Nissan Maxima?? (Page 1 of 2)

810 is cooler

The optional 3rd gen VE motors were DOHC and had more power than the VGs, but the variable cam timing tended to clog up and they also had problems with the coil packs. Early VQs also had coil problems. 3rd gens had independent rear suspensions while 4th gens went to a solid rear axle. All 3rd and 4th gen Maximas have weak transmissions. The upshot is that these were built during the era when Nissan was building for quality and racking up debt. There isn't any really wonky engineering or weird bolt patterns. Spend a little time and money and you can have a strong running reliable car that's cheap to maintain.

For some reason we just don't see too many Camrys on the track.

I <3 DOHC nissan motors. if the coil problems can be prepared for and the tranny maintained it should be real fun on the track.

No way to test them if they are running fine now, buy a couple and keep the receipt for future return if unneeded.

We have a HUGE tranny cooler on the Infiniti.

How huge of a tranny cooler? Who makes it?

On the VE motors, the coils go bad and backfire through the computer, shutting it down. This usually happens when the motor's going back to idle, i.e. pulling up to a stop sign. If the engine dies every time you let off to go into a corner, disconnect one coil at a time until the symptom stops, then replace the offending coil. I don't know what the symptoms are on the 4th gens. I left before those started going bad.

I would just be aware of the problem, and if you're paranoid carry an extra junkyard coil in your toolbox. They weren't built by Lucas, they just have a tendency to go bad.

Yes we had a gen 4, 1997 Maxima that is now in the possession of Chris Overzet (fabtoys) and people are right about some of the good and bad, my observations: fully stripped out with safety gear added, it was still pushing 3k pounds. It is fast going straight but it pushes bad and that rear beam axle worsens the  cornering more. True about the tranny too. The car was getting balky to shift last time I raced it and all you use is 3rd and 4th. Also it has oil leaking problems. The maxima is a good solid car, it's chassis shortcommings are it's problem, but it has a good motor if you shift at 5500 (redline is 6500). Also it never, ever overheats, which is good.  Chris is bringing the car to Buttonwillow and he mustered up some drivers, with me being one of them. We'll see how it does.

psh; Cattman is a much better place to go for modding a maxima: http://www.cattman.com/

My input; just get it running solid, put some wider tires on it and upgrade the brakes; after you get a race or two, THEN get a residual, THEN maybe think about improving it.

i had his cat-back kit, and his rear sway bar on my 03 SE. LOVED that car, still miss her

Chris Overzet (fabtoys) enterred my old Maxima under the team name "Angel Lady Antebellun"  This is the story of the Maxima at Buttonwillow and how competitive and not quite competitive a Maxima is: 

Of the 4 cars entered by Chris, the Maxima did NOT post the fastest time, the Hummer Honda beat it by about a second.  The best lap the Maxima could muster was about a 2:18 on the faster Saturday track configuration.  (better than we hoped for)

The Maxima has got good low end grunt off the corners which it can hold pretty well down the straights, but the brakes are a whole different story.  The car right now has stock sized rotors, stock calipers with some good pads, but it still is a heavy 4 door sedan and unless you spend the $$$ on a compete 350 Z front brake package, braking will be an issue.

Since the rules are open on tires,  we sprung for some big 255/40/17 Nitto NT-05's for the race. They're the fattest tire we could fit on a 8.5" rim.  I suppose if you mess with different off-sets you could go to a 9" or 9.5" wheel and a 275 tire, but that is just more $$$.  I look at Lemons as trying to do as much as you can with least amount of $$$, even in the areas deemed "open" by the rules - we're cheap. 

As far as handling goes, for the Maxima as it is now, is stuck cuzz its at the $500 limit, so Chris can't add a fatter rear bar or higher rate springs (though they have been cut).  So the Maxima as it stands, is very mushy in corners (ie. body roll and slow steering response) and with a stock rear bar, it still pushes too much.  Also with an open diff on tight corners, because of the good low-end torque, the inside wheel spins, so you can't utilize the torque to is fullest advantage.  Finally there is the rear beam axle, just not condusive for racing, further contributing to the push.  As far as Maxima's go I think the 3rd gen would be better because there is more you can do for free with the independet suspension on the 3rd generation Maxima's

Overall the car ran great, at least the engine did.  One driver went off to avoid certain collision and knocked off the mass flow sesnor from the filter housing - TWICE.  We also didn't inspect the pads Saturday night so we had the brake pad metal backing melt to the caliper piston.  We actually salvaged the piston and got new pads and raced to the end. That was our fault for sure

Finally as a contender on out right speed, I just don't think it quite has it.  For example, I chose a "hopeful" lime of 2:20 for the Maxima - that would be good.  If we could do better that would be great.  I was really happy that one of the drivers hit a 2:18 (some 8 seconds off the fastest car of the weekend, the 1927 Model T).  Also I checked out the cars with lap times under 2:20 and what I saw were the "one-off" builds like the Model T and the geo Metro with a mid-engine Honda motorcycle engine, then a whole bunch of BMW's, Porsche's, Miata's, RX-7's, Z-Cars, Honda's, Toyota's and then a spattering of other cars, like a few Alpha's, mustangs, some VW rabbits, same fast Mercede's.  Those made up the bulk of the sharp end of the field.

Over the course of the weekend we had people stop by and comment how "hella fast" the Maxima was and at times it sure looked and seemed fast, but the lap times didn't reflect "hella fast".  I know there was traffic, which could effect times, but I know that all the drivers had at least 1-2 pretty clean laps to lay down their fastest lap pretty much traffic free and 2:18 was the best it could do (granted two are AARP members and one is knocking on the door) so perhaps with a faster/better driver it could go even faster, just dunno.

If you want to find a fast car to compete with the front of the pack, then you'll have to go with the "proven cars", but as you know the fast proven car doesn't guarantee a win.  But instead if you want a decent car, capable of doing well, engine runs strong and can pass most cars, then a Maxima is a good choice.  This one has now been in 4 Lemons races and as far as the important stuff goes, (mechanically) it has been strong.  It's no BMW, but it is reliable and fun to drive and as far as the team is concerned, having fun and finishing IS a victory and we had both.