Thread: Make your sentra better for less: the newbie guide

I know there is a list of mods, parts, and what not for newcomers, but this thread is not just a list of stuff for sentras. Yogi, others, and myself sorta did this on a noobie's thread when the question was asked "What else can I do for cheap?" So I'm trying to organize it so we can have just 1 quick link for people to use when they introduce themselves and have that question.

For example, instead of 6 people thankfully piping in on a welcome thread with suggested first mods, we can say "go here _____link_____."

The other goal here is to keep the $$$ to a minimum. This will eliminate things like headers (aftermarket), lowering springs, and so on. Yes they are definitely necessary, but not for the goal of this thread.

I will edit this several times I'm sure, but for now we'll start 1 list that will stay at $100. These are in no order of importance necessarily. Some of these mods might be less depending on if for example you have loctite already. That mod would then be free. I'm assuming the cost of the supplies in these prices.

***11-6-11 UPDATE***
As I forewarned, the list would need several revisions so here is a moderate update. I have included a new section, or list rather, that is more cosmetic based. So basically we have 3 lists: A "performance" list with several performance mods that will roughly total $100, a "cosmetic" list that will include basically everything not performance related, and a third list of single items that are typically sold for less than $100 a piece. Again, nothing is listed in an order of importance and as stated the goal here is cheap, cheap, cheap. This list will always grow so your opinions and input are highly valued for the greater good of the b15 community. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this.

PERFORMANCE RELATED MODS
1. Loctite Butterfly screw mod $4

2. Remove/Gut Stock Exhaust Manifold (07+) $0

3. Throttle body bypass $0

4. Motor Mount Inserts $50

5. $4 wheel hop aid $4

6. Balance shaft chain cut $6

7.$9 short shifter $9

8. 02-0 sentra knock sensor relocation $10

9. Seafoam $9.99

10. Skateboard shifter bushing mod (no link) $5

11. How to clean MAF Sensor…With Pics $5

TOTAL=$102.99


COSMETIC RELATED MODS
1. Fog Light Mod

2. Dash Light Conversion Tutorial

3. Fix Squeaky Clutch

4. HOWTO: auto A/C switch mod

5. How to Fix foggy headlights

6. Blacked out tail lights

7. Paint Emblems (the right way w/PICS)

8. renewing rusty window sills !

9. Clutch Switch Bypass

10. How To: Install Custom Cup Holder

11. Make a Front Lip

12. $3 Radiator Rubber Bushing Mod

13. Keep your rotors from rusting

14. How To; Make Your Own Speaker Spacers from Stock Speakers.

15. How to: Make a custom mesh grille

16. Remove, Modify, Fix Reverse Lockout

17. E-brake (Parking Brake) Adjust

18. How to: Cheap yellow fog lenses

19. How to: Make spoiler gaskets

20. How to make E-BRAKE TIGHTER

21. How To Reuse THe Old Speaker Bracket For New Speakers

22. Make a custom front splitter from ABS plastic

23. How-To: 00-03 Retrofit HID projector headlamps and yellow fogs on the cheap

24. Install Nissan Rogue Hood Struts

25. accord lip


After considering what has been suggested by the feedback, a 3rd list is below for items that are less than $100 each and several are MUST have items for improving the b15. I did not list prices because they can change like the weather. Again, no specific order, just listing them as they come out. This list too will grow.

PARTS FOR UNDER $100
1. 2J racing anti lift kit (ALK)

2. 2J racing brass or aluminum shift bushings -or- FI-R nylatron shift bushings

3. 2J racing 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, and 20mm wheel spacers (1 set)

4. 2J racing rear trailing arm bushings

5. 2J racing bump steer kit

6. FI-R d.i.y. QR to VQ tb kit

7. FI-R nylatron cross member bushings

8. Ultra Racing front strut bar-upper

9. eBay stainless steel or ceramic header

10. eBay short ram intake

11. Jim Wolf Technologies balance shaft removal kit.

12. How To: Cooler Thermostats

13. How To: Oil Catch Can

14. OBX or 2J racing lightweight crankshaft pulley.

15. How to: wrap your exhaust (DP/Header) with exhaust wrap

Feedback welcomed

I love how the b15 puts the "more power" idea to the side when it comes to modding. Don't get me wrong, more power is great and the QR25 platform has plenty of areas to make power, but there are just as many mods that don't have anything to do with a power adding part. Instead the mods apply the power you already have in a more effective way, or they free up wasted power (like the balance shaft chain cut).

