Obviously I'm not preaching to the converted, just a minority of fanatical people, lol!!

 

Of course you're the minority. You don't believe in modding period.

 

weight reduction is great !

 

Sure I believe in modding. After I buy new tires, I plan on buying an RSB to complement the FSTB I bought last year. I have a Budget y-pipe and a K&N panel filter, but am not into noise - hence no CAI. I'm not into suspension mods and bigger wheels because I like the 4x4 look and my fuel economy right where it is.

I was considered radical in my youth because of my long hair, but I grew out of that too just as you will with your penchant for modding. Then will come the wife, the house and mortgage, the dog, a rugrat or two and maybe 20 years from now when you can afford it you will buy a new car and decide to leave it alone, lol!

 

My fuel economy has gone up with every power mod I have ever done, and the lighter I make my car the better the fuel mileage is. I will never leave any car alone that I buy because I like to tinker, and I can always make something better than original. Its in my blood, it is not something I will grow out of, and I don't post because I care what other people think.

 

If that's what makes you happy, go for it! I quit drag racing 35 years ago when I used to flog my dad's 1967 Mustang sedan, 390 with 320 hp. And don't get me wrong I still like to go fast once in a while. I've had my Maxima up to at least 145 mph on one occasion, but thats it, never again.

 

10char

 

Now it is my turn to do some weight reduction so I can get into the low 14's

 

That's pretty good

Though I'm going to have to side with rmurdoch on this one. IMO, this extreme weight reduction is rather silly when it comes to semi luxury/sports sedans. I can totally understand using lightweight items like aftermarket exhaust, y-pipes, quality coilovers, lightweight rims, painted CF hoods, and such. But to gut the Maxima by removing sound deadening, chassis bracing, carpeting, stereos, power steering, A/C, power seats, bumper bars, lightweight batteries, removing sunroofs and replacing with Lexan, etc is just a bit extreme for a sedan. I could understand if this was an auto-X Miata or something similiar, but a FWD sedan with an open diff and a less than desirable suspension setup? I agree that the braking, acceleration, and handling will improve, but the ride will suffer because the springs and struts are made to work with a car that is 300-450lbs heavier.

This is entirely my view, but I prefer my sedans to be both luxurious and fast. I'm not willing to compromise between the two. If it means I have to make more power to overcome the weight, then so be it. I'm not giving up my ride quality and driveability. I like having power accessories and full climate control. I find it very hard to believe that these gutted Maximas are as quiet as they were with all the OEM sound insulations. That stuff is there for a reason hence the name sound insulation. I know the Maxima is far from a quiet car, but I think people easily forget how much quieter the car was when stock. I noticed massive amounts of additional road noise when going to the track with my passenger seats out. Having a loud interior and the constant hmmm and bark of the exhaust and intake would just be silly in a sedan.

To me, a sedan isn't a race car. If I wanted a race car or drag car, I would have bought something that was RWD, light, had two seats, IRS, and preferably decent power. I always looked to my Maxima as a poorman's BMW and I followed their mantra of healthly power in a stiff and well handling chassis with creature comforts. Granted it was no BMW, but I modified it so that the driveability improved (hacked airbox, y-pipe, MEVI/ECU, 2K muffler) and had just a nice hint of noise under WOT, but was completely quiet at cruise and 1 second and 7mph faster than stock in the 1/4 mile. I went to great lengths to make it ride and handle good (Koni/H&R/ME strut mounts/SFCs/17lb 17s). On the inside I installed a leather kit which completely changed the character of the inside and added the Stillen body kit to enhance the style. If I would have gone the other route and gutted it, did nothing to the exterior, I would have been terribly disappointed with the car even though it would have been quicker. I like the looks and feel just as much as I like the power. I feel the same way about my G.

 

Very well put Dave B! I find it reassuring to note that someone agrees with me and was able to articulate his positon so succinctly.

 

I don't want to get flamed for this, but...

I'm gonna have to agree with murdoch on some points.

This car is meant to have a good mixture of performance and features. It's supposed to be comfortable yet still beat the 4-cylinders.

Trying to make a maxima into a strictly performance car or strictly 'luxury' car is understandable if you want to be unique..everybody has their own reasons for doing things, however when you strip out everything on a maxima just to make it go faster, don't say all you care about is performance, because there are better performing cars out there that don't require that kind of work.

Just my 2 cents, all Im saying is that maximas are good cars but there are better cars for performance and for luxury.

 

Well put Decker87, particularly for someone who is only 17. Keep up the critical thinking and you'll go far, lol!

 

Both Dave-B and Decker87 make great points, I tend to agree but then again to each his own, hell i'd love to drive a 2500lbs maxima, but not everyday.
I also got my maxima because it was the best bang for the buck when it came to luxo and power.

reality sucks, a maxima is no sports car, enter the miata with an a ls1

 

There are tons of better performing cars out there. Some people want to see how far they can take the car they started out doing little things to. Be it Maxima, Mustang, Corsica or Pinto. Some people want to have the best performing maxima around. Believe me know I could have a much better performing car of another make and model for the money I've spent on my maximas.

I personally, at this point in time wouldn't go ripping into my maxima to make it as light as I could. I, like many others, would rather have a faster car that weighs more but is also more comfortable to ride in than one stripped to the bare metal. At the same time I respect krismax's desire to make his car as fast as possible, and if he cares nothing about the resale or comfort of the car, who in the world are you Mr. Murdoch to call him stupid (your words, not mine) for doing so?

