hi I have a 2000 maxima se automatic and was wondering if it was possible to switch my transmission to a 5spd or a 6spd if possible how much would it be around and second what would be more worth it a manual transmission swap or a supercharger even though I was always against having any type of turbo or supercharger in an auto car.

 

A auto to manual tranny swap will cost you at minimal $3500~ and the performance of your car cannot be guaranteed whether everything will go smoothly after a couple thousand miles. S/C info can be found in the turbo & S/c section. Most people will say its better for you to trade in your car or sell it privately and then buy a manual or add a couple grand to get a 2002 or 2003 m/t. Truly a swap is not worth it for the money but if you're loaded with cash its good to do if you want it really badly.

 

Converting an auto to a 5spd shouldn't be a problem. www.MaximumTuning.net, go there. They're in New York and they do conversions. Give them a call and ask for pricing.

 

I had an autotragic 2000 GLE and I remember having the same questions. Unfortunately I didn't get to choose which one because my auto tranny blew, so I hunted down the parts for a 5spd conversion with limited slip. The whole process ended up costing me about ~$2800, which isnt bad considering nissan wanted $3300 or something to replace the auto.

If you want to do a conversion here is the list of **** you need:
5spd tranny (try and get the I30 LSD or Canadian Maxima LSD if possible)
Both Manual drive shafts (if you have ABS you need specific ones, if you don't have ABS you can use ABS ones)
1 clutch kit (clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out bearing)
2 shifting rods (support rod + control rod) (acquire used w/ all the hardware)
Return spring (connect to the 2 shifting rods (Buy this new, the stiffer the tighter your shifter feels)
1 5spd starter
1 shifter (Acquire used to get nuts and bolts (buy with the shifter rods)
1 shifter console piece (interior)
1 shift consul bracket (Replaces your auto one) (interior) (dealer name plate bolt and transaxle hole cover)
1 brake pedal
1 clutch pedal
1 master cylinder
Hydraulic lines for clutch
1 slave cylinder for clutch
1 extra set of tranny harnesses (might come w/ 5spd tranny)
1 18ga wire and wiretaps
Assorted cotter pin set.
1 Manual Fly wheel
1 Manual motor mount
Tranny Fluid (GL-4 or redline is preferable)
Locking pin and clip for the clutch pedal to the master cylinder (you could bend a nail but I would go to the dealer and pay $4)
2 nuts that fit the threads on the clutch pedal.
1 bolt that bolts in the top of the clutch pedal (the dealer can find it's size for you)
1 bolt that connects the control rod to the tranny (the dealer can find it's size for you)
If you want to do it, I would do what Dixit did and get a 4th gen 5spd tranny and axels for next to nothing and have someone build you a custom 50/50 differential and cryo treat everything. If you get an AE lsd tranny make sure you get both lsd axels. O and about the SC, I wouldnt supercharge an auto unless you get a cooler and VB mod.

 

go with the tranny switch. I have heard of auto trannys going out with superchargers. Cant handle the extra hp.

 

yea i really think that i want to do the transmission swap because i love manual cars ad instead of going through selling my car and buyin another i would rather make my car manaul because i have an intake y-pipe and greddy cat-back and really think it will make everything smoother and sound better not to mention more fun because i only have 45thousand miles so hopefull if everything runs smoothly i can have this car till it hits 100,000 miles.

 

Don't let the fallacies hit you on the way out. There is no basis for this statement.

Further, the performance gains of a manual swap vs forced induction are minimal to the point that it's even laughable. On the other hand, if it's what you want to do for the sake of changing gears, go ahead. Nothing wrong with that, though you are basically looking at two completely different things.

 

a manual swap is basically letting you have control of the gears... i dont think you will gain any "performance" from it. you can always solve that with an ECU..
i say go for the SC.. you willl gain alot more

 

Manual swap.......

 

No performance gain from a manual conversion? Sure its not going to gain much HP, but going from an 4 speed auto with an open differential to a 5 speed manual with limited slip makes a HUGE performance difference. I cannot describe how nice it is to be able to put my car into 3rd gear and rip through some twisties like a maniac without plowing or getting unwanted up/downshifts. Also, im not advising that anybody do this, but its pretty sweet to be able to shift into 5th and hit the VI changeover a few seconds later. An auto maxima just feels dead when it hits 4th gear.

BTW Evil,
I dont think he was comparing HP #s between an NA manual and an SC auto. We all know which one would win down the 1/4mile track. I have a feeling he was comparing them in terms of cost and all around benefits since they both cost about 3Gs. Also i think there is plenty of basis for saying there is a solid chance an SC will toast his auto tranny. Even with the VB mod and cooler i wouldnt SC an auto unless i had manual conversion money waiting, and if i had 7K to put into a maxima i would sell it and buy an evo8 lol. When i think of boosted autos i think of kev and dixit who both swapped for a manual a few months later. And i remember one guy (damn, i cant remember his name..he had a SC'd gle with a conversion but it got totaled) who blew his auto with an SC within a few monthgs and had to swap. So dont let the fallacies hit you on the way out or anything...

