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Apr 15, 2016 19:39:54 GMT
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Good news, hope they're only temp wheels as I much prefer the originals but that's just my humble opinion  Absolutely agree with you on that one. The original style rock my boat a thousand time more. But unfortunately they look really shabby at the moment so they need to get their shine back for them to stand out. After all, turbine styles wheels are one of somewhat iconic of late eighties sport car, aren't they not    |
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Apr 15, 2016 19:40:05 GMT
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Great stuff. Nice to see an older machine getting a new lease of life. Don't forget your fuel filter and I'd strongly advise a G/box oil & filter change too - preventive maintenance is cheap maintenance!
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 15, 2016 19:46:39 GMT
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Great stuff. Nice to see an older machine getting a new lease of life. Don't forget your fuel filter and I'd strongly advise a G/box oil & filter change too - preventive maintenance is cheap maintenance! Yes, I'd agree with that too. So far the only attention the car received under the bonnet was some new engine oil and oil filter, simply to run the car without any risk. The other filters will be fitted soon. The gearbox oil and filter were replaced previously, although it was a few year back now. But having driven the car over a fair distance today, I did notice that some of the gear changes were not as smooth as I remember in the past so I would include this in the next service. |
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2016 20:12:23 GMT by nick0303
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Apr 16, 2016 19:49:08 GMT
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Great work so far Nick. Bet you were chuffed with the MOT pass.
I've got the same original wheels to refurb.
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Last Edit: Apr 16, 2016 19:50:25 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Apr 17, 2016 17:15:22 GMT
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Got a bit of time today to look at my newly acquired rims for the Max. They look very rough and would be getting a refurb very soon. I have never seen that much grim on a wheel.   I cleaned the wheels the best I could in the time I had and offered up the ones that came out best against the car.   I think there is some potential here. |
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Last Edit: Apr 17, 2016 20:12:17 GMT by nick0303
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Apr 17, 2016 20:36:24 GMT
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These are my originals, currently in the garage needing a refurb  |
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Last Edit: Apr 17, 2016 20:44:01 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Apr 18, 2016 14:08:34 GMT
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These are my originals, currently in the garage needing a refurb My ones are not too dissimilar to yours. I'd say my best one is like your top one. I'd be interested to find out if there is a DIY method as I have those plus another set from another vehicle to do. I'm guessing it would involve elbow grease + lacquer. On a side note, I do fancy the US grille that you had fitted on your car before you went for the all mesh type. If they can be had for not too much money I will try to source one for the US forums. Nick. |
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Apr 18, 2016 18:37:05 GMT
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Nick, you could have had my US grille if I didn't like it as much as I do. I swap it back on every now and again.
I'll have it in the boot at Japfest on Sunday if you want to trial fit it on yours.
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Last Edit: Apr 18, 2016 18:41:13 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Nick, you could have had my US grille if I didn't like it as much as I do. I swap it back on every now and again. I'll have it in the boot at Japfest on Sunday if you want to trial fit it on yours. Thanks mate, yes that'd be worth doing. As it stands, the car will be in the visitors parking area as I was a little late to get the individual display ticket. I have asked the organisers if there was any rooms on the stand in case of last minute pull out but no luck so far. Nick. |
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May 24, 2016 20:34:20 GMT
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Chapter 10: Tarting up time I have not been updating this thread for a while so I thought it would be time to report out on the Maxima. Since the car was MOT'd, it has filled the duty of daily commuter and family runner. I am glad to report that it has covered over a 1000miles since recommissioning without any major issues. The only small problem being the exhaust. It was blowing slightly at the start, but over the last 1000+ mile, this has now developed in a very unpleasant "banger racing" tune. The exhaust leak was traced to the flex joint on the front pipe section.  A replacement part has been sourced for £55.00 and I am now waiting to take delivery of the gaskets before fitting. Still, given the whole exhaust system in 22 years old I can't really complain. Overall it is a pleasure to be driving this car again. I forgot what a good motor this car is. Interestingly, the car seems to be getting much more attention than when I was using it back in 2009 and I have had a few positive comments so far. I also had some curious looks from JDM drivers on the motorway. Lots of people have also asked if this was a J import and it repeatedly took some convincing to educate them that it was a UK spec and that Nissan did officially sold this model throughout Europe. Sooooo, with the attention the car received over the last month or so, I decided that it was probably time to tart up the Max and make it stand out a bit more. First I gave the car a clay and polish treatment to restore its shine and delete some of the imperfections and light scratches accumulated over the years. I have attempted to take some pictures with my phone half way through the roof but they have not come out well so apologies for the poor pictures.   I also sourced a USDM grille to replace the dull and boring EU one. I think the new grille suits the car better.    I also had my bargain sport wheels refurbished. Two were badly kerbed and required some cutting and welding.   I intended to have the wheels sprayed in a nice dark gold / bronze colour but when I went to pick them up I realised that the wrong colour was applied so I had to walk away and leave them to repeat the painting process. Still despite the wrong colour the wheel came out pretty good and more importantly they are all straight. (Once again apologies for the rubbish phone pics)   I should get the wheels back in the correct colour tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to fit them over the weekend. Then it will be time to find a suitable location and go all arty with the camera. |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659 
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May 24, 2016 21:21:47 GMT
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US Grill looks great
You are not wrong ... that really isn't the colour you want.
