Hey guys...sorry I haven't posted in a LONG time...

[Dabizzo1]

Hey all, greets from New Orleans. Over a year ago (December 2006), I began the restoration of a very good condition base q45 i got from Dallas. It used to belong to a doctor and I got it with 99k on it. the car was originally from CANADA. I found this out when trying to get a service history on it. What matters is than mine was born on 6/93---METAL BACKED CHAIN GUIDES from the factory... It's midnight blue(paint code BK8) with the bbs wheels on it....tan interior. I need to once again thank all you guys that helped me get it up to snuff in the beginning (Wes, Jesda, Q45tech, Maxnix, Ceningolmo, and Goodyq45 to name a few). I had 3 dreaded injectors ohming high, plus a buzzing fuel pump when I got it and through this forum's input, my car is mechanically sound now. It's taken me a year but it truly rocks. I have been ridiculously busy between finishing our house since Katrina BY HAND, resurrecting my Q, Grand Jury duty every Thursday (yummy), and running K-Paul's in the French Quarter this past year, and I didn't want to post until I could list my fixes with the hopes it could help someone else. I will post pics as soon as I can..Wes, I may need your help in doing so.

Here it goes...

7 of 8 injectors are new oem with upper and lower rings. Only original injector still ohms at 10.8...woohoo. Remember to depressurize the system before replacing injectors or you will hydrolock the motor...rods go kaboom at startup! Search for the tutorial. All fuel lines were inspected and still supple. The fuel line that attaches to the pressure regulator that gives you the gas smell in the cabin on a cold day was tightened...no problem since. While the plenum was off, all vac lines were replaced. With allen wrenches, flatheads, and a gun cleaning kit, the carbon was scraped out of the egr passages (carboned solid..total blockage), in addition to the egr tube to the manifold. I replaced THE WHOLE egr system (valves, solenoid, and temp sensor). This cured the CEL I'd get on a long trip...no more. Nothing but smooth idle and wicked throttle reponse. Please clean the plenum before any further diagnosis in idle and acceleration is done....airflow is essential.

New oem fuel pump...FPCU was cherry...I replaced the fuel pump the day after the buzz started, so there was no time for the amperage draw to fry it.

PCV valve was replaced, in addition to new oem knock sensors. Throttle body was cleaned. MAF was cleaned as well...good harness.

IAC valve was cleaned and reset with a new gasket per Dennis' tutorial.

NEW oem fan...cracks in the old one. Fan clutch is aok. New battery (strongest Autozone battery available) along with both cables.

NEW OEM alternator, plus ac compressor, drier, and ac pressure valve. All belts replaced. New plugs (NGK's) as well.

I had the brake system bled, and the pads were new when I bought it...oem.

New Tokico blues all aroud, in addition to upper mounts and bushings...corners like a champ.

I literally went and undid every single transmission and engine harness and cleaned them and added dielectric grease for connectivity. Between that and and alternator replacement...all electrical gremlins are gone. As Dennis preaches, NEW OEM ONLY...redundancy in diodes is why an oem alternator is so expensive...it works to keep this electrically beefed car stable where aftermarket parts WILL FAIL.

New OEM O2 sensors...bought the mechanic beer for his clean job for such a biotch of a job.

Engine has been running on synthetic ever since...no hla ticking...happy leak free motor.

Differential fluid change...no vibration at speed or upon acceleration.

I placed a thin later of clear silicone in the drainage valley(entire perimeter) of the sunroof where the assembly meets the car frame (a seam) to prevent leakage. If anyone ever has a wet headliner or water in their overhead lights, this will cure it. Also make sure the 2 drain holes at each front corner of the sunroof drain valley are free of debris.

transmission...pan drop and filter replacement with new pan gasket and new screws to prevent leaks. I've had 2 flushes done since and the transmission shifts fine...2 to 3 shift has improved vastly. I ohmed the shift resistor...it's fine. The 2 to 3 shift gremlin could be a slow upper solenoid or the upper gear itself has lost too much friction material. I haven't inspected the TCU yet. I still need to replace to black external filter as well (Joe from Scottsdale Infiniti has them.) When the transmission goes, either my car will go to T3 in Atlanta or to Angelo's Transmissions here locally for a factory swap or a rebuild...whichever is recommended at the time. Angelo Sartor does superb work plus he builds racecars...he's work on all of my cars and he knows Infiniti's very well. My transmission mounts are perfect...apparently they had been replaced before.

New Stabilus hod shocks were installed. Plus, I lubed the hood latch, trunk latch, and all door hinging mechanisms with lithium grease.

