I am looking for performance modifications here. I have looked in the search and everyone is listing stuff like wax, clear corners, shave badging. To me unless useful I do not want it on my car. I am a power/speed fan not looks, well maybe rims but that is about it.

So are there free things or relatively cheap things to add power or handling? I am not afraid it rip the motor apart since I have years of experience with my Camaro and the other cars I have owned. Thanks all.

 

Free???.....you can take stuff Out of your car....lose a little weight.....that will help a little....j/k

 

Hmmm... Do a search on the GAB mod, it's not free but under 10 bucks

-Dennis

 

You shouldn't be driving a Maxima if you want free mods!!!

 

handling: get a fstb off ebay -- it's like $10 + shipping so $25 max (i love using the word max)

 

There's a lot of things you can do, though don't expect to get tons of freed up HP from it.

Among other things:
a) GAB mod, if you want cheaper than $10 then just duct tape the filter to the box. It's not pretty, but it works. While you're at it, tap the filter to get rid of excess bugs/dirt/etc.
b) Clean your car, somehow the Max seems to perform better when its clean.
b.1) While you're at it, check your radiator and clear it of bugs. Clean radiator = better efficiency = cooler engine = better performance. (I took out two hands full of bugs when i cleaned mine recently.
c) Check your tire pressure, if it's under or overinflated, that affects both handling and staight line performance. From my experience, underinflated tires can cause a lot of drag when accelerating while moving.
d) Depending on how many miles you have on your car - the usual rounds of cleaning (e.g. throttle body, etc) also works.

Each will probably give you 1/2hp of extra "kick" if anything. But together they should make the car feel a lot better.

 

No one mentioned the Drop Resistor Mod - unplug the resistor that is on the right front strut. Your shifts (under normal throttle at least) will be real firm. REAL firm
check my homepage for intake ideas
get a smaller belt and disconnect your A/C by putting a smaller belt on - kinda like getting an UDP.
Get a Maxima.org sticker - good for... what is it now? 10 hp?

 

Hmm...I thought the maxima.org sticker added 30hp and 55 lb of torque?

 

Maybe at the crank and on a VQ35. On a smaller displacement 3L you're looking at about 2/3's of that.

 

Ok, free mods:

Intake - take it off, run open throttlebody and MAF, no restrictions=more air=more HP. and its free

Exhaust - Take it off. Everything past the manifold. opens it up, loud as hell but free HP.

Accessories - take them out too, they do nothing but add parasitic losses onto your belt.

Rear seat - take it out, weighs too much, slows you down

Spare tire - take it out, its heavy

Then do the drop resistor mod and yer about at the limit for free mods.

 

Wow quite a nasty response from all of you. That is pretty hospitable. I know no one knows me at all but I am from the domsetic car side and there are a lot of cheap or free modifications that can be done to make the car handle and accelerate faster. Bump timing, reprogram the PROM, chop the springs, gut the air box, regap the plugs, STB, SFC, LCA's, those are all inexpensive (under $100) or free.

I guess I am going to have to look around the car myself and figure something out.

 

The timing can be advanced a degree or two but that would entail the help of your local Nissan service center. If you know someone there, then it's a free and easy mod. Otherwise, be prepared to pay for it and/or be given a hard time for it.

I wouldn't recommend chopping the springs, you'll soon see the error of this mod. Worse ride characteristics and premature degradation of your shock's ability to perform well.

The SFC is more than $100 unless you custom fabricate it yourself. As for reprogramming the ECU - unless you have access to a multi-thousand $$$ piece of equipment, it's not going to be easy or cheap.

 

oh...CHEAP...my middle name!

i just did the GAB mod (just cut the top of the air box filter holder piece off) with a K&N filter. not sure how much it really helped - but sure sounds better now! GAB hack job = free. K&N filter = about $45.

i just did a custom (or ghetto...depends on who you ask!) intake...otherwise know as OSCAI (do a search to find out more details). = about $25.

i also just picked up a cheap FTSB from eBay. $10 plus shipping.

there are chips and/or resistors sold on eBay that claim to add hp...not sure about any of those personally - i've heard not to waste your $.

also things mentioned above like cleaning throttle body, plugs, use preminum fuel, etc, etc are fairly inexpensive.

oh, and yes...the .ORG sticker is atleast 10hp!