I got Pedals for the 5spd swap
 

I finally picked up a set of pedals out of a junkyard 97 Maxima. I am two steps closer to actually doing the swap. I need various misc. things but the bulk of the parts are gathered. I don't actually drive this car much anymore but I have a soft spot for it so I am going to keep it.

Parts and updates
 

Hey all,

Its been a long time, I still have the car. I am about to do the 5spd swap with my brother. The auto is about done, shifts hard and the CEL indicates an issue with the shift solenoids ( already replaced about 5 years ago)

All I need to order is the slave clutch cylinder and its lines and the axles, I have everything else.

I did a complete brake job last weekend. this fixed my ebrake issues.

My 98 Maxima was stolen and destroyed by the thief, I ended up turning it over to the auction as I didn't want to fix the damage. RIP

I hope to have the transmission in by the end of the summer.

cheers

Damn, sorry to hear about your Maxima, what a nightmare. Glad to hear you're making progress on the swap, good luck!

1997 Maxima 5spd MT ECU
 

Hey all,

I went to the yard today and pulled a 97 MT ECU, I will use for the swap. This was a pain to remove but once I had clearance below the radio it just fell out with the bracket.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....71f21fa0f3.jpg

I still need to get the bracket for the passenger axle, other than that I am done with the parts for the swap

5spd swap starting tomorrow
 

Well I have all the parts, besides the Stainless clutch line which is coming Wednesday,

I will try to take pictures of the install process and finished product. I cant wait to have this car in a 5spd.

Luckily I have a 5spd car to pull parts as I need near me at the junkyard for a few weeks,

Progress,

Got the Auto out - I have to wait a few days to get the manual in. The auto came out with some struggle due to some stuck connections.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....a0c5131978.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....73ad1b7665.jpg

The mechanical part of the swap is done. The electrical part of the swap is still pending but she drives and goes into gear okay.

Awesome!

Hey all,

I drove the car to work today with the manual, I am a newbie when it comes to stick so I was a bit harsh on the gear shifts but with practice I should be able to master it in no time. My disability makes it a bit hard to push the clutch to the floor but I will get used to it in time. The last manual car I drove was a Scion IA 6 or so years ago.

I forgot to plug the speed sensor in so I didn't have a speedo when driving today, but I fixed that. I still need to put the manual ECU and the brake pedal in, tomorrow hopefully.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....25093126f.jpeg

My next project with this car is to do a complete interior swap with a black junkyard I30. I just need to find one. Most of the stuff I can get from a Maxima.

I need:

The dash
Vents
auto-dim mirror
back seat

I believe that is all the Infiniti I30 specific parts.

I will update when I can.

Congrats, that a big accomplishment! Bet you fell in love with the car all over again.

Hey Thanks,

Yeah the car feels completely different now. I have driven it quite a bit the last few days and I am just liking it even more everytime I drive it. I am concerned about 2nd gear though, I assume its a bit worn. Shifting from 1st or downshifting from 3rd tends to grind a bit, Not all the time but sometimes it just doesnt like it. I took a gamble with a junkyard transmission so I guess I wasnt expecting greatness. I am curious what you would recommend as I know you have serviced these in the past. There is also the question of the VLSD transmission out of the I30, should I try and find one or is it not worth the effort. I have no plans to race or drift the car, but it would be cool to have the stock I30 trans if I can find one, I have only seen one 5spd 97 I30 at the yards and that was years ago.

What fluid are you using? I ran Amsoil for 15+ years but recently switched to Motul at the recommendation of the shop who built my 6 speed. Does the issue get better as you get more heat in the trans/fluid? Are you running a one piece SS clutch line? If not, get one, re-bleed the system, and see if that helps at all.

I wouldn't say I've serviced these, I only got as far as disassembly since I didn't think I could shim everything properly when reassembling. If you decide to have it rebuilt, I recommend getting all of your bearings and synchros from Amayama in Japan. Parts availability is great and so are their prices.

As I understand it, the VLSD in those transmissions wears out over time, so it's probably not worth the effort to track one down unless you get it for a good price or find a trans with less than 100k on it. Some Maximas in Canada came with the VLSD as well, so you can expand your search there if you want. And not all I30s came with the VLSD, only the Touring models.

95maxrider,

Currently running Amsoil gear oil, let me clarify it grind when going into gear.If I shift slowly then it doesnt, so maybe I am not engaging the clutch enough. It does get better when the transmission fluid is warm, I am running the single SS clutch line, ( did not even bother with the stock lines).

I will probably stick with the non-VSLD trans and get it rebuilt if needed. Junkyards are full of Maximas around here so pickings are good so if I need another one I can get one to be rebuilt if I go that route.

Thank you for your response.

- Alex

Good job on the swap. If you can, try and get the leather out of a 98-99 i30. Those years had the perforated leather seats for both front and rear seats. Also on the 98-99 i30, the front seats will have the Infiniti logo and the word “Infiniti” on them. I could be wrong, but I believe the only 4th gen Maxima that came with perforated leather was a 99 SE-L.

