'00 Q45 AE performance recommendations

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Sapofeo
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:38 pm
Car: 00 Infiniti Q45 AE
93 Toyota MR2 Turbo
03 Ford Excursion V10
14 FiST

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I'm now 8 months into this daily driver project and financially I'm passed the point of no return. Suspension/wheels/tires etc. all done properly. I'm now facing a small head gasket leak and I'm struggling to find a viable upgrade path (if there even is one).

An engine swap to an older vh45de seems drastic for not much gain. Is just swapping the internals a better option? I don't see vh45de cranks available anywhere. Is it best to just rebuild the motor as-is and get some mild head work done while the heads are out? Is a basic I/H/E/flash the best route? I'm looking more for a long term cruiser than any real performance setup.

What is the community accepted upgrade path for modest gains? Budget <$3k-ish

Thanks in advance
Sapo


Ludeaem
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:46 am
Car: 2000 Infiniti Q45 AE
Location: Greenville, SC

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If it were me i'd just take the heads off and get the head gasket replaced. For performance I don't think much will be can be done short of boost that would be worth it.

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Skibane
Posts: 1056
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:33 pm
Car: 2000 Q45 AE 110K
Location: San Antonio, TX

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Junkyard GM LS engine.

You could spend an entire lifetime exploring all the cheap power upgrades.

:biggrin:

MowgliCSM
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:56 am
Car: 99 Q45t, 07 S550, 89 Mitsu Mirage Turbo.
Location: South Carolina

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2JZ swap or if you have the cash and want to keep it in the family, an RB26.

Ludeaem
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:46 am
Car: 2000 Infiniti Q45 AE
Location: Greenville, SC

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Did you guys read? Budget is less than 3k. Almost nothing is going to happen with that budget even assuming he is doing the work himself. Most items are going to be custom $$$

MowgliCSM
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:56 am
Car: 99 Q45t, 07 S550, 89 Mitsu Mirage Turbo.
Location: South Carolina

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I missed the budget. If all the work will be done themselves, then an LS is the easiest/cheapest option. Buy a junkyard motor from a Silverado and slap a cheap turbo on it. I bet you could do that for around 3k. Might not be pretty, but will be easier than trying to turbo the VH and allows infinite options down the road.

Sapofeo
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:38 pm
Car: 00 Infiniti Q45 AE
93 Toyota MR2 Turbo
03 Ford Excursion V10
14 FiST

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I decided to just milk the luxo-barge as a daily for as long as possible. So far so good. I'm lucky to have other projects to tinker with instead for the speed itch.

BadQ45t
Posts: 3249
Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2002 7:54 am
Car: 21' Leaf SL Plus (wife's car)
05' X-Terra S 4x4
97' Q45t SOLD! Miss the old girl
84 300ZX (Original Owner)
2016 Mercedes Benz S550e V8 Power and 35 MPG
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA

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i owned my 97' for 19 years, did coilovers, big wheels/sticky tires but past trying a little higher flow exhaust there are no upgrade paths so your choosing wisely. Finally did my upgrade to S550 Plug-in hybrid, over 430HP and 470 lbs off torque....but it was a little more than 3k budget :woot:


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