cleaning the maf regulaly(what ever it cost for a can in your area)

maf re-learn(buying used or cleaning maf)

re-setting fuel trims(kinda goes with cleaning the maf, could also go with filter and plugs etc.)

oil catch can(the most pricey but worth it) (see my thread "my next can")

hood spacers

properly cleaning the tb (take it off and spray both sides)

Seafoaming (how ever much a can cost)

Oil cooler (very costly but a must have for any nissan)

I can't think of anymore and some of these is a little extreme but its beter than nothing and sorry for not adding links.

alk
shifter bushings
spacing the track out with from 5-20mm spacers
upping tiire pressure to 35lb all around and test
i run 38lb street

2* timing advance at nissan or any uprev dealer

and for new vq swap owners the 45 buck vias delete

hey also i have nology wires. worth putting on or should i try to sell?>

Originally Posted by 04SPEC-Vsentra_dylan

hey also i have nology wires. worth putting on or should i try to sell?>

Lol, we told you already to sell them, they won't do anything except make your engine bay look cluttered.

Dont you have to take changing your oil into account with the bsr? Just an added cost. You could also throw in the fog light mod, changing cluster and havc lights, that's pretty cheap as well. There is also the $20 SRI. These are some more simple mods that require little to no experience to do.

since this list is the least expensive way to do things why do you have motor mount inserts on there instead of window weld filled stock mounts?

Originally Posted by NismoV240

Dont you have to take changing your oil into account with the bsr? Just an added cost. You could also throw in the fog light mod, changing cluster and havc lights, that's pretty cheap as well. There is also the $20 SRI. These are some more simple mods that require little to no experience to do.

They're are lots of diy things like the fog light mod but I was thinking more performance wise. Guess that's kinda close-minded but that's why I didn't include things like the gauge mod, fog light mod, etc. That can always be added so keep it up!

O and Ive always been on the fence about Nology wires on a spec.

Originally Posted by darsondriss

since this list is the least expensive way to do things why do you have motor mount inserts on there instead of window weld filled stock mounts?

Because I don't believe that is as effective. But to each his own.

ok well im currently trying to sell the fuckers. Brand new in packaging.......ummmm hmmmmm yeah i wanna make the spec faster since its been sitting about a month. somehow i crushed my midpipe and it killed both my o2 sensors.........so i have a megan midpipe in the mail......but i mean i have nismo intake, and will have midpipe and exhaust. But i been driving the se-r altima lol soooooo yeah my sentra is gunna feel so dam slow lol.

Just do the balance shaft chain cut when its time for an oil change. I'm about 500 miles away so I think I'll cut the chain and put some seafoam in the crank case at the same time.

Originally Posted by Patric

Just do the balance shaft chain cut when its time for an oil change. I'm about 500 miles away so I think I'll cut the chain and put some seafoam in the crank case at the same time.

That's why I didn't include that in the price. I just guessed for a tube of RTV. If you have no bolt cutters, buy some from Home Depot, use them once, and return them.

Updated post 1

Originally Posted by formerHonda

That's why I didn't include that in the price. I just guessed for a tube of RTV. If you have no bolt cutters, buy some from Home Depot, use them once, and return them.

The RTV is useful for other things too. Like attaching the cover on my driver's side visor mirror.

I was tired of it falling off onto my lap whenever I pulled down the visor...and it's not like I've gotta try and put on makeup while driving!

That's a good idea because I had to seal my oil pan twice (didn't do it right the first time) and each time I had at least 1/2 a tube Of rtv left.

Maybe I should RTV up my stupid sunroof control panel and hope the bulbs never go out

Small update to list 1.

great effort here, and thanks for putting this together, here's some thoughts:

3. tb bypass - while this is a good mod in getting colder air, it should be noted the tb is heated for a reason, so the ppl in cold climates dont get their tb frozen open.
4. & 5. mmi & wha - the prothane are only a few dollars more, i know some ppl swear the solid mounts are better. but either way, i think this should be paired with the $5 wha since it will be done at the same time.
6. bs chain cut - there's a writeup somewhere for travis' free bsr, im guessing itll also be a couple dollars more.

also, as you said somewhere a $20 sri would be a nice add to the list, or the $8 maf adapter instead. i do like the foglight mod myself, but there's also the disable auto a/c mod that is easy to do.

What about the skateboard bearing shifter mod. Less than 5 dollars and works awesome for 02-03 and some '04s.