Now that I'm ordering parts for my repairs on the max, and I've decided I want to go with a 97-99 front end swap, would it be easier to get the bumper, cut it to spec, then have the shop paint it. Or should I have them paint it, and then work on installing it with all the cutting I hear is involved.

I'm also hoping to do a nice clean write-up with pictures and such, just looking for some opinions.

 

are you getting the rear end done to or no.

 

I'm leaving the rear alone

 

think a 97 front and 95 rear would look weird?

 

You can't see 'em both at the same time...

 

yea in a way. all you need is a 97-99 trunk and tail lights.

 

Test fit it first, then paint it.

 

What cutting are you refering to?
I didnt have to do any cutting to the bumper cover when I swapped over. You do have to remove two metal mounting tabs though but they come off by just bending them.

 

In the stickies one of the swappers cut a 1"x1" square out of something, and had to do some cutting with some "scoop" they were describing.

I would love to know however how you did your 97 front with 95 grill

 

I didnt have any cuting at all when I did mine.

I like the 97 front with the 96 rear. Best of both worlds IMO

 

It was a direct fit besides the little tabs you tear off? btw, I love the look of your car

I see you went with a stillen body kit, is it the 97/99 one all the way around?

and did you do the headlights and such at the same time, I believe they are different shapes

 

What happened to "I am one of the few who actually likes the 95-96 front end" ???

Haha anyways good luck getting your car back on the road.

 

Ive read through them, and didnt see anything in paticuluar about cutting the bumper. Removing the two mouting tabs on the bumper support was mentioned as well as removing the plastic scoop, but nocutting.
I had a body shop extend the outer posts of the 95-96 grill to fit the 97-99 bumper and then paint it.

 

95-96 headlights are pretty much the same as the 97-99 except for the lenses. They are shaped a bit different as far as the curve of the lens but shape of the housing is the same.

 

back when i first got the car (its a 95)


and $300 bucks later........ this

 

It looks like you have spacers...

 

My two cents....
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=517833

 

you got a good eye

 

yeah i never knew anything about tabs when I did it so i never cut anything off. It was a pain to get it on but very doable. Maybe it was a pain cuz i didnt cut anything?

the stillen kit is 97+ in the front and 95/96 for the rest of it. I changed everything when I did it, all lights in the front and the grill. The 97+ headlights I got off ebay, they have a reflector cup that goes over the bulb that made the headlights much brighter over the 96 headlights. very worth it to swap with some updated headlights if your budget allows for it.

 

I still do love the 95/96 especially the grill which is why I think I'm gonna get a body shop to extend the outer posts, but the 97/99 is pretty much so I can put on a stillen lip down the road.

 

it will look good man post pictures when done.

 

$300.00 you got front bumper, grill, fog lights, clear bumpers and mags +tires? now THAT IS a sweet deal

ehehehe

 

lol i wish the wheels were 300 bucks , but everything else (lights, bumper, etc,) yea 300 bucks

 

Hey where did you buy the front end from? Also I already have fogs on my '96 but the lights are diff on the 97 right? So I have to buy the new ones right?

 

i got everything off ebay, for 250 bucks all painted like a pearl color, that included, bumber, lights, grill, inner fender wheel cover, clear signals ans etc,
i did everything my self and then went to the paint shop for color match, and everything came out very nice, as for the fog lights, i dont know, when i first got car it didnt come with them, so i dont know about fitment

 

Pretty easy to get it...eBay, online parts stores etc....etc...My personal favorite look is the 97 bumper with no fogs and the little bar that goes across the middle of the fog holes...looks hella mean. IMO


edit 600th post baby......

 

pic?

I think I'm going with the 97 front and getting a body shop to do a leg extension to get my 95 grill in there

 

Is this super low quality since its only $15:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1997-...spagenameZWDVW

 

i wouldnt trust that IMO

 

It seems to me that the shipping is reversed with the price. It may serve him right, if you lived near him, to pick it up so that it didn't need shipping. I don't claim to know a lot about EBAY and have never bought anything from there but I have noticed that shipping charges are not real, they seem to be a way of hiding extra profit for the seller.

 

current

a few months ago

 

OT They do that to compete with other sellers when they sell in flooded markets. Seller figures out a fixed price that he wants for the item shipped and then lists that item for an attractive price to get hits and puts the difference in the shipping amount. You'll see it a lot in car audio categories and media sllers do it a lot also.

 

So would that mean that is a decent auction, legit and all?

Where would you guys suggest finding a 97 bumper and impact styrofoam? besides a junkyard

 

yeah def. legit. It seems shady when they do that but its just them trying to stay alive on ebay. I'd probably buy from a bigger seller then that one though. all my parts came off ebay and I had 0 problems. Just buy from reputable people and you shouldnt have any problems.

 

post whoring will get you banned cleanmax...

 

I actually am picking up my 97 SE Front Bumper cover, 97 SE grill and my CF Hood + locks from maximariceboi tomorrow!