'91 Q45; yanking the engine

[superfmil]

First of all I'd like to say hello to everyone as I have just recently purchased my "Q" and am a new member. I picked up the car here about a month ago with the knowledge that there was probably something wrong with the timing chain. Before picking up the car I got on the net and did a search for any common problems with this engine, ie. timing chain. As most of you can imagine, I immediately read about the timing chain guide thing and the fact that this is an interference engine. Still bought the car, but it was only $500 and in excellent shape. Now to the point, I did a compression test and found zero compression in one of the cylinders; time to pull it out! I'm now at the point where I really shouldn't go any further until I can answer two questions. One: do I pull the engine from the top or drop it out from the bottom?; and two: do I pull it with or without the transmission? Also, if anyone has any helpful hints about doing this little task; it would be greatly appreciated. It may or may not be pertinent to the sort of advice I get, but I am the manager of a shop here in Portland and have been a mechanic for about ten years. So, I do know what I'm doing just never been into one of these before. I only say that because as a mechanic, I know that advice is sometimes censored depending on how the person giving the advice feels about the receivers ability. Anyhow, enough rambling but any advice on this topic would be great. Thanks!

[96Qowner]

Here's a highly detailed thread about removing it from the top. There are a couple current posters who can tell you about doing it from the bottom - easier, if I remember correctly.

zer...age=2

[slshearer]

hello,

I recently changed my motor on my Q45

You can pull the whole power train as an assembly which is much easier if you plan to service all the systsems as a unit, you need to remove the radiator, the wirirng harness to the motor, transmission and remove the exhaust system, the driveshaft, you need to remove the sway bar, and the engine cross member, don't forget to keep the nuts and bolts in an order so you can assemble the parts correctly after you have finished your service work, also mark the drive shaft to the rearend to insure the drive line is balanced, to do this you need a lift and a heavy duty table to have th etransmission and engine rest on, this is the way Infiniti would pull your motor.

God luck!

[AZhitman]

We pulled mine from the top, WITH the trans.

Need a replacement VH45DE? Call Carlos at SOKO, I've bought several motors from them: 1-800-598-3535, tell him Greg from Phoenix sent you.

[Q45tech]

Over the years T3 [both shops combined have probably done 40+ [50?] all were removed from the bottom..............the same way they were installed at factory.

Method depends on the tools and jack and tables and hoists you have..........most work is done by a single technican obviously if you have 2 available different proceedures can be utilized.

[superfmil]

Thanks for the info everyone, it paid off. I've got the engine out, have seperated the engine from trans, and have removed both cylinder heads. Although I'm sad to say that I believe both of the heads and possibly the block are cracked. After pulling the head bolts and then cracking the seal water came gushing out, not terribly unusual unless all that water was coming from inside the cylinder. I'm thinking this guy drove this thing without water until the timing guides finally melted, it lost time, and then shut off. The only good news is that I don't believe either chain skipped, doesn't much matter if everything has cracks in it.

If i do indeed need new heads and perhaps a block, anyone have any ideas where I could find these items cheaply? I'm not looking for anything in running condition, fully expect to have to pull it apart and rebuild. Thanks!

The picture shows the melted pieces of timing guide, the guy must have been a real winner!