Year: 1995 Model: Maxima Color: Black Emerald (DJ2) Transmission: Manual 5-Speed Trim: SE
What motivated you to MOD your Maxima?
I’ve always loved the Nissan Maxima…specifically the 4th gen. When the 4th gen was first released in 1995, I liked it from then. When the first Fast and Furious movie came out, I was hooked on it. I bought mine from an older gentlemen, and joined Maxima.org, Torontomaxima.com, an NYCMaximas.org shortly after. After seeing all the builds, it wasn’t long before I started changing things, although they were mostly cosmetic for the longest time.
After owning it for almost 9 years, I decided that she needed to be faster, so I made it happen. – Nick Gopaul
Mod List:
Engine/Transmission:
Stock VQ30DE Motor
00VI with 5thgen Injectors/Rail/Lower Intake
4th gen IACV
V2 Vortech Supercharger (11psi)
Stillen Plate
Stillen Charge Pipe
Blitz BOV
K&N Pancake Filter
Fuel Pressure Regulator
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Mishimoto Aluminum Rad
Vibrant Silicon Vacuum Lines, and Couplers
Cat-less Y-Pipe
Magnaflow High-Flow Cat with full 3” Custom Exhaust
Mild Wire Tuck
Optima Yellow Top Battery
Solid Torque Mounts
Stock 5-speed Manual Transmission
350Z Clutch
Rebuilt & Strengthened Axles
Suspension & Brakes:
Ksport Kontrol Pro Coilover Suspension Kit
Moog Lower Control Arms
Moog Swaybar End Links
Moog Tue Rod End
Custommaxima.com Front Strut Tower Brace
AADCO Rear Sway Bar
Wilwood 4-Piston BBK with 13” Rotors
Rear OEM Pads & Rotors
Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Synthetic Brake Fluid
Body & Interior
Front End Repaint (No More Stone Chips)
Full Front End Paint Protection Film Wrap
Full Stillen Lip Kit
Blacked-out Bumper Lights
Rear “David L” Red/Clears
Custom TLM Projector Retrofitted Headlights with “Nismo” Logo
6k HIDs Top and Bottom
Crystal Corner Lights
18% Tint All Around
Chrome Gauge Rings
Triple Gauge A-pillar Pod (AFR, Boost, Oil Pressure)
Year: 2002 Model: Maxima Color: Silver Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic Trim: SE
Highlights: This is a one-of-a-kind 5thgen Nissan Maxima with a RIPP Mods supercharger fabricated to fit the VQ35DE. It is using a R.I.P.P V5 supercharger kit that came off a Mitsubishi Eclipse GT V6. It’s also using water meth injection. It made 339.7 WHP / 306.3 TQ on 440cc injectors at 98%, ignition retarded timing set at +11, 8 psi and a 2.6 pulley.
Year: 1997 Model: Maxima Color: Sage Mist Green (FS0) Transmission: Automatic 4-Speed Trim: GLE
Article Credit: Aaron Litchfield
Imagine seeing this car lined up at the track. At almost 20 years old and reconciled to shuffling grandma back and forth to church, most people don’t view a 1997 Maxima as a car that is a threat, or even a car that belongs at a drag strip. Add on top of that the fact that it has an automatic transmission, and you are likely to incite more than a few laughs. Abdala Fernandez, the owner and builder of this car, doesn’t care who is laughing at the beginning of the track, he is more concerned with who is laughing at the end, and more often than not, it’s him.
If the giant intercooler wasn’t a dead give-away, once you pop the hood you start to realize that this is a car that is very different from the stock 190whp grocery-getter Nissan designed. The engine was swapped with a more powerful and lighter VQ35DE. If that code looks familiar to you that is because it is the same engine code that you find in a 350z, just a front wheel drive version. The bottom end is built with ACL HX bearings, and Eagle H beam rods matched with Weisco 8.8:1 Pistons. A Nissan Rev Up oil pump replaces the stock for more reliable oiling, and the 3.5 block has been bored slightly to 96mm. The head bolts are stolen from a Nissan Juke, the headgasket is from a Vq35hr, the higher revving cousin of the VQ35DE. This combo keeps the all-important contact between the head and the block going strong even under relatively high amounts of boost pressure. The heads have been modified as well, VQ35HR valve springs replace their OEM counterparts and the valves have been lapped and adjusted by Abdala by grinding the buckets by hand. An NWP torque link connects the engine to the actual frame of the car, reducing engine movement.
