So it has been a long awaited time for my car to finally get another paint job "the right way". For those who remember my accident from like a decade ago, apparently while the front end was being repaired the body shop cracked my windshield. They ended up replacing the front windshield thinking that it was done right, well while stripping the car turns out why i had a water leak coming from the top right hand side of the roof into the interior. The moron didn't prep the body correctly before installed the glass. The windshield wasn't glued correctly to the body and thats why i had a water leak. Next i find the body shop took the cheap way out to save money on parts by finding a front bumper cover from the junkyard that was originally split in half so they repaired it with fiberglass and installed it on the car. I didn't know until i took off the front bumper and saw it from behind . So i decided to strip it and finally get it done right. Here are some pics:

 

 

 

Nice pics. Keep up the good work! Glad to see more and more 3rd gens getting attention before they are too far gone and are only good for parts cars.

 

Sweet man. Are you rebuilding the engine or why's it out?

 

I took the engine and tranny out again cuz i need to change seals again and replace broken exhaust studs plus the engine bay is also getting painted. Im also ordering new window seals and black SE trim from the dealer. No more chrome trim. I had ordered. Ew front windshield seals back in 2009 when i was going to start this but until now is when its finally happening. I will keep updating with this long process.

 

Also if you have noticed my sig, my 3rd gen is gonna look like that when its done including the rims being 2 toned.

 

Awesome work! I can't wait for the final product!

 

Neither can i. Its supposed to be done 2 weeks so ill keep you guys posted.

 

Good luck, glad there's others putting in work

 

Great job on the body work. Looking forward to seeing the final product. Makes me anxious to start working on my 3rd gen again.

 

Thanks guys, ever since i got my 335i ih have put this on hold. Then i got married, had a daughter, bought an Infiniti for the wife and got our place; so its been a hectic life for me but with some help from family and friends i can finally fix my 3rd gen again the right way.

 

Glad to see you seeing it through, Ricky...Wish I could have held onto mine, but as you said: life gets in the way.

Can't wait to see the final product! Best of luck!

 

what are the wheels from?

thats an awesome color, only seen it in the yard a few times

 

Those are "M" wheels. Hah my rearview mirror does the same thing. Lol

 

Hey Grnmaxdmn what size are those tires?

 

The wheels are FX35 18 inch wheels. The tires are 225/40r18 or 45r18? Cant remember since i really havent seen them since i dropped the car off at the bodyshop.

 

But they are 18x8s right?

 

Good Luck on the Ride, looking good so far....

 

Maximo018: i believe they are 18x8?

 

Kool. Im running 350z 17x8s. It just gives me and idea about better fitting tires.

 

I put 1/4 inch spacers in the rear due to the tires being so close to the strut assembly. The fronts clear perfectly fine.

 

Mine are fine the way they are. I just wanted a lower profile.

 

God this makes me itch for another maxi...

 

Well, car is finally done at the bodyshop so i will be towing it home tomorrow. Will post pics soon.

 

Its been a very crazy week for me but i finally got a few shots before i picked her up:

 

Man for sec I thought, "Hold up! You paint it black?"

Now Ima go play with mine tomorrow after I get up.

 

Everyone thought i had changed the color but i didnt. I kept it the same because this is one of the rarest paint color for the 3rd gen and i have always loved it. Black emerald gives the illusion of both black and green.

 

I bought one of the 3G die cast cars under the impression it was black..

 

That I'll agree. 2 years ago I found one that was being parted out (5spd). And I thought to myself I had never seen a green 3rd gen before. Then I remembered Greeny's car. Lol

 

Are you going to use SE rear window trim? ie the rear windshield? thought they were different designs or glass or something..

cant wait to see it put together!

 

They are. Instead of chrome they are all black.

 

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they're different besides the finish. gxe trim has corner caps/etc. the SE is all one piece/something like that. Ive also read that installation of the rear windshield differs between se and gxe

 

That I did not know.

 

yes i will try and use SE rear glass trim if not i'll just use the GXE and paint it black.

 

In for an update!

 

Me too.

 

Sorry guys, apparently i came to a dilemma where i couldn't install the rear glass cuz i need a moulding that goes under it. Called nissan and courtesy and either one of them do not carry it anymore so i hit up nissanpartszone.com and they actually have the moulding. the rear glass are the same for both gxe and se and so is the moulding. now i need to order the rubber seal that goes around the glass for the SE. once i have both i can finally install the rear glass. right now im currently trying to remove the broken exhaust studs from the cylinder head and replace timing belt with camshaft seals and both motor mounts, then the motor goes back in and then i will continue with the exterior. its a very slow process but i really don't want to rush it.

 

That stinks about the molding, do you have a part number and/or description for that glass molding? I better look into getting one before they're completely unavailable as I'll need to remove the rear glass in my blue one for its body work

 

Ugh, broken exhaust studs are a nightmare. I feel your pain.