1996-2001 Infiniti Q45 "s-four"

[gianavel]

Hi guys, I am in Australia and own a JDM 89' Q45. It was buying this car that got me in to the Infinitis and there beautiful V8s.What we are in the process of building is actually a VH41DE powered Nissan GTR (track car). My headache is this; the JDM 96 Q (which was called a CIMA) came out in a AWD version(the S-FOUR) with a sump very similar to the JDM Nissan GTR ( just suited to a V8 as opposed to a Straight 6). I don't know how much you guys know about the AWD Nissans/Infinitis, but the front diff housing is actual part of the oil pan or sump and the front driveshaft actual goes through the sump. We have looked at adapting the original sump from the GTR to the V8 but no go. So our next option is to bring in a front cut from Japan, but only two of these AWD 4.1s have ever been brought in to OZ, so I am not holding my breath. What I was hoping to find out from guys who know a lot more than me about these things than I do is 1. did the 96 onward Q come out in the US in an AWD version? 2. If so,can I get an engine or even just a Sump/drivetrain shipped out here from a wrecker? 3. If they didn't come out in this guise over there how about the SUV versions such as the FX45 or a earlier version (that was powered by on of the V8's either VH41/45 or VK45/56). Would any of those sumps work?

Any help would be appreciated as support for these cars and therefore their motors and drivelines is limited to say the least. Some photos of the AWD SUV drivelines would br great too!

Cheers guys,

Andrew

[Ozzie]

I haven't heard of a 4WD version of the Q on these boards.

I think you may have to make a custom setup if you want to use 4WD.

On a side note, have you made any carbon panels/bodykits for the Q?

[maxnix]

Never any AWD G50, FY33 nor F50 in US.

[elwesso]

Wow, thats cool! I would think that most people never new that the cima came in AWD with the V8.... NICE, japan gets all the cool stuff.

Anyway, I think youd have to talk to someone in japan about this, since they were never offered to my knowledge outside of japan.

The VK45 oil pan is different from the VH4x oil pan however you might be able to modify it to work... I think you're probably going to have to custom make a pan, by the time you get done modifying a stock pan it may just be better to have a new one made for the application. Plus youd like to have more than the wimpy 6 quarts the VH has!

[gianavel]

Hi Ozzie,As yet we haven't made any Panels for the Q's. BUT! will be doing so soon, as we are in the process of doing a full ground up build of the big girl. I bought Her a couple of years ago as a cheap ($9000 incl. rego) run around and she has completely changed our engine building ideas! As evident by our planned rebuild of our race car.If your are interested in some parts sooner rather than later for a Q, drop me a line at http://www.ccubed.com.au

Cheers

Andrew

[gianavel]

That's what I was afraid of!!!

Thanks for the reply

Never any AWD G50, FY33 nor F50 in US.

[gianavel]

Hi Elwesso,Thanks for the reply.I have been in touch with infintipartsusa and they said they can supply me a FX45 sump, but as you say they are different to the VHs. We could look at modifying it , but the stupid thing is, if I can find a front cut/motor in japan of one of these babies (VH41 AWD) they are only $3000 max for a front cut and about$2000 max for an engine package. Stupidly cheap, they don't charge any extra for the AWD version, just got to find one!Our other option we are researching is a dry sump setup with an independent front diff housing mounted to the chasis. As opposed to the sump mounted diff set up. Could work if we have to!Good point about the amount of oil in the 41s pan!Maybe dry sump is the way after all! I suppose at 8000rpm you don't want a lack of oil do you!We have several importers looking for me and the Engine builder, who is in NZ, is looking too. But patience is not one of my virtues!, especially when we need this sorted before we can begin anything else.

Wow, thats cool! I would think that most people never new that the cima came in AWD with the V8.... NICE, japan gets all the cool stuff.

Anyway, I think youd have to talk to someone in japan about this, since they were never offered to my knowledge outside of japan.

The VK45 oil pan is different from the VH4x oil pan however you might be able to modify it to work... I think you're probably going to have to custom make a pan, by the time you get done modifying a stock pan it may just be better to have a new one made for the application. Plus youd like to have more than the wimpy 6 quarts the VH has!

[elwesso]

I remember reading somewhere that due to the VHs low oil capacity, you shouldnt run it for more than 20-30 seconds or so above 6000 RPM constantly because the oil cant get back down to the pan fast enough.... Which is a shame because we know the VH can stay at those RPMs all day...

[Ozzie]

Hi Ozzie,As yet we haven't made any Panels for the Q's. BUT! will be doing so soon, as we are in the process of doing a full ground up build of the big girl. I bought Her a couple of years ago as a cheap ($9000 incl. rego) run around and she has completely changed our engine building ideas! As evident by our planned rebuild of our race car.If your are interested in some parts sooner rather than later for a Q, drop me a line at http://www.ccubed.com.au

Cheers

Andrew

I was just wondering if you were going to be doing anything for the Q.What other stuff do you guys make with the CF?What parts do you intend to make for the Q?Are you going to go full Jap VIP style?I saw an older Cima at the same yard where I picked my Q up from....Big full length wedge type bootlid, pumped rear guards, DEEP dish wheels..... it was awesome!

Can you post a few pics of your Q?

[gianavel]

Hi Ozzie,Not much point in posting photos as our Q is strip backed ready for some body work.She's in bits at the moment!We are doing a little bit of guard pumping and new Bars front and rear and some skirts too. Bonnet will get mould as will the bootlid, just so we have moulds for these parts incase we need them in the future.In terms of our Carbon Fibre range; we do what ever is needed. Automotive is one side but we also do a lot of Marine products as well as helicopter and aircraft components.With our automotive range we tend to do two sort of product lines, if you like. One is for the genuine track cars like; sports sedans and pro stock dragster etc. The other is for the road going cars. This range tends to stay around the JDM vehicles, but we have done others as too.If we can be of any help let me know.I will post some pics of out Q45 parts when they are ready.

Thanks

Andrew

[Ozzie]

Excellent...CF panels for the Q, I like it!

[KwoodTheOne]

I would love an awd Q45, it just rolls of the tongue