know what I'm doing/talking about so I get lots of advice asking from friends... I'm only 22 though.. so in the 7 or so years I've been wrenching on them I've learned a little.. but still have a lllllooooooonnnnnnggggg way to go... I have a pretty decent understanding of most mechanical concepts/theories and that I believe is almost more important than having the will and tools to do something.. if you can understand how/why things work it makes it easier to diagnois and tear apart/put them back together.. at least thats my thoughts....