The Chariot Lives ! 8 months of down time and she is running !
The Chariot Lives ! 8 months of down time and she is running !
After the longest down time I have ever experienced ( 8 months, maybe a wee bit more) the chariot is back. I had alot of fears but with lots of help from some great guys here on the org I did what I could to prepare the chariot for THE BIG CRANK
Quik Recap: Chariot was shipped to New Zealand. During the shipping the car was broken into with maf sensor, fstb, injen intake and other minor pieces stolen.
Several Members on the org really went out of there way to help me out, passing along used parts to help me get the car running. Big thanks to:
Broaner: More Info
Wisky97SE More Info
I30tMikeD More Info
maximabebe
and thanks to everyone else on the boards answering misc. questions i had, thanks guys !
Special thanks to you guys for helping me out. Its awesome to have a forum in which we give each other a helping hand.
I got my hands dirty for the first time putting couplers, hoses, clamps, intake, maf sensor and filter back on the car. Saved some money to, sure feels nice !
Next step was to change the oil, which went smooth but the only problem was the oil filter would not come off so I will have to get a different oil filter wrench small enough to twist on this thing. The one i had was to big, so i tried for half an hour or so with no luck.
So once that was done it was time to see if the car would crank, or if it would be difficult. I also have the small Odyessy battery and had it recharged and ready to go. So I jumped in the car and turned the key. The VQ started right up in one turn of the key. The engine sounded like a diesel for about 5 seconds and then toned down. I also noticed some nasty exhaust gases and fumes, but she got better as the max continued to idle.
Big Crank Quick Clip: The Max was down for over 8 months, check out the video to take a listen to how she did with a long down time: Click Here
The chariot isnt what she used to be but with some love, TLC and time she will be back. Thanks again for the help everyone.
Quik Recap: Chariot was shipped to New Zealand. During the shipping the car was broken into with maf sensor, fstb, injen intake and other minor pieces stolen.
Several Members on the org really went out of there way to help me out, passing along used parts to help me get the car running. Big thanks to:
Broaner: More Info
Wisky97SE More Info
I30tMikeD More Info
maximabebe
and thanks to everyone else on the boards answering misc. questions i had, thanks guys !
Special thanks to you guys for helping me out. Its awesome to have a forum in which we give each other a helping hand.
I got my hands dirty for the first time putting couplers, hoses, clamps, intake, maf sensor and filter back on the car. Saved some money to, sure feels nice !
Next step was to change the oil, which went smooth but the only problem was the oil filter would not come off so I will have to get a different oil filter wrench small enough to twist on this thing. The one i had was to big, so i tried for half an hour or so with no luck.
So once that was done it was time to see if the car would crank, or if it would be difficult. I also have the small Odyessy battery and had it recharged and ready to go. So I jumped in the car and turned the key. The VQ started right up in one turn of the key. The engine sounded like a diesel for about 5 seconds and then toned down. I also noticed some nasty exhaust gases and fumes, but she got better as the max continued to idle.
Big Crank Quick Clip: The Max was down for over 8 months, check out the video to take a listen to how she did with a long down time: Click Here
The chariot isnt what she used to be but with some love, TLC and time she will be back. Thanks again for the help everyone.
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,747
From: San Bruno, CA (SF Bay)
awesome ceasar. definately glad to have you back!the diesel sound at the begining (clacky idle/rev) is the valves or timing chaing/tensioner not quite oiled properly. it also sounds like the problem fixed itself quickly... aside from that, good start up
Congradulations Ceaser! I still can't believe that sht happened in the first place...NZ doesn't even know what's coming. Make sure to videotape your upcoming kills, and the looks of the other owners!
good stuff... they stole the fstb..? wow they went throught the trouble..? thats ridiculoious.. oh well... good luck... well be talking in few years when our cars are the onoly 4th gens here... and my.. well 1st gen for i30.. hehe
Good to see the chariot up and running. You're right, it is cool to see people go out of their way to help someone in another country to see something so beautiful running again.......