 

S/c gotta love that whine.. come on and auto isnt that much slower than Manual.. and really youll be special haveing the S/C rather than just another Max with manual

 

blackbird (sp) did it not too long ago. i think he charges 700 + parts. he is in chicago

 

An auto can be built to support 600 hp, also it can shift way much faster than a manual. I'm actually preparing my car to eventually get boost when ready I'll have the auto tranny rebuilt, it cost about the same amount as a 5 speed swap but it's much less trouble for the installation, not to mention that with the auto you cant miss a shift. I heard story of few guys who blown their engine cuz they mistakenly downshift from 4th gear to 2nd, this is something that cant happend with the auto. I would say if you are looking at getting every possible Hp down to the ground then the 5 speed swap has to be done. I thing it would cost less to have the auto bullet proof rebuilt to accomodate the S/C compare to swapping for a 5 speed you will eventually want a S/C and will have no choice than buying better clutch, stall converter, short throw shifter and what else. I'm for the auto also because there is winter where I live and believe me the TCS can save your life on black ice situation.

My 2 cents.

AA

 

Yes what i was askin is which would be more worth its money because they are both in the same price range i know a lot of people are prob already sayin S/C is he stupid but doesn't anyone else think a S/C in a auto is a waste of money i dont know im torn because i love my max to death but im also diein to have a manual lol im waiting to see everyone pop up wit the violins and **** but still what does everyone think cuz now i have a new choice thrown in.
1.Tansmission swap to 5spd
2.S/C
3. Sell my car and buy a manual car (SRT-4 cuz its cheap and quick)

 

Erm nope! But thanks for playing. You make valid assesments but nothing that was not already implied by common knowledge and sense.

 

In realistic terms, you know you will want the other if you go with either one. And you know you will regret not doing one of the 2 if you go with 3.

Flip a coin

 

I agree with what doubledea said, i have had a S/C for four months now on my auto with really no problems. Just get the VB mod a tranny cooler and you will be fine. The main factor is how you drive, if don''t drive like a a$$ all the time your tranny will not break. Some people forget that our cars are not race cars. I just bought mine to have some occaisional fun

 

A 5spd swap can be done for as low as $1000 or up near $2000 if you get the parts yourself. The low end takes in consideration you have a standard 5spd with maybe high mileage. The high end price takes in consideration you are going for a LSD based 5spd and a performance clutch and flywheel.

Dixit

 

Concidering the gear box of the maxima is nice and far apart, you have to be a complete idiot....or drunk bastard to shift in the wrong gear. like second from 4th or something crazy. Whoever does that deserves to buy a new tranny. Cmon, this aint a honda gearbox where the gears are so close together you dont know whats what..

I am personally debating the same thing, and i have decided to go with tranny swap THEN the blower or turbo. The only way i would stay with an auto is if i went with nitrous. Yea its alota money but its a sick car dude. sleeper status

 

I have an 00 auto and wish i had a manual tranny, but couldn't pass up this deal when i bought my car. don't get me wrong i love my car, but i still wish it were manual. In my opinion a swap is just too much money IMO. of course it's great to control the gears, but you honestly don't get too much out of it for how much it'll cost you. In the future i'll most likely get a valve body mod, it's over $400 maybe closer to 500, much cheaper than a tranny swap, and supposably helps the tranny because of the quicker shifts (stock slow shifts aren't good for the tranny) but quick shifts do heat up the tranny more so you get a tranny cooler for 50 bucks. it is said that the VB mod will make you lose .4-.6 seconds on your quarter mile which is great. I even heard from an org member who had this mod done AFTER they had a SC put in and just loved it, there are are 3 different stages, stage 2 is more for street/race here and there for fun, stage 3 is strictly track/hard a$$ shifts. anyway figured i'd bring that option up

 

I'm in the process of the 5spd conversion right now and I'm spending about $1300 total on it. Got a complete conversion package deal from another Max for $750 + $450 Clutchnet Sprung Hub 6puck Clutch (just decided on this today...having to sell a laptop to buy it but from what I've heard of those with it, it kicks a$$. Toss in some more for a STS and AE ****. Might do the Fidanza if I find a good price.

 

My swap was $1200 out the door.

 

details please!! was it LSD? performance clutch??where?

 

regular tranny (doh), and Exedy clutch. Did all the work myself.

 

If were talking fun factor go for the S/C with the stage 2 VB mod. As long as you dont abuse it or always drive it like you stole it & want it for the performance aspect when needed AkA "Blowing the doors of of some ricer" . Now look at it the real way. You have a beautiful Maxima a classy car that has four doors & you dont feel embarssed taking out co workers or clients to meetings or lunch & you still have the power to blow away pretty much anyone who pulls up next you. That is how I would look at it. If you wanted some pocket rocket you should have bought a SRT4 or a WRX, EVO or something not to mention with your auto that free's up your right hand to do all sorts of nasty things with who ever is sitting next to you or just to eat a sandwich & have a beverage.

 

Hey Kevon1, i think your comments make great sense, until recently I was juggling the idea of swapping the auto for a 5 sp but finally I'm keeping the auto, I will put the VB stage 2 with a good tranny cooler the difference in the saving will make a good cashdown for the S/C. Oh the real reason why I decided not to swap for stick
is I'm lurking a 350Z Performance package with 6 speed, since I'm pretty sold on the Z if I get the cash then keeping the max auto and adding an S/C is the way to go for me.

Cheers

AA

 

i say stick with the auto, Def get the stage 2 VB mod with the tranny cooler done. (Best mod i have done yet) and later on when u have the cash go with the S/C. Thats what i have planned atleast.

 

how much was the Stage 2 VB and tranny cooler if you dont mind me asking?

 

Stage 2 VB was 350 installed, and tranny cooler was 120 installed, so total came to 470.

 

100% agree!!!