Aesthetically, I had the whole body x a dented...super nice guys in Metairie. I've wetsanded all scratches out and with a rotational buffer set to 1700 rpm and Meguiar's haze and swirl remover 2.0, restored my paint job to a rockin new shine....this stuff is amazing. I've sealed the paint with Meguiar's carnauba wax. I also ordered a bk8 match touch up bottle of paint from http://www.paintscratch.com. Superb match to any color...just give them your oem paint code. I've been detailing cars since I was 13. For a 14 year old car, it looks great. In time I will get the car repainted with a 2 stage nonpearl color match for the original BK8 paint code. I get compliments all the time on the car's condition so a repaint is a ways off.

My oem stereo works perfect...I just use a cassette adapter for my mp3 player integrated into my windsheild mounted gps (V7 1000). Works and sounds great. I also have cheap color match mats on top of my pristine oem floor mats to preserve them...my wife has a habit of shmutzing the cheap mats upon entry...I can sleep knowing my oem car mats are spotless inside.

Sorry for the long post but I guess my point is this. If you plan on restoring one of these amazing cars, do it realistically and effectively. This car can be had for cheap, but it is not cheap to own. It will reward you for your work , but to do it right, USE ONLY OEM PARTS. My car is a testament to this. For the 12K including price I have in this car, I have a reliable exotic sedan that outperforms and aesthetically bests a cookie cutter newer car that can be had for about the same, if not more. The biggest lesson engineering school taught me is to treat everything as a process. To restore such a complex and unsung car requires forethought and a budget. Once again, it is not cheap. But when your wife who could not care less about cars drives your Q for the first time and spouts"I had no idea your car was so nice...man it's fast!", you have done it right. And remember, this response from my wife was caused by a subdued and elegant sedan and not some flashy thing with a fin and dubs that belongs in that movie, "Too Fast, Too Stupid." I simply replied to her with a grin, "I'm glad you like it. Don't get used to it...gimme my keys back and here are the keys to YOUR 4Runner." I do love her truck also, and she is indeed a truck girl...she likes the bumpy ride

Happy belated New Year to all on this forum and I am very proud to be a part of this forum. As I've mentioned before, the true problem solvers here are effective and purposeful, unlike other forums where it's all about underglow neons, and dubs. I am one of the ones who fell in love with this car as designed, so I am a purist when it comes to Q's...the balance of form and function prevails for me. I could not have restored my car without this forum. Happy Mardi Gras to you all!!!! I'll repost soon.

Modified by Dabizzo1 at 7:42 PM 1/24/2008

Modified by Dabizzo1 at 7:49 PM 1/24/2008
Modified by Dabizzo1 at 9:06 PM 1/24/2008

[AlabamaDan]

Congratulations. I'm in the process of fixing up my Q as well and you're right. There's nothing like a good running Q. All that hard work not only gives you a great car, but you fall in love with your Q more than before.

[maxnix]

What a testatment to doing it correctly! Corner cutters take note.

Never been to K-Pauls but I have been getting the envie for Commander's Palace.

[96Qowner]

Wow, Dabizzo, nice post!

It warms the heart to see someone doing a Q45 right.

For the 12K including price I have in this car, I have a reliable exotic sedan that outperforms and aesthetically bests a cookie cutter newer car that can be had for about the same, if not more. ... when your wife who could not care less about cars drives your Q for the first time and spouts"I had no idea your car was so nice...man it's fast!", you have done it right.

[Kiven422]

Welcome! Its great to see people taking the Q seriously... after all it is a GREAT car. Theres just no other car out there.

Also thanks... your post will make a great checklist for my car.

Do the new hood shocks have enough strength to hold up your hood without bending it? Or do you have to shut it from the back like I do?

[jjbuzzman]

I have many fond memories of K Pauls - I lived in Tuscaloosa, AL and then Hattiesburg, MS for many years and was a regular K Paul patron all along. I enjoyed blackened redfish there about 25 years ago before anyone even knew what a redfish was. I ate at K Pauls the first year he was open - about 1975?

Good to hear K Pauls is back open and under the management of a fellow Q45 lover!

Jim

[Haitian_King]

Wow. I'm amazed. Such thoroughness. You are my new hero. Please post pics. I'd love to do all of this. My Q is at 90.5k miles right now. Your experience has helped to lessen the anxiety I was feeling about the restoration. I just have to take everything slowly. Did you do all of it in segments? I'm focusing on my engine at the moment. I had a President conversion planned for June, but I may have to postpone that. I definitely want the car to be back up to factory standards mechanically before I worry about cosmetics.

Thanks a million for this.

[Dabizzo1]

Thanks for the warm welcome back. I 'm gonna set up a link to a page I'll set up tonight with pics I took today in my driveway. I apologize..it rained and the car is dirty...cold, wet, and rainy today. At least you guys can see what the "Chariot of Doom" looks like. (That pet name came about when myself and my 8 year old step son were in a drive through cranking the Stormtrooper March because we LOVE Darth Vader and he named the Q the Chariot of Doom... ) There are a few things I forgot to mention that I did as well.