I know you must feel all tingly inside to have the car working again.
What did happen with the shipping company? did you just use parts you got fromt he org members to get her back up and running tillt he company can cut youa check?
What did happen with the shipping company? did you just use parts you got fromt he org members to get her back up and running tillt he company can cut youa check?
Glad to hear Ceasar! Yea that diesel sound was due to the fact that all the oil was down in the pan being parked all that time. I always cringe when I hear that sound because that's almost metal to metal contact within the engine internals, then the oil quickly circulates all over the place and begins to lubricate them so the noise goes away.
BTW, I know what happened to your car during the voyage in the cargo ship. Which part took the longest to get to you? If I remember correctly, your intake was stolen right? What about the body damage, was that fixed too?
BTW, I know what happened to your car during the voyage in the cargo ship. Which part took the longest to get to you? If I remember correctly, your intake was stolen right? What about the body damage, was that fixed too?
dave b- im certainly going to try, you know this is the 4th intake setup and i have paid nissan to do it each time before. back then, my tool lineup was whatever i could find in the kitchen , using knives as flathead screwdrivers was just a bad idea.
I hope to save money here, that was my main motivation to get out and start doing it myself. Surprisingly, its alot of fun ! Well, minus that blasted oil filter, im presently lifting weights for training ...next match will be several months down the road. A smaller oil filter wrench should give me the advantage !
I believe I will save money in the long run as I learn how to get bargins around here, but this first oil change appears to have cost me 5 times that of dropping by nissan.
Price List:
$55.99
$30.00
Total: $85.99
Buying oil filter went something like this: Hey, I would like one genuine nissan oil filter for a 97 maxima. Guy looks at computer screen, says A33 right ? I say A32 ! He says thats $30.00 dollars ! I say, what ? Could you check that again, that price cannot be right ? (confused) Guy says, <b>thats right mate</b>, you still want it ? I say yes, but I will have to hide the receipt from the wife. I left having some sort of crap feeling that i had been ripped off. It felt much like driving through Mcdonalds and paying $25.96 for a big mac combo, something just didnt feel right. I checked some receipts to see how much the (USA) nissan oil filter was and it was costing me $ 6.25. So I have a new plan, lol !
Here is the Made in Japan (part number:15208-31U00) high dollar oil filter. Im going to show it off in this post as a new mod, since it was so expensive, lol ! Do you guys think they should just put NISMO on it ? (see oil filter photo above)
Vehicle List:
As for the oil, I ended up buying synthetic 5w-30, which is a rare find around here, even 10w-30 was tough to locate, I did see a penzoil product but dont know much about it. In recent talks it seems that NZ has had so many older cars on the road they just didnt stock 5w-30 / 10w-30 but as new cars are on the roads this should become more popular.
MDeezy - that is exactly what I did. They are taking care of me, but I have no idea how long it will be ? Still Waiting ! Lesson: If you ship your car overseas put it in a container ! Shipping company is willing to cover anything the insurance doesnt.
post 17-21: thanks guys ! it was tough, i have been driving an 87 civic si this whole time and its just not the same. I got in the max and snuck down the street for a ride, it was great, and power steering is so cool ,lol ! civic doesnt have that, lol !
2 da max - man drag racing is different than back home. I think i can pull off a few surprise wins, and possibly do good in my class of fwd all motor. you know i loved how we did it back home, bring grandpaws truck, suv's, sports cars, station wagons, just whatever people brought out everything and raced everything. Here its much more like a planned event, and the cars that show will really go ! LOL ! But I will figure something out on how to make the chariot look good on tape !
HomerMac - your right about that, I wonder what the 4th gen section will be like 10 years from now, think about 8 or 9th gen maxima owners looking through the forums thinking what is an old 4th gen maxima ? but we know its the best maxima nissan put together !