Resale is barely even worth discussing (excuse the pun). 4th gen resale is in the crapper and only getting worse. You'd be lucky to get $2000 out of a 200k mile 4th gen. On the other hand it is worth its weight in gold to someone who has put a few years of effort, blood, sweat, tears, and parts into.

 

I didn't call krismax stupid. I jokingly said "Stupid is as stupid does" to quote a wise man. All I meant by this is that I wouldn't do it and if krismax wants to end up with a steering wheel, an engine and powertrain and 4 wheels thats up to him. A difference of opinion is what makes for a stock market and the world to go around, lol!

 

I think thats why we see the two views,ive figured it out finally iam disgusted by overweight ,overstuffed cars and iam not looking for a couch on wheels . I want a mechwarrior i cant strap on and have my body thrown around like the way it wasnt designed. My car is my alcohal,drugs and tabacco ,do you do these three things if you do any tell me your logic in doing these .If you say its your fun or your release then i will tell you thats why i love my car.
But iam different i dont want something thats super fast right of the bat then i cant put my own personality into it , i enjoy doing a mod then seeing the fruits of my work shine.

If i won the lotto id still have my max and it would still be my favorite car.

 

Before we know it, Kris will have the only fiberglass body and tube chassis Maxima in the world.


I loved my Maxima with all my heart and I put a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money into that car. It was like a good pair of jeans. Then I got the G35 and as bad as it sounds, I don't miss the Maxima at all. The G35 isn't God's gift to the automotive world, but it does open your eyes at how much better the driving experience can get.

 

Kris, don't forget to let me know when you are ready to hit the track. I'll get more footage of the car with the camcorder.

About the weight reduction issue, some people just like to talk. Kris continue to do what makes you happy.

 

Ok I would like to share my points after reviewing everyone post's I can see so many misconceptions, especially to the ones who disagree with Kris...


1. Krismax's car isn't a daily driver, He does have another car..

2. Even if it was a daily driver it's safer then a stock 4thgen.

3. No one here including myself, that's done major weight reduction for street use have not I REPEAT HAVE NOT sacrificed safety.
Me
Krismax
&
Broaner are the only two I can think of.

4. If anyone has sacrificed safety, I'm not aware of who has, the only person that I know is Plurco but his car is for track use ONLY!.

I can prob speak for Krismax and to all gear guru's we enjoy are cars very much making power, weight reduction and doing something very few have done such as 3.5 swaps, 00VI swaps, cam swaps major weight reduction, etc. etc. Stop assuming things How are you going to say he's stupid sacrificing safety, Ask Kris what he's done, don't assume just because he's 2700lbs that he's dumb and is waisting his Time PLEASE ask Kris what his goals are whith his car you have no idea what's going on but yet you know everything and start calling out names "MR, murdoch". Yeah it's a family sedan but that just makes it more interesting, to me and more of a challenge. Another thing people don't seem to understand I can speak for myself here . I'm not rich I don't have a ton of money I'm 22 and go to school full time work part time. I work with what I got. If I had the money then it prob would be different who knows if I'm going to tare it up or not to me it all ends up on the car how much money I have and my goals, etc.. maybe I'll have enough money and buy a G35 gut it out and race who knows I may have two of them . It's a hobby and I love it I'll be doing this prob the rest of my life everyone around me is apart of some sort of car club, race team etc. I'm on a path headed to the Automotive Racing Industry "Hint SCCA" "Champion Audi" All of this will aid in our future I learned so much here , the Org is filled with helpful info.


*****I think we need to think before we speak please read the topic and post only about that Topic not post whoring trash talking...I vote that the person who starts the thread has say in on who he want's banned from there Thread it's only better that we have this to prevent OFF TOPIC POST'S waisting pages.*****

But anyways my point is I don't know how we came so off the topic which is
"I weighed my car" not "your stupid" " now you can't sell your car" "Your going to drive your car in the dirt"

 

Sorry for the long post but I just had to let it out..
Kris what clutch and flywheel are you using?

 

Hey Dave B do you have any hi res pics of the max? I'd love to have some to add to my collection of max wallpapers

 

i will not argue about any of this this is what i do and enjoy ,thanks deezo and japmax.

I have a RSX at home and a focus hatch my maxima since the swap has been used alot lately and i do drive it to work.

My goals are 2500lbs with Complete interior seats carpet and all .( its 95% there now) And weight reduction also can not be noticed by people unless they snoop and take things apart.


Also i have driven many cars new and old ,i had a 350z convertible that i rented in vegas in august. i can tell you the things i like about it is ,suspension and great look after that its all bad . My cars much faster more fun and cheaper to mod.
Also my cars braking is MUCH better than 350z but 350z handles better. ill have coilovers as soon as i can to even the score with a coilover setup weighted for my cars weight i should handle good enough for me. The only thing i hated about the car is its slow acceration for the hp it had, the heft RUINS the car.


If 350z had RS version i would prob bite. But ill always keep the max i wouldnt sell it or part with it. and someday ill get a 350z and do the same to this as i did my max(prob make it 2750lbs).

 

its a act street version HDPP the disc i believe says it holds in the 360lb ft torque range?

and stock flywheel ill switch when a chromoly version comes out. No aluminum for me.

 

They say that a chromoly Flywheel won't have an erratic idle that most aluminum flywheels have.
I'm going with fidanza has anyone felt this erratic idling?
When is this comming out.Soon I hope..