Hi All,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Joe and I purchased a white 5 speed 96 Maxima GXE this past Sunday. I wanted a SE cuz I like the spoiler, but this one was in such great condition, I just couldn't pass it up. I'll have to retrofit a trunk spoiler combination and just paint it white I guess.

My only car has been a celica gt which I swapped a 3sgte into 9 yrs. ago. Its been my only dd, so this is my first N/A car ever. I've been pretty impressed with the power so far, not as fast as the celica, but it can definitely hold its own. It definitely feels choked down, and I don't see myself keeping it stock for long. It is my dd, so I probably won't go too crazy.

I look forward to replying to posts on here and helping others as well as hoping to ask a few questions myself.

I will of course read the stickies first. Anybody have any recommendations on places for great technical info on the vq30de (besides this site of course)? More specifically a modification guide and best practices for the engine?

Thanks and looking forward to meeting you all!

 

Welcome to the site, and to the Maxima family!!

Kudos on looking at stickies, first! Also, the searchbar can be a HUGE help, both for diagnosing a problem, and for finding possible future mods. 10+ year old site, and 125k members means that it's probably been asked and answered already

 

welcome dude! nice to see another true gearhead and btw i like the se spoiler too

first thing to do is exhaust... how far do you wanna go? whats your budget? most people just grab a y pipe, its out biggest bolt on power maker. must warn you though, it won't sound awesome (imo)... take a look into equal vs unequal y pipes for that one.

header back exhaust is available as well by cattman and obx (available used atm), these come with equal y pipes, highly recommended.

there's also this thing called 00vi you might wanna look up, basically an intake manifold swap from the 00-01 maxima, you can also add the same year injectors for a 20cc/min upgrade. this mod helps the top end and emphasizes mid-range quite a bit with a y pipe. oem mods ftw!

then you might want to look at some afc's or greddy emanage for tuning.

you might've already noticed that it revs up pretty quick (thank you stock ~18lb flywheel ) but if you need more than lighter flywheels are available, same with better clutches. we got 3 sets of struts, bunch of springs and a couple coilover's available for suspension mods as well as big brake kits or big brake mods using oem brakes from other nissans (oem mods ftw!)

its all around here in more depth, just search n read stickies, then ask some more questions lol

i'm building what the 4th gen max should've been out of the factory plus a bit more, consider it oem+

 

Welcome!

 

if it feels choked down you should definitely do a thorough cleaning to the top of your engine. TB, IACV, EGR, UIM, LIM. and if it looks like they need it, the VC gaskets. also make sure your knock sensor isnt throwing a code.

 

welcome to the maxima club. if you let it, it might well be faster than your celica in no time heh.

 

welcome to the ORG dude, youll find very helpful information here and people who will help you

 

Welcome man!


If the thought is N/A for your baby then I would suggest a vq35de swap right off the bat... check the all motor section to see some of the numbers swapped 4th gens are throwin down...

You stay classy

 

Maintenance > Mods

That's all I have to say.

 

Agreed. I'd make sure all maintenance is done and that it's running like a champ before any mods.

 

and please use our ever helpful "search" key at the top of the screen when you have any issues cause i bet EVERY question about our cars has been asked at least 1 million times!!! and don't forget, a clean max is a happy max!!!

 

Welcome!

Like others have said, maintenance. To that I add: KNOCK SENSOR. Get an OBDII scanner to see if you have a ghost code 0325. The check engine light will not be on and the code may be there waiting for you.

Since you have a GXE you probably have a speed limiter too unfortunately. I think the ECU won't let your car go faster than 117 mph, and it is capable of way more. The fix is to replace the ECU with a 5 speed SE ECU from a junkyard.

 

If its a maxima u say. U came to the right place ..welcome

 

Welcome. I recently joined too and it seems to be a pretty friendly and useful forum. I've had countless questions answered and never once had to make a thread. Gotta love the search function.

 

Welcome....

 

Thanks for the welcome guys. Believe me, I know the value of getting a car properly running before you mod it. Hence why I have already planned to change the oil, transmission fluid, spark plugs, air filter, and fuel filter (300zx) even though I just bought the car this past Sunday. Air filter i'll at least check to see if it has been changed recently first. Plan to change to a more freely flowing intake anyways, although I've already seen there is quite a debate on whether the stock one outperforms the aftermarket ones anyways. I'll have to do my own research and reach my own conclusions I guess.

Don't plan to be going that fast on the street ever and can't break my dd at the drag, so shouldn't be a problem.

The mods would only be for making it a more fun daily and giving it that umph for going up hills, getting around vehicles, and preventing me from getting cut off.

 

Welcome man good to see another Max head joining the site. Just to throw it out there I have an oovi for sale with everything minus the Tb n rear coil packs. Lmk if interested.

 

Definitely check the knock sensor then. Since your car is a 95 it will be really easy to change, too.

This guy has OEM knock sensors for cheap;

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...0-shipped.html

 

How bout pics?

 

Maintance like everyone says. But I suggest suspension as a first mod. To make the car feel good on the road. Not like a boat. It has enough power already. )

And welcome

 

Definitely already feel the massive body roll. Nice smooth ride, but a little too smooth. Girlfriend probably wouldn't appreciate the increased roughness of a suspension improvement but its not her choice

Just two quick ones. Don't have any of the interior yet. Not much. Will snap some of the interior tomorrow.



Again, a trunk/spoiler retrofit and rims will probably be the first mods. Right now it looks like a grandmas sedan. Wuts under the hood is the main reason I got it.