BigLou93SE - will do, you know im not sure if anyone will even know this is a nissan much less a maxima, with that huge sarona rear the car looks like a big Holden 4 door, the maximas/cefiros here dont look anything like the us spec max. and hey i dont even have to worry about getting cefiro headlights cause mine are the unique ones here ! lol
sxn - yeah the vq sounded like an old tractor but she is running better with every crank. they have warrant of fitness and registration here. They check the car to see if she is road worthy, and tag her and put that info on the windshield and such sorta like our inspection sticker but they look over the whole vehicle. Cost : $425 dollars
larryseibel - yeah i will be out trying to get a win on tape. chariot still feels like she is making some good power, i havent punched it yet but i want to ! lol
I hope to save money here, that was my main motivation to get out and start doing it myself. Surprisingly, its alot of fun ! Well, minus that blasted oil filter, im presently lifting weights for training ...next match will be several months down the road. A smaller oil filter wrench should give me the advantage !
I believe I will save money in the long run as I learn how to get bargins around here, but this first oil change appears to have cost me 5 times that of dropping by nissan.
Price List:
$55.99
$30.00
Total: $85.99
Buying oil filter went something like this: Hey, I would like one genuine nissan oil filter for a 97 maxima. Guy looks at computer screen, says A33 right ? I say A32 ! He says thats $30.00 dollars ! I say, what ? Could you check that again, that price cannot be right ? (confused) Guy says, <b>thats right mate</b>, you still want it ? I say yes, but I will have to hide the receipt from the wife. I left having some sort of crap feeling that i had been ripped off. It felt much like driving through Mcdonalds and paying $25.96 for a big mac combo, something just didnt feel right. I checked some receipts to see how much the (USA) nissan oil filter was and it was costing me $ 6.25. So I have a new plan, lol !
Here is the Made in Japan (part number:15208-31U00) high dollar oil filter. Im going to show it off in this post as a new mod, since it was so expensive, lol ! Do you guys think they should just put NISMO on it ? (see oil filter photo above)
Vehicle List:
As for the oil, I ended up buying synthetic 5w-30, which is a rare find around here, even 10w-30 was tough to locate, I did see a penzoil product but dont know much about it. In recent talks it seems that NZ has had so many older cars on the road they just didnt stock 5w-30 / 10w-30 but as new cars are on the roads this should become more popular.
MDeezy - that is exactly what I did. They are taking care of me, but I have no idea how long it will be ? Still Waiting ! Lesson: If you ship your car overseas put it in a container ! Shipping company is willing to cover anything the insurance doesnt.
post 17-21: thanks guys ! it was tough, i have been driving an 87 civic si this whole time and its just not the same. I got in the max and snuck down the street for a ride, it was great, and power steering is so cool ,lol ! civic doesnt have that, lol !
2 da max - man drag racing is different than back home. I think i can pull off a few surprise wins, and possibly do good in my class of fwd all motor. you know i loved how we did it back home, bring grandpaws truck, suv's, sports cars, station wagons, just whatever people brought out everything and raced everything. Here its much more like a planned event, and the cars that show will really go ! LOL ! But I will figure something out on how to make the chariot look good on tape !
HomerMac - your right about that, I wonder what the 4th gen section will be like 10 years from now, think about 8 or 9th gen maxima owners looking through the forums thinking what is an old 4th gen maxima ? but we know its the best maxima nissan put together !
BigLou93SE - will do, you know im not sure if anyone will even know this is a nissan much less a maxima, with that huge sarona rear the car looks like a big Holden 4 door, the maximas/cefiros here dont look anything like the us spec max. and hey i dont even have to worry about getting cefiro headlights cause mine are the unique ones here ! lol
sxn - yeah the vq sounded like an old tractor but she is running better with every crank. they have warrant of fitness and registration here. They check the car to see if she is road worthy, and tag her and put that info on the windshield and such sorta like our inspection sticker but they look over the whole vehicle. Cost : $425 dollars
larryseibel - yeah i will be out trying to get a win on tape. chariot still feels like she is making some good power, i havent punched it yet but i want to ! lol
Originally Posted by krismax
will you be racing in new zealand?
