My oldest brother owned a 98 SE 5-speed roughly 10 years ago. That car is pretty much the reason I am such a die hard car enthusiast. I've had so many memories in the passenger seat of that Maxima. So, when I was looking for a car, my choice was clear.I bought a 98 5-speed SE roughly a year ago with a few mods already from the previous owner. . Appearance wise, it looked stock other than the red/clear tails and clear corners. The chassis had roughly 158k with the motor having 85k all for $3300. This is how it looked when I first bought it. Paint doesn't look in that bad shape but it's just a ****ty picture.












Modifications:
Cattman 2.5'' exhaust w/ Fastcat HFC
Stillen intake
Tokico Illumnas
Progress rear sway, ebay FSTB
Stillen body kit brand new in box, no paint
Budget Y-pipe

First thing I noticed, the transmission made a bit of noise! The paint on the rear bumper, quarter panels were horrible (looked grey). The front bumper was littered with rock ships and the clear coat was fading as well. The hood was dented along with rust spots here and there. With being in college, I knew it would be a bit before I could paint the car along with the body kit. Within a month of owning the car, the carrier mount snapped in half. Nelledge on the org helped me out significantly with that repair. Pretty much, I spent majority the initial months doing maintenance. This past summer, my transmission finally bit the dust. Pulled it out with the help of Aackshun and had it rebuilt.

My buddy and Aackshun helping to drop the tranns.


Tranny done!


Installed Kenwood HU and speakers


I bought a set of 350Z wheels.



The ****ty paint REALLY stands out here.


Retrofit is the next mod.

 

Recently, I had the bumpers, kit, and quarter panels painted. The rest of the car is fine, just needs a good clay, polish, and wax.






The spot above the headlight is just my lens flare.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6456282509/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6456282509/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moeedq/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457069151/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457069151/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moeedq/, on Flickr






http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457592203/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457592203/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moeedq/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457620693/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6457620693/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moeedq/, on Flickr

My short-terms plans for the car are some form of suspension, wheels, and retrofit.

Long-term. VQ35.


Thoughts?

 

Mannn the way your car is coming along makes me wonder why I am hesitant to go all out with mine. Yours looks great man!

 

Car looks awsome man, glad you stick with it through the repairs love to see em fixed up, some of the things you've done are lined up for my car in the future... Keep it up!

 

Thanks guys!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457623957/http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457623957/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/33331631@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457624527/http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457624527/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/33331631@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457625281/http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457625281/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/33331631@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457625643/http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457625643/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/33331631@N04/, on Flickr


Sorry, I know car is dirty! Just after paint though..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457699027/http://www.flickr.com/photos/33331631@N04/6457699027/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/33331631@N04/, on Flickr

 

The car is begging to be dropped lol The rest looks good though.

Something definitely has to be done to those headlights. It looks a little weird with tinted corner and bumper lights.

 

Coming along nicely

 

i love the car just the way it is!!!! smoked lights all around looks perfect and is exactly what i am planning to do. your car looks so amazing, enjoy it!

 

thats one sexy unslammed (not giving you grief just stating of how epic it is) 4th gen. love it man, well executed

 

Good looking car, keep it up! It's nice to see projects like this come along w/ a story behind it.

 

Looks great. Any other plans for it?

 

NICE ND CLEAN MAXI

 

Car has come a long way, keep up the good work

 

Definitely have my sights on retrofit, coils or springs, and wheels. Not sure which order....whatever comes up.

 

Talk to me for a retro! Shoot me a PM.

 

nice ride

 

Very nice. I need some pics to be snapped of mine... and or ours.

 

Nice ride, headlights

 

Another Texas boy doing good work. Nice job, bro.

 

It looks gorgeous... I like the headlights and the wheels on your car bro. I don't know why, but I woudn't touch them. It just looks more classy, simple, and less busy in my opinion. Just close that wheel gap and it would be perfect in my eyes. But it's your car and you've done it right so far so just keep doin you!

 

Looks great.! Nice Car.

 

Ride looks good, like the black and the rims....might get me a 4th gen....

 

very nice keep up the good work

 

Another maxima in SA, nice. Maybe I'll run into u at a meet or what not...

 

AE'd my headlights, looks sick!. Sorry about ****ty pics, my buddy has my camera.







Thanks!



For sure man, Send me a PM!

shut up aaron.

Thanks man, diggin the I30!

I just AE'd my headlights...looks great! But ya, I'm king of leaning towards lowering my car first now.

We have similar front ends! love it

thanks man!

Thank ya!

Yeah man, I go out to the meets pretty often. Look for me.

 

I do not have your camera...........

 

 

Hopefully someone has my camera....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6502701859/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeedq/6502701859/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moeedq/, on Flickr

 

if i end up at one, you know me when you see my pos. it sticks out like a sore thumb lol...

 

Someone has the mod bug

 

how did you get those corner lights like that? love them

 

I believe my painter used 2 coats of Nissan KH3, my LED's are still stupid bright through the paint.



Deciding on what brand coilovers to buy, probably close to a month before I pull the trigger.

 

Looks super clean

 

Looks good! Those 350z rims look better on your 4th gen.

 

Man that thing is clean. Keep it up, it looks great!

 

Thanks man!
<3



I ended up cracking one of my wheels today . I was following a fellow local org member around SA driving fast like an idiot. Inspected my car, 2 spokes on my passenger side wheel are about to crack in half literally. I was pretty pissed but I think I'll have another set in 2 days.


In other news, after waiting and researching and saving. I've purchased BC Coilovers. Next on the list, Retrofit.

 

Fixed

 

Ehhh. Haha.

 

Nice ride brotha I can't wait to get into modding mines

 

keep moding!