First off, greetings to all on this board and sincere thanks for all the great advice found here. I've been a silent observer until now and have not yet found a reason to post, but have found this site a valuble source of info. Anyhow, I've been an owner of a 93Q, (black beauty super clean) for about 2 years. Purchased it from a nissan dealer with 117k, not having any idea what I was getting myself into. As the previous owner of 2 old Mercedes', and a 91 735i, I'm used to the punishment. But this is the finest car I've ever owned, my other car is a 01 Lincoln LSv8 and it doesn't even compare. Getting to the point, after complete brake, suspension, and transmission overhaul, not to mention valve cover re-seal, under-intake stuff (injectors, hoses), fuel pump, blah blah blah.......I figured after all the talk of chain guides, I better get it done before the inevitable failure. So I ordered parts from local dealer (have wholesale acct) , amazingly all came in in 3 days (guides, tensioners, oil pump chain/sprockets). Tore it down Sunday Jan 2nd at my shop to find METAL BACKED GUIDES!!!!!, dated 8/92 same month as my date of manuf. for the car. I was happy in that I didn't have to worry about dropping the oil pan right away to collect broken guide pieces, but pissed that I had worried myself to death about it, not taking my Q over 4k RPM's for the past year or so. I went ahead and replaced everything anyways, and feel great about it. My Q drives like new (at least I think it does) with 139k, and I truly believe it was all money well spent. If I had known what a great car this was, I never would have bought the LS. I drive my Q every day while my Lincoln collects dust. I have every intention of spending whatever it takes to go 300k. And when this one dies, I'll search for another 93 and do it all over again. Thanks to all the Q lovers on this board, I'll try to actively post and reply and help in anyway I can. John
Congrats on a great car. Please post some pics in our members ride section too!
Yours was apparently one of those 93's with the metal backed guides.
I am glad you did it anyway as many folks have discovered they were on the brink when they did that.
Fred...
"It's not that Life wont give you anything, It's all about the way you ask" RIP Danzig, Breslau and Stettin.. may the squatters that live in your corpses, get what they deserve in this life or the next 1989 240 SX Coupe (SR20DET, Silvia Front end, Sold) 2x91,92,94 Q45's (lost one to chainguides, one totaled, others sold) 2002 Maxima (pearl, traded in) 2003 Sentra SER SPEC-V (coilovers, I/H/E, etc, totaled) 2003 G35 Coupe (vandalized) 2004 350Z (DB ATI Supercharged 9psi , various Mods, 411 rwhp sold) 2004 350Z (PPW, graphics Kits, Vortech 8psi , LOTS of bolt ons, full Nismo suspension, BBK etc etc)
... METAL BACKED GUIDES!!!!!, dated 8/92 same month as my date of manuf. for the car...
It's kind of burried in the details.
Rex - Not THAT Rex ____ Teh Coupe Killaz #0 Tutorial for pics/avatars Donate To NICO: PayPal acct 'advertise@nicoclub.com' The 3 R's - Read/Research/Reply
Feels good to come out of the closet doesn't it?? Sorry, I'm a bit of a smart arse sometimes.
Welcome and that's a great story..Maybe since you posted it you will bring some bit of good fortune to each and everyone of us.,,, Wes and his leak, AZhitman and getting his spare transmission shipped for cheap, GreenQ45 and his harness for the suspension controller, CherrypoppinQ and his torment, poormanQ and his drive to be the pvc and duct tape spokesman, Miniman and his beaten to a pulp Q, Heavyduty and his wish to live in Miami???, rsiwicki and his pursuit of ultimate hp and the 100mph qtr mile, dannymchale and his need for a new antenna, rover31 and his untimely Q misfortunes, gloucester Q and the wiper mess and my neverending journey through what some might call tourturous bliss with my own Q. (forgive me for leaving anyone out)
Point being sometimes there just not enough good news to go around. You know sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying!! Thanks for the uplifting story and for showing us there is room for hope..
Welcome to NICO! It sounds like you're quite the DIYer. Anyone who tackles a chain guide job, even after finding out that it's not necessary is pretty good with a wrench to say the least. I hope you enjoy it here on the board as much as I have for the last several years!
Heath
1990 Infiniti Q45 **** AKA "Q2" 2005 Infiniti G35 **** Sedan A/T 2004 Nissan Frontier.. King Cab M/T
If you haven't done any suspension upgrades, yet. It will make a major difference.
I just bought my second Q, and it is a touring with the HICAS. When I bought it, it had 97,000 miles on it, with the original suspension. It was a nice car, but rode like a boat, all the way from San Jose. My silver Q, with over 200,000 has a much better ride. Now that I have new Tokiko Blues, tesnion rods, bushings, and bump stops, it is starting to ride very nice. I like the stiffer steering of the tourning model. I still have to install the upper links, and the front struts, and then the stainless steel brake lines and replace the brake fluid and rear-end lube. Then it will be ready to take over, when the silver Q dies.
The biggest improvement in handling, was the addition of the front strut tower brace I made from a 2000 Maxima bar. It really tightened up the front end. I have some lics, in my Member's Ride section. There is a link below in my signature.
Father of the NICO Front Strut Tower Brace for the first generation Q45
Lola - 94 Q45t, 203K miles Ice T - 00 I30t Sport, 150K miles Lana - 04 M45, 53K miles
I did my mod, with a drill, and had file, while sitting in the proch swing. I did go to the grass, to re-paint the hat, though. It's not a tough modification. The hardest part, is getting the exaxt brace, from eBay. The third one I bought, was the wrong one. It was a good thing it fit the I30t.
I think Stille nstill ahs the bars, but they are a couple of hundred dollars, I think.
I'm going to do some investigating and find out if there is a beginning production date for the 93's with metal backed guides...Does anybody know where the production date may be on a used engine by any chance? I've been having this feeling that I have a 93 engine (or is it wishful thinking?).
To my knowledge the only info you get is a stamp toward the rear that gives you the serial number of the engine, just tandem to the main bearing grade stamps. There is probably a document buried deep in a filing cabinet in Tochigi that cross-references the serial number with lots of things, including date of manufacture; good luck finding someone who has access to the info though.
Just because you have new style guides doesn't mean that the oil chain and maybe tensioners don't ever need replacement!
My chain guide were done [100k] May of 97.............that was 7.5 years [and 174,000 miles] ago. Bet it's time again but will just build a new motor and swap.........as 274k is getting up there.
Same injectors, TPS, MAF, coils, IAC, EGR, CATS, oil pump & internals + PS pump and rack and most PS hoses for 15 years............that a long time.
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Hey Glutton! I just noticed that you live in Brandon, FL. I live in Sourthern Brandon/Riverview, just south of Bloomingdale Ave.
What color is your Q? I've been noticing lately that there are more and more Q45s around here.
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Funny you guys remark about the Qs and Gluttony! My 92 400e is easily WOR$E than Q ownership! I love to drive it but the wife is growing weary of the +$1000 expense every time I go to my trusted mechanic. On top of expensive wear and tear items, you have to contend with biodegradable electronics and a rediculously expensive and realitively non durable AC system.
hello, just got a 1993 Q45, and man its sweet! i've been trying to find some facts on the car and am scared about the chain guide thing. can you advise on some tech manual that i could get that would help me locate and inspect the problem? please get back to me. and is there any chat rooms/im's where i could talk instantly with someone. by the way my car manufact date on the inside of the door says 7/92. i live in north arkansas so you can guess how hard it will be to get the Q in to a real doc.
right on i will get an aim account. im at rgn132@yahoo i'm sure ready to start networking to protect my car i will leave you some pics and messeges on aim later tonight
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