I also replaced the windshield...a rock on the I-10 from one of the many load uncovered gravel trucks here cracked the first one. Very expensive due to the fact that Infiniti windshield seal (2 parts that alone cost $250) can only be used once due to the metal prongs used to hold it secure. It is essentially destroyed upon removal.

I also wrapped the tan steering wheel with a black pebble grain leather wheel cover kit I got at Pep Boys. It needs to be stitched by hand and it took 2 hours, but the result is an oem look. I've done this to every car I ever had and it's so worth it. The kit goes for $14. It matches my interior due to the black console pieces and the gauge cluster. VERY tedious but worth it. Along with flip flops, ghetto pants that hang off your butt, and popped polo shirt collars (someone give me a hammer), another pet peeve of mine are those steering wheel covers that just slide onto the wheel itself without any finishing. It just looks unkempt to me.

To answer the question about the Stabilus hood shocks, they installed perfectly without a hitch. The actuation was oem, causing no flex or odd motion. As a rule with any car, always close the hood from the center front. I always use 2 fingers on the Infiniti hood emblem so I don't get fingerprints on the car as well. The new struts are very strong. The actuation is tight.

Haitian King...my approach was simple. Just do one thing at a time within a system, be it drivetrain, electrical, etc. Take your time and restore to completion before moving on to something else. More destructive mistakes are made when in a hurry to get something done. That simple.

I'll post the link to these pics as soon as I can. We got to play hookey from jury duty today....CANCELLED!!!!!! I have a real day off!!!
Modified by Dabizzo1 at 3:18 PM 1/24/2008

[Haitian_King]

Sweet. Very cool.

I'll look into the steering wheel cover. I got a leather one that looks quite nice, but occasionally I have to straighten it. Very good advice.

[Dabizzo1]

Here are some pics...

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0053.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0052.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0051.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0050.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0049.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0048.jpg

[AlabamaDan]

Tuscaloosa eh? Roll Tide! I lived there for 3 great years. I really like the steering wheel cover. I might need to do that.

[Jesda]

Oh man, blue Qs are gorgeous. Rare and elegant color.

Here are some pics...

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0053.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0052.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0051.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0050.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0049.jpg

http://www.fusionllc.com/boris/Qpics/IMAG0048.jpg

[Q451990]

Very nice!!

Heath

[Haitian_King]

Don't think I've ever seen one. Very nice. The only colors that I've witnessed are black, white, champagne, maroon, burgandy, pearl white, and forest green. That's as far as "factory" (at least I think they are) colors go. In my high school days, I can recall seeing a cherry red Q45 (G50) being piloted around by some members of the local Bloods gang. The paint job was horrendous. It was a flat matte red. Like red primer. Yuck.

[ddrumman]

Beautiful job, WOW!!

I'm about to do the rest of the under plenum hoses, Ks O2 sensors, complete Suspension rebuild plus engine mounts.

I also wonder, if by cleaning the harnesses with the dielectric grease will solve my electrical gremlins: 1.no hands free entry, 2 different key fob receivers known to be good at Jerry's don't work. 2. no seat back/steering wheel up when turning the car off plus green blinking lights.

Here's what I did about the steering wheel issue.

zerothread?id=193581

[RAP]

I have many fond memories of K Pauls - I lived in Tuscaloosa, AL and then Hattiesburg, MS for many years and was a regular K Paul patron all along. I enjoyed blackened redfish there about 25 years ago before anyone even knew what a redfish was. I ate at K Pauls the first year he was open - about 1975?

Good to hear K Pauls is back open and under the management of a fellow Q45 lover!

Jim

So that folks will not get the wrong impression of what "BLACKENED REDFISH" is, I must rise up and disabuse this notion. It's important.

BLACKENED REDFISH is NOT "CAJUN" nor FRENCH cooking but is a marketing ploy, only. JUST BURNT FOOD is what it is and like any other burnt food, NOT GOOD. No one around here that I know likes or eats burnt food intentionally, fish or otherwise. But it seems that not all the "FISHES" are in the sea?

However that marketing ploy has cause a serious depletion of the REDFISH STOCKS by overfishing to the point that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT got involved and set limits on catches. Thankfully, like all other bad ideas, BLACKENED REDFISH seems to have gone away.

Actually I have nothing against K-Paul nor his restaurant "nevah been dere"but I do watch his TV show from time to time. From a FRENCH culinary point of view, it's so-so. My wife is French and an accomplished cook, and she is not impressed either.

Had to get that in so that folks not be mis-led. YA'LL COME ON DOWN ! ! !

No ill feelings towards the original poster and he seems to be an enthusiastic car guy and a Q45 aficionado. Power to him.

