Officially the ride's thread
 

I figured it was finally time to make my "Member's Ride" thread. I've been coming to the org for info/knowledge the last 3 years when I needed help with my i30. I just recently joined last year after the purchase of my second A32. I've had a few threads here and there showing off the new A32 but this will be it's new official home for updates and progress.

Thanks for everyone's help with issues and progression of my new found beloved passion for cars.

The car: 1997 Nissan Maxima SE (A32). It came fully loaded from the factory. Bose, sunroof, spoiler, leather, cold weather package. I bought the car July 19th 2011. It came with some included mods: 2"drop on KYB's struts/shocks, 7" touch screen DVD player, OBX-R Series 5 catback exhaust, Xenon headlights, cone filter pop charge intake.
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Since July the car has made many small changes. The odometer now reads over 255,5XX original miles. Engine still going strong as ever. It's hard to think of every little thing that has been changed since last July. I changed the valve cover gaskets.
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It was incredibly clean underneath the valve covers for having over 250k miles.

I painted the covers with a high temp krinkle black paint.
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I then decided on my color scheme for engine accents.
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The Radiator developed a crack so it was time to upgrade! :D

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I installed an OBX-R short throw shift.
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The person on Ebay that I bought it from didn't include the bolt needed to install the shifter. I had to have a bolt custom machined to install the shifter. Annoying but was worth it for the reduced throw.

Installed a new Nismo black shift knob on the short throw.
http://www.mossyperformance.com/Prod...minum_knob.bmp

Installed FSTB and intake tube
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/.../WP_000076.jpg

I picked up an almost complete 00vi swap from a local junkyard for $65.00 :eek:

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Just waiting on some custom block off plates to install it.

Bought some clear bumper lights
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Retro fit them with White LED's

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Forgot to mention the car was involved in a hit and run this last month.

Surveillance Video of Douche hitting my car

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Hence the new hood

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and plasti dip paint job (unfinished)

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New Prosport gauges: Air/fuel ratio with Bosch wide band sensor, Oil Pressure and Voltage gauge on the way.
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Looks great! I've got a set of s14 wheels sitting in the garage and may have to use them when my current tires wear out. They look good. Overall, you've got a very clean car. Nice work.

Good work! Car is looking good.

Looks nice. What are your plans? Are you tuning the vehicle? Otherwise, I dont see the reasoning behind the biggo A/F gauge.

Big long term plans are turbo, after a motor swap. I do plan on picking up a piggy back to tune with my 00vi swap. I just haven't decided on what to get yet. Whatever I end up choosing, I'll have the gauge and the wideband ready for tuning.

Just ordered my set of OBX-R V2 Headers and y-pipe yesterday. And a 240sx test pipe to go in place of the Cat. Can't wait to put them on. I'll post pictures when I get started working on them.

for months i've been brain storming to do my turn signals with LED strips along with my 3rd brake light. looks good...

Your car is begging for red/clear tails lol

Very nice car thanks for sharing and I like what you did with the underhood paints.

Seriously though, I haven't quite had the chance to get to the back end to remove the amber. It will happen eventually.

Personally, I'm a fan of the bumper light rewire mod. The turn signals are in place of the park lights, and the vise versa. The bumper lights sorta act as a running light. The only down fall is the turn signals are difficult to see from straight ahead, but I haven't had any law enforcement or safety testing give me crap for it.

Thanks!

actually that's what i was thinking of doing too but i was afraid that the turn signal wouldnt be seen from the front. i was thinking of rewiring the turn signal to the headlight corner light and have the bumper turn signal as a "running" light. but like you mentioned, rewiring is no bueno lol

Do you have a pic of the shifter? I have the same STS but haven't installed it. Im considering doing some mods to it before it goes in.

You can just swap out the sockets, wires and all, just run them to the other spots. It's a tight fit, but the wires are long enough. You will have to cut some of the nubs off the socket to get them in there, but it will still go back to stock location. I ran this for a while and enjoyed it.

I highly recommend modifying it before installing. It sits far to close to the dash in 1st, 3rd and 5th gear. When I install my new headers and ypipe I intend to remove it and make some modifications to it myself. I'll be bending it towards the driver about 10-15 deg so that it sits in the same place the stock shifter sat in neutral. I'm also debating chopping 1/2"-1" from it as well. I kinda want it to sit a little lower. Haven't quite decided.

Unfortunately I don't have any other pics of the actual install.. Between the custom bolt I had to have made and the cold weather, I wasn't in the mood for taking a bunch of pics during the install. The actual throw distance is nice. It shifts smoothly and I haven't had any problems with it "snapping" like others have said. Overall it's a good shifter, it just needs some slight tweaking to get a great fitment.

hmmm

I'm loving everything except the A/F gauge. I like the color chosen for the intake plenum, the wrinkled valve covers and its a nice contrast with the white wrapped wire looms.

OP, you should get some clamps on those intake hoses.

thanks. The gauge has since been updated. New pods and placement. Looks a lot better now. Pics in the near future.

You know, they don't really need them. The hose is aftermarket and the inner diamiter is much smaller then the connections they go on. It's on there so tight in fact that I have to use vice grips to loosen it for removal. I've also tested it for vacuum leaks. I figure the less clamps the better I hate those damn things. I'm always cutting my knuckles open on them. :laugh:

UPDATE!

Installed 2 of my 3 gauges. Review here: http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...es-review.html

Gave her a bath and a small photoshoot to show everything up to date.
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UPDATE!

OBX-R V2 Headers and Y-pipe came today.

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^^^nice, i've been looking into some headers and these come into mind a lot since there's been a few members that have been getting them.

I'll be posting instillation pics tomorrow when they go in.

that gold/orange is fukin money! looks great on that white. should get some Ksports

Yeah, the anodized orange camber plates would look cool in there. I suggest getting the black bodied KSport's. I love mine.

Those blue couplers seem to stick out like a boner in sweatpants though.

Suspension and wheels are probably gonna have to wait until next year unfortunately. Unless I find a pot of gold or something.. :laugh:

I concur. I've already bought new ones with my new intake setup. I've ordered the Apexi dryflow filter and 3 new black cupplers to replace the blue ones and install the Apexi. Should look much better in week or so.

Finally got the headers on. I'll have pics posted up tonight for everyone to see the cross member and the complete install.

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i understand that

good work so far

However, a buddy of mine may sell me his 18" wheels. I'm still kinda hesitant to rock 18"s Something tells me they will rub something fierce.

It depends on the tire sizes and widths/offsets of the wheels.

^^^what he said, 225/40/18's are as close to stock 15's on height. i personally dont think you would rub or have a problem with that size.

He doesn't know the offset. I think the width is 8.5 though. They are on his 4th gen max that he's parting out. The rear are damn near flush with the fender and the front poke just a hair. Right now he has 2XX/45/18. Not sure of the width on the tire size. He said they didn't rub as bad on 2XX/40/18 but he couldn't afford the cheapest set of 40's so he through on the 45's. I'll probably end up putting them on 40's so they don't rub and call it a day. He's selling them to me for $200 and they are brand spankin new.

Car looks good. Gives me inspiration :) keep it up.

Did u notice the gains after the header install?

Thanks. Yes the gains are very noticeable. My Max struggled to go above 120mph with it stock. After the install my buddy drove it back to my house and he buried the needle past 140mph :eek:. The track isn't open yet, but I'm sure after I get the 00vi installed I'll be pulling on stock SRT4's and STi's like nobodies business.