Trying to get more horsepower and torque

[batatamad2]

I have a 1988 Maxima sedan and I want to get more hp and torque without tearing up my automatic transmission up too much. I would like to start on building this car to be a sleeper. I've already replaced the motor and trans mounts but is still getting a hard thump when I shift through gears. Does anybody know what is causing that ???

[ankit]

For a little more power look to the primaries: Intake, headers, exhaust, lightweight pulley, and maybe even cams.

But from the sounds of it, your transmission might be on it's way out. When's the last time you flushed it? How many miles do you have on the car? Check the fluid level lately? Might want to get to the bottom of this problem before spending money on mods because the transmission might need replacing and you might just want to spend the money on a different (possibly newer) car instead or fix this one up and begin modding it. It's probably a decision that you might have to make if this is the case with the trans.

EDIT: whoops just read that it is a 1988 (when typing all of this i thought it was a 1998.) The transmission is probably toast if this is the original one.

[sergey85]

what he said. make sure the cars runs good before dumping too much money into the car