The intake manifold has been replaced with a MotorDyne MREV2, this was then modified with a Methanol/Water (50/50) dual nozzle injection, a Hobb pressure switch dictates when the methanol is released. A MotorDyne 5/16 inch spacer separates it from the warmer lower intake manifold, and a NWP lower intake manifold spacer keeps the high heat of the engine block at bay. This is a tried-and-true technique of using spacers to reduce intake air temperatures, and to distribute air through the pistons more effectively.
An Aeromotive A1000 fuel pressure regulator keeps the fuel flowing correctly from the trunk mounted fuel cell. In addition to fuel, the fuel system is, as you can imagine, big. 1000cc Injector Dynamics fuel injectors mounted in an OBX fuel rail, pushed by a 450lph Walbro fuel pump gives this engine all the high-octane fuel it needs. Abdala decided to score the injection “hat trick” and get nitrous on board as well. A DynoTune nitrous system provides an 80whp wet shot of nitrous. From a dig this helps spool the large turbo faster, and is the primary purpose for using the giggle gas. Alternatively, should he deem it necessary, Emanage can let loose nitrous for the entire ¼ mile run.
The turbo is a BorgWarner S366 T4 Single Scroll .88AR pushing up to an impressive 21 pounds of boost, a Tial 50MM with a 15psi spring keeps the extra air venting into the atmosphere. Because of its mounting position, the radiator has been replaced with a much smaller 2 core radiator out of a Del Sol. A Treadstone Performance TR1035 intercooler keeps the compressed air chilled and dense. Controlling all this madness is a Greddy Emanage Ultimate that is hooked into a Turbosmart boost controller via a Mac Solenoid for a custom electronic boost control set up. Tuning this creation is done by none other than Abdala himself. Also, a J&S Ultra safeguard with matching knock gauge keep the engine safe by detecting even the faintest knock and disabling that specific cylinder until it can behave again.
The turbo manifolds are custom built by Abdala, and wrapped in titanium to help fight under hood temperatures. The car uses two downpipes, one used for the track which is a 3.5inch short pipe that exists the hood, hence the holes in the hood. For the street, a custom down pipe that routes to the back of the car then comes out of the passenger side rear door with a custom muffler that is based on a Dynomax VT. This has baffling inside that is very quiet when there is slow airflow, once an increase in airflow occurs the flaps open and it becomes a straight through muffler.
The taboo automatic transmission is a stock 4 speed Maxima Automatic with an EdgeRacing Highstall Converter, (3500 stall) and a IPT Performance Transmissions valvebody upgrade. A TRU-COOL MAX LPD47391 transmission cooler with two generic fans mounted on it is installed to keep the transmission cool. The cooler is mounted in stock gas tank position, hence the trunk mounted fuel cell. The transmission is controlled by SupraStick v4, which is a standalone transmission control module. A custom “manual shifter” which is a rod that sits near his right hand by the factory shifter allows him to easily pull on the rod to up shift, and push on it to downshift. He also has a switch that sets the transmission to automatic mode for normal driving. The TCM is also partly responsible for controlling the nitrous, when a shift is initiated it turns off the nitrous during the shift then activates it again in the next gear, this helps take load off the transmission and allows for easier shifts.
The suspension is handled by Tokico Illumina’s set to the firmest setting for improved launches. The front and rear springs are progress. A progress rear sway bar keeps the car from getting out of line. In keeping with the understated visuals, the wheels and tires are 17 inch rims from a 2002 Titanium Edition Maxima. When he goes to the track a set of Mickey Thomson 24.5×8 slicks grace the front end of the car. Hawk Hp+ brake pads are the only braking upgrade this sleeper needs.
