Hi all-- noob here and grateful for a Q support group! I have a '92 Q w/ 140K and I am gonna take her in for a guide job. I plan on ordering the parts from Scottsdale as recommended by other NICO members, but I looked at the website and saw that the kit includes chains, as well as the guides. Being a college student on a limited budget, can I just get the kit w/o the chains or do the chains have to be replaced at this point as well?
Thanks in advance,
Heff
92 Guide Job-- Need chains?
No need for the chains under most circumstances. They'll most likely last another 100k, maybe 150k. Should knock off just over $100 from the parts. Besides, the labor to do the job with the chains is maybe double the labor to do the job without the chains. Should make a big difference in what they charge.
That's correct. No need to remove the valve covers to just do the guides. Maybe Q45tech can confirm, but I believe the "book" time on the guides is around 12 hours at T3, and another 6 or 7 if the guides are broken, since the oil pan then has to be removed and resealed to get all the little pieces out. It will vary by shop, since there's no published industry listing for this unique job that I'm aware of. T3 bills 12 hours, but a shop that hasn't done quite as many (or none) might feel compelled to bill more.
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Q45tech
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- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
T3 [forum members price] is around $1550 for guides and a oil pan drop and clean.......sales tax only on parts. That equates to around 18 "book" hours at 68 per hour. Many times we will use more than one tech at a time to speed the process. so starting at 8 AM it could and has been completed by 5:45 PM.
Don't use the web site for Scottsdale, call Joe and he will walk you through what you need and email or fax you a quote for the parts, WITOUT THE CHAINS. You will be happy. No matter where you go, you will no doubt pay more than at T3, they are without a doubt the best place in the country at the best price. Expect to pay around $80 an hour at a dealer. Q45Tech may correct me here, but as I understand it if the chains are in in one piece, or if they are broken but still all hanging there and they have not fallen down you can save the expense of dropping the pan. You drop the pan to get all the pieces out if the guides have shattered and self destructed. Having said that if I had been at T3 at their price I just would have dropped the pan anyway. I just did all this a couple months ago at 128k after a LOT of advice from this board. I spent about $2200 without the pan drop at Scottsdale parts prices. the difference is the $80 dealer labor rate, discounted from $90 because I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, (thanks again, guys) Also they took more hours. Shop hard and you probably can do better than me. If you can get it to T3 from California, by all means do so, that would be best. The main thing to remember is GET IT DONE QUICK. I researched for 2000 miles, my driver side WAS broken and hanging there when they opened it up. Living on borrowed time is what the tech said. Shop for a tech that has done a bunch of these too, very important!
Wouldn't Jerry Tucker (http://www.jerrytucker.net) be closer than T3? I've heard nothing but good things about him and his work. He also is very fair with price. but as others have said, still get your parts from Joe. Best prices EVER 
Nick
Nick
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
T3 is happy to divide the US at the Mississippi and the Mason Dixon line. Lots of self pressure on a tech when you think about somebody waiting [on you to finish] to drive 2,000 miles........not as serious as heart surgery but more than the tech makes in a month if he has to buy and install a new engine from a slip up.