1990 Q45 questions.

[Taji]

Hi guys, I just recently found a 1990 Q45 for sale, its got 157k miles on it but I needed something to just get me to and from work you know? It only cost me 1700$ so it wasnt a bad deal for me.

After driving it a while, I came to really like it, so I was wondering... Would it be worth it to restore it and fix it up to be like new? I was thinking of getting the body worked on to get rid of all the scratches/faded paint. Its in really great shape honestly, almost nothing wrong with it. It still runs great and everything. But I was wondering if buying a rebuilt engine(if I could find one) would be worth it or not?

I guess what im really looking for is some suggestions on what I could do to make it stand out in todays eyes. Im not looking for body kits and whatnot, the car is too pretty to do that to it. New paint job, nice tires/rims (nothing omg bling), maybe buy new lights too. The main concern I have is the engine. I took a peek at some of the pics of that rear mounted turbo '94 q45, and the engine in that was absolutly beautiful... id like something like that.

[Haitian_King]

The short answer, is yes. Q's are worth it.

I had a guy jump out of his 2005 AMG Mercedes S500 and positively gush over my Q. He told me that he just got rid of his and bought the Benz, and how he wished he still had the Q.

[Taji]

Im just getting into cars myself, and i really do love the car. I am just worried if I sink all the money id need to, to make the car how I want it that it wouldnt last that long afterwards.

Any suggestions on what to do to it first? Would getting the engine rebuilt be better to do before anything else or after im done with the other things?

[cccpman]

you cant tell if the engine is in good condition by using your eyes in most cases. Get it hooked up to a consult, or checked out by a mechanic. That small investment will tell you if its worth a larger one. Nice engines are becoming hard to find, it is up to you how much money you are willing to spend to repair, if you posted an approximate amount your willing to spend or read up on how much others have spent... you might change your mind, but that would be a shame because its a car in a class of its own

[Taji]

The engine still runs perfectly fine honestly, it just needs to be "referbished" i guess, you know, shined up and whatnot. Money isnt that much of an issue because its going to be a long-term project, spending a little here and there, saving up for a big thing and such. I guess i should keep the engine how it is and do all the tedius body/interior things first and then the engine.

I did have the car checked, it seems that there is a fuel leek "somewhere" but the mechanic "couldnt find it", but definetly "smells" it when its in an enclosed place. I dont know...

Does anyone have estimates on what they spent on thier own q45?

[cccpman]

Sure, I spent every penny I had and then some and it has been worth it

A fuel leak means the engine is not 'fine' and its dangerous. Get a real mechanic, they dont just let things that threaten your life go with a 'i dont know'

And if it was not hooked up to a consult, the FI/KS tested, belts checked, etc etc etc it's assumed guilty of being damaged until proven otherwise

The real trick to owning the Q45 is doing the work yourself or having some really deep pockets... I would recommend fixing the interior LAST as the soul or heart of the car is the engine/transmission

[DrewQ45]

At 157K, you're just breaking it in. The engine is the strongest thing on this car. Make sure you get the chain guides done as that is most common killer of 90-93 Q.

[jmorasch]

The Q45 is well worth the restoration you speak of. theres a infiniti parts forum on here you can find almost everything your going to need.

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. My cousin's 93 (this is what made me love Q's) blew a head gasket. He told me where to find his mechanic who did really good body and engine work for his Q. I'll check him out.

[mxr662]

seems that there is a fuel leek

Look under your plenum ( the aluminum thing on your engine) There are several fuel lines that could be leaking at the clamps.

As DrewQ45 said do the chain guides before the engine blows up.

zerothread?id=25201http://forums.nicocl ... ?id=157236

Take care of your transmission and check the cooling system to be sure you don't overheat the engine.

Then enjoy driving it and fix all the other items that need repair.

This car would be very expensive for me to own if I had to pay someone to work on it.

welcome to NICO

Andy

[Taji]

Thanks for the welcome And the plenum suggestion, ill have that checked out asap.

See, I cant do a lot of the repairs myself because im like, so illiterate when it comes to these things. Ive only just started getting into cars and its not an easy thing lol.

I did read over those 2 articles, and im going to have to get my car checked out again by a real mechanic. The ones in my town are really bad it seems.

It seems Haitian_King lives in NJ, if your not that far from me in NY maybe you can give me the info to the mechanic your cousin referred you to? Maybe ill get things started there.

[Haitian_King]

I live in South NJ. About an hour and 20 minutes from Manhattan. An hour if there's no traffic on the Turnpike.

I do have a number for an Infiniti mechanic from Brooklyn though if you'd like that.

[OnTheRoadAgain]

I live in South NJ. About an hour and 20 minutes from Manhattan. An hour if there's no traffic on the Turnpike.

I do have a number for an Infiniti mechanic from Brooklyn though if you'd like that.

who is the South Jersey mechanic?

[Haitian_King]

This guy who my cousin told me to see. A chinese guy named Ken.

Ken's cousin Tim used to be my mechanic. But this was before Tim had his own shop. He used to do great work, ultra cheap, and fast too. But once he got successful enough and opened his own shop, he seemed to "forget" his old clients, (the ones that told all their friends about him and brought him large amounts of business) and now he's a jerk. If a job isn't big enough, he won't do it right away. I saw a friend of mine's car there for like a month. It was a $700 job on a Mazda Millenia, but Tim let the car sit, and just didn't work on it.

Hopefully Ken is just as good, without the ego. I'll find out this weekend I guess.

[Taji]

Actually, I live about an hour and a half outside of manhattan as well, so south jersy may be a lot closer to me then brooklyn. Let me know I live about 20min from Matamoras NJ if that helps lol.

[Haitian_King]

Idk about Matamoras. I'm closer to Philadelphia. Like 20 minutes across the bridge.

[maxnix]

who is the South Jersey mechanic?

Keith Vanmeter in Mantua is a Infinti Senior Technician and really knows the cars. His service reputation is excellent.

The shade tree guys are great until they srew your car and cost you thousands.

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. Well, I've never heard of Mantua. Secondly, it's probably retarded far from me.

Ken used to work on my cousin's Q since his Dad owned it. So, I think I'll give him a shot.