Jack

[superuber]

Well done. Enjoy!

[96Qowner]

I also wonder, if by cleaning the harnesses with the dielectric grease will solve my electrical gremlins: 1.no hands free entry, 2 different key fob receivers known to be good at Jerry's don't work. 2. no seat back/steering wheel up when turning the car off plus green blinking lights.

If you're going to the trouble of cleaning every connector, you might as well get some Stabilant-22, too:

Electrical contact Miracle cure!!!!

[ddrumman]

I believe "texasoil" spoke of this stabilant 22 stuff a while ago. He'd said that it even improves conductivity in even brand new stuff.

Have you used that stuff?

[Dabizzo1]

Guys, thanks for the feedback. It means a lot given the forum this is. I love having an understated sleeper of a ride. Gangstas in G35's riding on 22's love to pull up next to me and immediately pull off to taunt me and all I can think of is:a) the stress on their differential due to oversized wheels, not to mention their wheel bearingsb) their suspension is in pain...I can hear it...clank clank clank thunk thunkc) oh no you didn't put marine speaker on the outside in the fender wells to blare rapd) New Orleans streets will destroy wheels with low profile tires supporting 4000 lb of shiny 2 tone black and red stupide) Is he sitting in the back seat...stay out of my lane and get off the phone!f) I bet that fin is good for at least 500hp in boost...lolg) Oh wait...he's never taken physics or mechanics of materials...all the R&D that went into the car's design must be wrong...he doesn't care.

All i can do is let him go and watch in horror of that rolling antithesis to my Q.

Also thanks for the heads up on Stabilant. I plan on checkin all my connections in the summer again so I'll get some Stabilant to use then. I'm especially stoked about using that stuff on the ECU and TCU harnesses.

SuperUber, I was trying to view pics of your Q but they aren't there anymore...your Q is what I measure all Q's by in terms of perfection...truly inspiring and absolutely gorgeous.

I think it's funny how in the past year how the popularity of Q45's is increasing, whether it be for the motor or the car itself. People don't realize just how nice Q's are until they ride in one and realize they've never been in one. Another gearhead at work who did a Corvette motor to RX-7 swap is looking for an interstate cruiser for his commute into work from Slidell is considering a Q. Almost 300hp from the factory impressed him to say the least.

My future plans for the car include:

Getting the 2 front seats redone when the time comes...they're a good 8 out of 10 right now.

Motor mounts as needed...mine are supple but firmstill. I also plan on getting under the car and going through each bushing to check for dry ones in need of replacing. All of mine are remarkably still in good shape with no weird noises or body roll.

One thing I'd definitely tell anyone who will work on your car. My mechanic accidentally closed the hood with his hand forcefully and literally put faint ripple indentations on my hood with his fingers. The X A Denter got it out without a problem but for the day I had to look at it, as one of me favorite sigs on this site says, "it made my butt leak." Tell mechanics to be nice to your hood. It was purely accidental, but rest assured anyone touching my hood will be made aware of this. They don't have to slam it...pet peeves indeed.

And to the post concerning blackening in a CAR forum, all I can say is this. Blackening is done at 400 degrees F in a cast iron skillet with merely drops of oil to create a hydroplaning effect, literally levetating the meat. Properly done blackening, according Paul Prudhomme who invented the process, produces crisped edges with tender and juicy meat in the center and on the surface. (Not K-Paul...K is a reference to his late wife Kay Heinrich who ran the front of house before she passed away). If you've never had it at K-Paul's, it was done wrong. I remember ordering blackened fish in Florida and it was exactly as RAP said...BURNT. We get that a lot from first time visitors and they're amazed at the results. You cannot do this at home...we destroy and warp skillets every 3 days. You will never be able to get a skillet hot enough at home to hydroplane it properly. I apologize for this reference on a car forum and I'll leave it at that.

Thanks again for the props...I love my Q.

Boris P.



Modified by Dabizzo1 at 12:49 AM 1/26/2008
Modified by Dabizzo1 at 1:34 AM 1/26/2008

[Haitian_King]

What's an X A Denter? I think I may need one. My brother and I were horsing around and I put him on my hood. A couple of days later, I was looking at my reflection and noticed the most miniscule indentations. It's not that noticeable, but now that I'm aware of it, to me it's quite the glaring imperfection.

[Dabizzo1]

X A Dent is the name of a local paintless dent removal shop. They do great work. Expect to pay abour $60 to $80 per panel depending on how many dents you have. It's still much cheaper than a body shop. No more wrestling on your Q

[Haitian_King]

Nice.

I've learned my lesson about wrestling around my car. I throw him on other people's cars now. No more being on the hood or easily dented body parts. I'll whip him into a bumper or fender now as opposed to a door or dragging him across the hood.