My Project/Build: Danski6MT's Elite Radiant Ember Max Revival - my6thgen.org

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-23-2012, 09:38 PM

I decided to finaly start the build page of my 3rd Max and share the story of the Max that I've been literaly searching for over a year.
2004 Nissan Maxima SE
(A19) Radiant Ember
6 Speed
Navigation
Bose
Elite package.

This Max was a little rough, random missfires, diagnosed with blown Head Gasket, smoking oil bad, body damage, worst of all was the Skyview. I knew the rust penetration was deep and the roof would have to be re-skined.....

Previous owner seemed very passionate about the Max also and has done quite a bit of maintnance, as well as repairs and included a pile of receipts. He was really amazing to deal with. Even shipped items to me after the purchase that he had laying at his house, and did all that at his own cost. Very honest and the most pleasant car transaction I've ever have been a part of.
According to the paperwork, I'm the forth owner of this Max.

This is how the Max looked minutes before the money exchange took place, loaded on the trailer and taken back home 08-14-2011
Car has been a work in progress and has not been plated yet.

Hood Damage

Skyview rust penetration

Door damage/sideskirt damage

**Chemax** · 02-23-2012, 09:50 PM

Go on...

**EddyMaxx** · 02-23-2012, 09:55 PM

**officerfrasher** · 02-23-2012, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Chemax

Go on...

Originally Posted by EddyMaxx

He had pics up at first, but they were tiny. He's working on it!

smittybizzle · 02-23-2012, 10:08 PM

Get them pictures up .

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-23-2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by officerfrasher

He had pics up at first, but they were tiny. He's working on it!

Thats correct Sir, but seriously im struggling here. Why does photobucket put these pics so small. Ive never had that problem. I upload them into photobucket large then i link the image here and they look tiny?

Working on it.

**officerfrasher** · 02-23-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Danski6MT

Thats correct Sir, but seriously im struggling here. Why does photobucket put these pics so small. Ive never had that problem. I upload them into photobucket large then i link the image here and they look tiny?
Working on it.

No idea.

I don't have any issues with Photobucket.

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 12:43 AM

After the tow home and diagnosis of the engine it was discovered that both pre-cats were broken up and a lot of it sucked back into the engine via egr/valve overlap..... lots and lots of blow-by and there was silver flake everywhere.....

and so with that happening, I was left with the option of rebuilding from bottom up and cleaning all the catalytic material out the tired motor, re-ring the bottom end and put new timing components and heads....I opted for option "B" as the damage was too extensive.

This called for a heart transplant. '04 motor out '07 motor in with just over 5800km on the motor Im unsure if it made the first warranty oil service to the dealer and crashed on the way out or perhaps it never made it. The replacement motor was very expensive, but its was clean, cylinder bore crosshatch patterns were as good as new, as if the bores were honed yesterday, and compression was all goooooood.

Look carefully and you can spot the markings where to my suprise this was a 2002 build motor, technically, Nissan was using all leftover stock out of the 5.5 gen's in early '04 production numbers...

07' Motor/ Fidanza, OEM TO bearing/exedy stg1 clutch & ebay headers setup going in...

LucKie1nE · 02-24-2012, 12:46 AM

Damn, this maxima is sure keeping you busy huh.. It'll be well worth it in the end bro.. Keep up the good work..

**Kontra-vers-E** · 02-24-2012, 12:51 AM

Damn, you really took on a project, but that's just more reason to love it after you're done with it.

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 12:54 AM

Max adopted well to the heart transplant, and with that all wrapped up it was time to do some body work....chop, cut, remove, kinda way...

First thing first. Finding a donor for the body parts

The donor car was 250 miles each way....road trip.
The entire roof (Including curtain airbags headliner and compass mirror) was cut of the donor car at the pillars via sawzall and a portable generator. Rear door was also removed.

**RAZ76** · 02-24-2012, 12:55 AM

Nice, subscribed.

dstruc · 02-24-2012, 02:25 AM

subbed

BossQ · 02-24-2012, 03:02 AM

def staying updated on this project

**Latinmaxima** · 02-24-2012, 06:30 AM

Nice work

Dicho por el ICS EPIC Touch de latinmaxima

**craze** · 02-24-2012, 07:02 AM

Sounds pretty hood,g/l

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smittybizzle · 02-24-2012, 08:52 AM

Man you are getting down and dirty , I need to get off my hight horse and do the 6 speed swap .

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:01 PM

Thank you all for the positive comments and compliments. I welcome all comments, let me know what you guys like or don't or questions in general on the processes, as some steps will be skipped...

It has been a lot of work considering my 10 hour a day schedule. By far WAY more then I expected.

I just wanted to fix this Max up and make it a "DD" as I already have toys that are modded and fast....Ive driven plenty of 6gens over the years coming to the shop....so I knew what was offered. The plan was not to make this one faster but rather for the enjoyment of the amazing blend of luxury & performance that the 6 speed offers right out of the box.
The initial plan was to do only a few mods. These included.
-Lower that uggly 4x4 look in the front wheels and exhaust and LED gauge mod and headlight mod.........as I really love the look and function of LED's

As usual in my case, things got away...You guys, and this amazing forum gave me a slew of ideas...Thanks again

Once I got the donor car pieces back to shop it was time to start disassembly. (while the disassembly process continued after work hours, on a few days I didnt work late at the shop I was working on the headlights and tailights at home.
Tailights were sprayed with Tinted Clear....2 coats.

Headlights were split, painted and 2 amber led strips applied ( one for park and second for turn indicators, along with a White 3156 bulb in the parking light, and an ember turn signal LED. Also a White 3156 For the Daytime Running Lights. Also 6000K HID fogs to match new 6000k headlight bulbs

Lights on, also the grill was plastidipped, but later on that idea was scrapped in favor of hi gloss repaint...

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:14 PM

Body dissasembly
Windshield and rear window removed. hood getting sanded and primed..

I assume the rust around the Skyview was caused by the Skyview recall that applied to the '04s
Roof getting reskinned. Drilled all the spotwelds out and remove the cancer.

New roof skin getting sanded

**officerfrasher** · 02-24-2012, 08:20 PM

Those headlights are insane! Good work!

**officerfrasher** · 02-24-2012, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Danski6MT

Body dissasembly
Windshield and rear window removed. hood getting sanded and primed..

Going for a two-tone look?

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:29 PM

Yes, I like the way Deadbolt went with the "Panda" I Took that idea and kind of ran with it....exept not running black into the bumper, it will end at the grill.

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:34 PM

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:47 PM

The new skin was applied with 3M 8115 2 part epoxy called Automix. This sh*t is incredible and beats spot welding and damaging panels...Work time is 30-45 minutes...and dries as a rock. In testing between 2 bonded automotive sheets of metal, the metal tears before the epoxy does. Again, amazing stuff. Also used by Chrysler Techs for repairs on the notorious rust problem in older style Dodge Caravan Strut towers...

Also The headliner was redone with simulation Carbon Fiber at the same time...

For added strenght/piece of mind I riveted the roof skin to squeeze out all the epoxy and give it a serious bond.

**BurntOrangeAppeal** · 02-24-2012, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by officerfrasher

Those headlights are insane! Good work!

Thanks bro.

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Extended Maxima Generation Family