I just got a used 91' Maxima GXE for my birthday as a present in June. It has 180K on it but the body has no dents and it's clean as hell inside. I had the common problem where the exaust studs break but I had them repaired for 500 dollars but apparently the guy who did it sabotaged my car and did something to my timing belt so that I would have to come back because 8 hours later my timing belt broke and my engine was destroyed which sucks because my car was running perfectly fine since I've had it with the exception of the manifold problem . Anyway I dont want to get rid of my Max just yet because I just had a rebuilt tranny and new exaust manifold put in. The NEW mechanic I found to work on my car said he would charge me 500 in labor to swap it for a used engine if I find one and I found one for 650 with 80K on it. Does anybody think it's worth it to go ahead and have the car fixed or is 500 for a engine swap too much?? Remember the car body is in very good condition plus I haven't had any other problems with the car.I also wanna know has anybody done the VG for VG swap and had any problems?? Also does anybody know where I can find shocks and struts for my ride really cheap and who makes the best CAI because I wanna add at least another 15-30hp?

 

first off make sure the motor you are buying is in great working order! make sure there are records or leakdown or compression tests done on it...and yeah if the labor is only gonna cost you $500, GO FOR IT!!! 80k miles is like having a new car all over again...for $1050 and to have your car running like new again is a great deal!! just make sure the motor going in isn't a POS!

 

Since you're in queens, NY, I know of a place that will do the engine swap for you, $400 in labor. You can get a maxima engine for around $400-500, junk yard warranty is 1 month.

da max..don't make me bust out the calculator on you. ($1150)

 

oh snap... send me back to 1st grade!

 

I'd make your first mechanic pay for that timing belt. Its not cool what happened, im luck to have a good family mechanic, but i hear so many stories.

 

I also live in queens and I know shops in near shea stadium that will do the labor for an engine switch for 350.00 and you buy the engine with a warranty from them for around 500.00. It's too bad how you are having these problems so soon with the car. 3rd gen maxima's are nice cars but they have some problems that make you mad like fuel injectors, always tranny problems, and almost always manifold problems.

 

That's the willets point area. A bit of advice concerning the junk yards and auto shops at willets point, avoid them. The police has alot of undercover investigations going on, alot of stolen cars end up there to be stripped for parts..etc. I was over there like a month ago and a cop searched my car as I was leaving, luckily i didn't buy anything.
Go to the hunts point area in the bronx. There's a huge selection of parts there at much better prices. There's also a shop there named hermans or somethin like that that does the work VERY cheap.

 

whats up guys im in queens ny my 94 got rearended so im parting out
the engine and trans is perfect with 71,000 miles it still in the car you can start it and run it, if interested in buying beets buying one from a junk yard that you cant even start

 

I had the same problem. Had tranny rebuilt, new exhaust plus front-end work. Then a few months later the timing belt busted...bent valves. I actually drove the car for a few months on 4 cylinders. Then it sat for almost 2 years. I just purchased a domestic(not Japan import) vg30E with 49k(I hope) from Midwest Engine Sales. The engine looked pretty rough plus had about 6 exhaust studs broken off. My mechanic installed it and got all parts(water pump, seals, timing belt, plugs, etc) for about $700. Runs real nice. Total = $1400 with freight. But I'm trying to get it ready for my daughter to drive and so I am also getting ready to do brakes ($80), struts($200), wipers($12), replace capacitors($10) in 2 speaker amps that don't work. I know she's going to want a cd player($200) so I'm probably going to have to replace all of the speakers($100) anyways since I've read that they don't get along with anything but the Bose head unit.(something to do with 1-ohm vs 4-ohm output). The rear bumper is yellow since most of the paint is missing on it and the spoiler isn't far behind so it is going to need some paint($600-$1200). Oh yeah, I just ordered some custom seat covers ($200) after having the seats/interior steam cleaned ($55). Man, this is turning into a money pit. What we are willing to do for our kids (especially since she really wants a 95 Acura Integra $6000). Oh, and today i'm going to get some new wires/dist cap/rotor botton($70). I hope i'll be able to do the brake job this weekend without having to replace a rotor($50). Luckily, I've already replaced all 4 power window regulators. (Whew!!)

 

Shoot, sounds like a plehtora of stuff. Before the fog lights start acting up on you, ill buy them off ya. Let me know.