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1994 Nissan Maxima 3.0fr€$h&m1nt¥
@freshandminty
Club Retro Rides Member 99
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That front grill is a million times better - carrying the contrasting bar of colour across the front - amazes me that whoever designed the UK / euro version preferred the body-colour grill (unless it was a budget decision)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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May 25, 2016 10:02:46 GMT
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Nice update Nick. That USDM front grille is a huge improvement. Another different style to my US grille...  I'm quite happy you're not keeping the colour on those wheels by the way.... |
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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May 25, 2016 21:02:19 GMT
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That front grill is a million times better - carrying the contrasting bar of colour across the front - amazes me that whoever designed the UK / euro version preferred the body-colour grill (unless it was a budget decision) I think the EU grille would have been the result of an attempt by the Nissan Design studio to carry over the contemporary brand DNA to the Maxima. Early nineties Nissans such as Almera, Primera and Micra display similar grille. And although this type of grille may have worked fairly well with the cheaper models, it unfortunately didn't fit well with what was meant to be a premium product. On a different note, I didn't get the wheels back today. I do hope that the colour will be the right one this time and that it will work on the car. This will be a bit of an experiment if I''m honest. And even if the colour doesn't do it, it is not the end of the world as those wheel are just a temporary fit until I get the original ones back to their formal glory. |
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,329
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May 25, 2016 21:25:53 GMT
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Great work so far on this rare old beast. The rot situation looks minimal considering the age of the car, but obviously frustrating all the same. Looks like it's almost there one though! Personally, I'd replace the damaged front number plate with a period correction new one from DMB graphics - they're amazing quality and look exactly as they would have done 20+ years ago.
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May 30, 2016 11:47:45 GMT
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The new wheels eventually arrived. I will take some fancy pictures at some point but here is a little teaser:  I think they are coming out OK although they won't be to everyone's taste I'm sure. |
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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May 30, 2016 19:54:43 GMT
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I reckon some US front corners, with the orange flash (as per the pic of mine posted above on 25th May) would probably tie in well with those wheels. I think they would sit better with the bolder colours than the subtle smoked UK front corners Nick.
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Last Edit: May 30, 2016 20:16:07 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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May 30, 2016 20:02:22 GMT
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Where's my sunglasses?  |
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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TBH, I like it better on the five-spokes, they do suit the car very well.
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194? Willys Jeep MB 1965 Volvo 544 Special 1968 Opel Rekord 1975 Opel Kadett Estate 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E 1985 Datsun 720 King Cab 4x4 diesel 1997 Volvo S70 2.5SE (ex. "Volvo544special65" - changed to more reader friendly username.  ) |
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Jan 18, 2017 12:51:11 GMT
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Chapter 11: The Calm before the storm
Right! So, I do realise that it has been a very long time since my last update and that some of you would have been dying to know what is happening to the trusty old Nissan.
Well to put everybody’s mind at rest, I am pleased to announce that the car is doing well and that it is still being used daily, currently fulfilling its winter hack duty impeccably.
However its road worthiness has not been a constant quantity over the past 7 months and it went from bad to worth before being good again. And here is the tale of those events.
Back in my last update in July, I mentioned the annoying exhaust leak from the front pipe flex joint that needed some attention. A new part was sourced from the EvilBay, while Nissan UK was entrusted to supply a set of gaskets to go at either end of the said front pipe. The original pipe section came off surprisingly well, with only 1 of the 6 nuts being rounded off in the process. At that point the level on the cursometer was low and I was full of enthusiasm to get the job done within the hour finally get the old V6 purring again.
 
Laying the old front pipe next to the new one, resulted a slight rise in the cursometer level. This is the point when I realised that the sourced part did not come with any heat shields. So I proceeded to carefully remove the original heat shield and insulation material, by cutting through the spot welds with surgical precision using an angle grinder (some oxymoron that is!). Miraculously, no lose of digits or cuts resulted from this. Delighted of my performance on that one, I was still optimistic about have the car back in one piece in a timely manner… until I tried to fit the heat shields on the new exhaust section.
The problem with a component from questionable source is that the part is not always made to OEM spec. So although the flanges appeared to be in the correct locations, the pipe routing was slightly different. Not by a huge amount but enough to hinder the fitting of one of the heat shield. With the cursometer level on the rise, but determined to refit the exhaust as per design intent, I grabbed hold of my 4lb hammer and proceeded to bash re-engineer the heat shield to make it fit the new pipe. With this hurdle jumped and the front pipe assembly back in one piece, I was able to refit the lot pretty easily back on the car, with my new exhaust gasket sets.
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Job done and cursometer now back at the atmospheric level.
The End? Not quite.
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Last Edit: Mar 29, 2017 15:34:31 GMT by nick0303
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