DR Max - i havent had anything fixed yet. the front bumper is kinda smashed up against the right headlight, right front side is smacked up, dents, dings and scratches are all over the place. exhaust is rattling around under the car, its a real bummer to have the car this way when so much time went into bringing her back up to speed last year.
Hey Ceasar, this is the tool you'll need. I got one similar to that from Pep Boys. I didn't have to remove the tire/wheel and the plastic shields. Just put the car up on jack stands and use that tool to turn the oil filter. You'll be done in 5 minutes.
Glad to hear it started right up. Those prices seem pretty steep there but I am sure it is beautiful. How hard will it be to get the Chariot registered there? Good luck getting back on the road and let's get into the 13s soon!!
Chief since the US has such strict regulations it will be easy here, and have talked to them several times, will be taking the chariot in this tuesday. something about our front impact laws are stricter in the usa than here. NZ pretty much has a list of what cars can come in the country regarding this.
its difficult to say if i can reach 13.99 but im still going to try. im at a bigger disadvantage than ever before due to tougher track conditions (traction) I have only heard this and will find out for myself soon.
While everyone in the states has tilley doing 3.5 swaps and hybrids im over here in a tougher situation. While the NZ dollar isnt half of the US dollar it still isnt good when considering the exchange rate and shipping cost. So mods are going to cost even more. I wanted to do a 00vi project but I already have a spare IM in the states and old tb. Im going to have it ported/bored and port match the IM then send it off to extrude hone. these projects are ok but in the long run i hope they help me out some. im also adding the apexi - safc II to see if i can get this car tuned up for optimum performance, so hoping that helps as well. with extrude hone and headers the car probably needs some help. i have priced all this tuning and dyno time over here and its not that bad. lets see i have a weight reduction project to work on for another 32 lbs still minor. again, nothing big but if i can pull a 2.1 i could be getting closer with the 3.0.
its difficult to say if i can reach 13.99 but im still going to try. im at a bigger disadvantage than ever before due to tougher track conditions (traction) I have only heard this and will find out for myself soon.
While everyone in the states has tilley doing 3.5 swaps and hybrids im over here in a tougher situation. While the NZ dollar isnt half of the US dollar it still isnt good when considering the exchange rate and shipping cost. So mods are going to cost even more. I wanted to do a 00vi project but I already have a spare IM in the states and old tb. Im going to have it ported/bored and port match the IM then send it off to extrude hone. these projects are ok but in the long run i hope they help me out some. im also adding the apexi - safc II to see if i can get this car tuned up for optimum performance, so hoping that helps as well. with extrude hone and headers the car probably needs some help. i have priced all this tuning and dyno time over here and its not that bad. lets see i have a weight reduction project to work on for another 32 lbs still minor. again, nothing big but if i can pull a 2.1 i could be getting closer with the 3.0.
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,747
From: San Bruno, CA (SF Bay)
damn, i forgot NZ has skylines 
! take lots of pics, good luck, and hows the site going? havent heard anything about it for months.
*edit* i noticed the vid section has some chunks left in it, i still have all the dyno videos if you wanted to check them out
it is his lady's homeland.... and there are skylines
! take lots of pics, good luck, and hows the site going? havent heard anything about it for months.*edit* i noticed the vid section has some chunks left in it, i still have all the dyno videos if you wanted to check them out
Originally Posted by 7EyesOpen
New Zealand? Who the heII goes to New Zealand? Why Chariot? You must tell us Why???
yeah sxn there are skylines here and some real mean ones too, i caught these guys on tape, watch video below:
Download Skyline battle
Download Skyline battle
They call it Adjustable Oil Filter Wrench Pliers. There are several brands who make it, KD Tools being one. Check this out: http://www.toolsource.com/ost/produc...R45P335BCV5611 .
Originally Posted by the chariot
DR-Max, whats the name of that thing ? maybe i could drop by a local dentist office over here and pocket one, lol !