The gauges that monitor this complicated engine are: Air/fuel, oil pressure (mechanical mounted on the hood of the car outside, visible from driver seat), coolant temperature, transmission temperature ( adjustable selection between coolant temperature/atf). J&S Ultra Safeguard knock gauge which shows knock counts and ignition retard.
The results of all this work and fabrication pay off with a blistering 11.326 second quarter mile time and a very respectable 127.15 mph trap speed. Abdala admits that he is happy with the time, but won’t be satisfied with the build until he cracks the ten second mark. With the amount of time and effort put into this car, it is just a matter of time until this sleepy old grocery getter achieves that goal, drops some jaws, breaks some hearts, and gives Abdala his last laugh. If you want to follow this car and see it in action, check out Abdala’s appropriately named Instagram “Streetzlegend.”
Sadly, we lost Kevin in September of 2009 due to his long battle with cancer. We will always miss you Kevin! This post is dedicated to you. You will never forgotten in the Nissan Maxima community!
Year: 2000 Model: Maxima Color: Black Engine: VQ30DE Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Trim: SE
This featured post is dedicated to Bishnu Dinanauth aka Secondtonone317. Can’t believe it’s already been that many years. Thank you for all your contributions to the Maxima community. You will always be missed! You may be gone but will never be forgotten. – Eddy
Engine / Performance
OBX headers and y pipe
Test pipe
Full Greddy Catback
Apexi WS2 Muffler
Electric cutout
1 step colder plugs
Vortech V2 supercharger, 12 PSI
Stillen V2 Supercharger plate
Vortech FMU with 6:1 disc
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Custom Charge Piping
“T” Clamps for charge piping
Blitz DD BOV with custom fit SS scoop
3in MAF Housing
Custom 3in Cold air intake
Fujita air filter
AEM meth / water kit
Port and polished lower intake manifold
Swirl valves deleted
Cruise Control Delete
Shaved and ported UIM
Pathfinder Throttle body with adaptor plates
02 Simulator
Oil catch can
Mitsubishi Radiator overflow tank
Braille lightweight battery
Braille lightweight battery stand
Gutted Trunk
Custom Poly filled left and right engine mounts
Energy Suspension front and rear engine mounts
Custom made Traction Bars
Newly Rebuilt LSD Gearbox
Spec stage 3, 6 puck clutch
B&M Shifter
Poly Filled Shifter Bushing
Aasco Aluminum lightweight flywheel
Apexi VafcII
AEM UGEO Wideband
Summit Racing adjustable shift light
Autometer Boost gauge
Autometer Oil Presure Gauge
Cyberdine Electric Fuel pressure gauge
Amsoil GL4 Gearbox Oil
Suspension, Braking and Handling
K-sport 36 way adjustable Coilovers
Front Strut Bar
Stillen Rear Strut Bar
Progress Rear Sway Bar
Bhlemco Stage 2 lower tie bar (skinned with 1/8th in steel to protect from bottoming out)
Altima SER 18in wheels
245/45/18 tires
Altima SER calipers and brackets with 12.6 inch drilled and slotted rotors
Performance brake pads all around
Rear drilled and slotted rotors
Traux Motorsports Subframe connectors with X braces
Exterior / Interior Mods
2000 Nissan Maxima SE fully loaded
ABS Rear Lip
Stillen Sideskirts
Pure Polyurethane front lip
Redout Taillights
CF Hood
Ionic Dynamics ½ size roof spoiler
5% tints all the way around incl. sunroof
Smoke tinted clear front side markers
Blacked out chrome window trim
Black leather interior
Black / Red Altima SER seats (heated and drivers side powered)
Year: 2009 Model: Maxima Color: Midnight Blue Transmission: CVT Trim: S
As of Sept 2nd, 2019!
As of Feb 15th, 2020!
Some new photos, courtesy of NYC Speed Cams lol
2021Photos
Latest Update
As of 8/7/2021, the car is in the process of being parted out. The engine blew a head gasket and also experienced an electrical issue. At this point, it was not worth fixing. It was a really good run with this car. It treated us very well. We will miss you Midnight.