With the VLSD it's not the diff that wears out, it's the bearings. They're two different sizes compared to the open diff, which are the same size. The speculation is that since the VLSD bearings don't get loaded equally, they wear out quicker.

Hey all,

Black Friday was eventful this year. Was able to pull a black dash from a 1999 I30, the limited wood grain steering wheel, Infiniti Limited door sills, auto dimming mirror, all three floor mats, and some other odds and ends.

I need to do a suspension overhall on the car. The car feels really sloppy at high speed and has really worn bushings and joints. That is my next project while i start swapping the interior over to black. Lot of work to do.

I loved my limited steering wheel and sill plates.. even had the steering wheel rewrapped via craft customs. Sometimes its the little things you get to see every day that make all the difference.

They do look pretty sleek, excited to install it as my wheel is so worn and gross. I already have door sills for the beige I30 limited but I am glad I found black ones to match the swap.

Hey all,

I am currently working on pulling black interior pieces for the swap. got the glove box plastic top piece today, it was much cheaper to do that instead of getting the entire glove box. Just had to swap the key lock over from mine and swap the hard plastic top. It was simple.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....27f0c66488.jpg
Also have an OEM key from the I30 in the yard a few years back. I was going to cut it down to match my key but the groove is to deep. I might get a friend to weld a key blank on it and then Ill cut it to match my key.

Pulled the seat belts and trim as well. and a black 95-97 style center console, it took a long time to clean but the leather and actual console are in excellent shape. the Latch even still works. I like the look of these ones over the 98-99 with the removable cup holder. Square cup holders kinda suck though.

The nice thing is when I start stripping the car of the beige dash, carpet and trim I can give the car a deep clean, something stinks and I assume its seeped into the carpet and foam underneath.

I am going to try to pull the rest of the black interior this weekend. I am still looking for good seats and a sunroof headliner in black.

Thats all this time.

Black Interior Swap has begun and steering wheel stuff
 

Hey Guys,
I just swapped the black Infiniti Dash into my car, and it looks so nice. I can't wait to get the rest of the pieces installed to complete the swap. I will have pictures soon...

I still need:
A and C pillars from a pre-98 with the tweeter grilles
Headliner
All the seats
Carpet
Sun visors

Also, my car is a 97 built-in 12/96 according to the VIN sticker, and the VIN year indication reflects that as well. so I thought the 97-99 Steering wheels were the same with the newer style full airbag. my 97 I30 has the smaller airbag and the 95-96 wheel design. I was hoping to swap the 99 Limited steering wheel onto my 97. Do I need to do the modifications found here: https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...wap-guide.html or is the wheel physically the same in the 97-99 apart from the airbags.

I will look closely at the wheel and see if the clockspring would line up with the 97 stock wheel...

Update March 2024
 

Hey Guys,

I am still working on this car. I am slowly getting the black interior in.

Black dash was put in a while back. I couldn't find a black airbag that wasn't deployed at the yards so I painted the beige one: it could look better but it's not too bad... Fixed an annoying raddle, that the old dash had.

Swapped the VIN plate from the old dash to keep the VINs matching.

Also got a mint black carpet from a 1997 I30 at the yard, door cards as well, I am missing the driver's door right now.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....24bf358ae6.jpg
Pulled the pillars and rear speaker deck as well and deleted the third brake light, I have the spoiler brake light so I didnt need the one in the window.
I am still looking for a black headliner, I have the sunroom piece.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....d62401546c.jpg
Looking to find a wood grain style shifter bezel to match the rest of the console. Manual ones are hard to find at the yards.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....b57876bf59.jpg
I still need to find the seats and install the 99 Limited steering wheel.

The blend door actuator failed a few months ago. I only have hot heat in any setting on the AAC. Sometimes the motor works and I get the cold air but its getting rare.

Damn, that's a lot of work, congrats on following through. I'm searching for a set of black floor mats (not the light gray ones from the 98-99 cars), so if you happen to come across a set in good/great condition pick them up and I'll pay you for them. I'd love for the carpets to come from a Touring or Limited, but beggars can't be choosers!

I will keep an eye out. I have access to about 6 yards close to me (within 200ish miles) I frequent all the time.

Thanks, I'd really appreciate it. The yards around me pretty much stopped getting any 4th gens, and I haven't had any luck with online sources.

I used duplicolor vinyl & fabric dye on my old cars headliner and rear shelf. It worked great.

Hi all,

I have had Nissan Cefiro headlights for quite some time now. Bought them off Buyee for less than 30 dollars a piece.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....8666a58542.jpg

Test fitted the passenger side. They bolt in in the same spots the old Infiniti lights sit, except for the fender bolts

I still need to finish polishing the lens and wire up the H4 connector for the bulb. The driver side headlight is is in much better shape, I just need the gasket that holds the bulb in.

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to pick some up