I'm a Potential Q45 Owner

[yottabit]

Hi all, my name's Ryan and I'm a car fanatic. I've been stalking the Q45 section of these forums for a while and I'm also the previous owner of a 3rd gen maxima. Now I've moved on to a really sport car (merkur xr4ti all done up) and I think after that I could really see myself in a Q45. I do have a couple worries with it though, aside from all the maintence I'm sure I'll have to do.

I have just a couple questions. Does anyone have any recommendations for doing a manual swap? I've heard lots of talk about people bolting up z32 trannies to the vh45de in other cars but are there any transmissions that are a "drop in" fit for the q45 as far as shifter spacing? I don't mind having to have a custom driveshaft made, but I'd prefer to not have to try and fab up my own transmission mounts and shifter assembly. I think a couple more gear choices would really free up a lot of acceleration potential and maybe a couple mpg too, plus I'd hate to see that high revving engine tied to an automatic. Although I suppose a lower rear end could help.

Also how are these cars in the snow? Believe it or not living in NH I do get snow on occassion and although I do have a jeep right now for the winter I'd like to cut down to one all year round car. I know how to drive a RWD in the snow, and I imagine they must get decent traction being pretty heavy and having a LSD. I'm not objected to going all out on winter tires of course. I'm a big fan of the "all seasons are no seasons" philosophy

Anyways those are my two questions and I hope to someday at least have a vh45de powered vehicle and hopefully a q45...

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO!

Ive driven Q in the winter for the last 4 years and Ive never had an issue... good winter tires are key.

[Q45tech]

Just follow what your local STATE POLICE use on their Crown Vic and you will be fine...................they are up to 17" this year and don't have limited slip.

[yottabit]

Cool. Now on the other question, should I just abandon all hopes of getting a manual transmission into one of these?

It looks like there's nothing that bolts up to the engine stock so I'd need an adaptor plate or custom bellhousing, I don't know if theres anything that will fit into the transmission tunnel easily and I'm guessing theres nothing that will bolt up to its stock location without welding, I'd most likely need a custom driveshaft, and then I'd have to figure out how to get the shifter to work ok with the interior. I'd also have to find spots to mount the clutch cylinders in that cramped engine bay. At least to my understanding the auto transmission uses its own seperate computer right?

I know it'd be a lot easier to get a transmission cooler, lower rear gears, and maybe a built transmission if it came to that but it's just not the same. I've always had the dream of a 6 speedmanual q. I guess I can handle most of the fabbing stuff, it's just the having to send away to have a bellhousing and driveshaft made that my wallet probably won't agree with.

Does anyone know where I could find actual specs (dimensions and such) on the automatic transmission?

[yottabit]

So am I right that the Q uses the RE4R03A 4 speed automatic, essentially the same one used in the Z32 TT auto? Are there any differences in external dimensions between the two incarnations?

If this is true, than wouldn't a Z32 manual transmission bolt up in approximately the right places to work in a Q45 with an adapted bellhousing? I think I've seen someone selling them on here before. Sounds like to me it would be a good place to start. Only 5 gears instead of 6 though, oh well.

Sorry if I'm being a newbie here, but I've seen so many threads on people adapting manuals to the VH45DE into OTHER CARS, but none on someone putting a manual IN a q45.

[elwesso]

All i can say is that no one has even attempted to put a 5 speed in a Q. It surely is possible but for how much work?

[gammer_ghn]

so that sounds like an idea i have been having too but didnt have the $$$ for so i found these you can put them into work = ]

zerothread/247418

zerothread/247418

[yottabit]

Cool. It really doesn't seem too hard to me, compared to some other swaps I've seen in the past. It makes me wonder why no one has ever done it before, unless there is something serious I'm missing.

I don't have any money right now either, but basically my plan is to continue tastefully modifying my two cars and then if I can manage to part myself with them I will sell both someday and buy a Q and I should still have plenty of money left over for maintenance and modding.

I'm more of a mechanic in my dreams than a real one, I have all these great aspirations but no means to make them happen.

But research never hurts.

[maxnix]

It really doesn't seem too hard to me, compared to some other swaps I've seen in the past. It makes me wonder why no one has ever done it before, unless there is something serious I'm missing.

I don't have any money right now either...

Statement two answers statement one.

[gammer_ghn]

More power to you! i hope your swap goes great but im going to ask you for a favor when your doing it can u please take a pix while your doing it and give some tips on doing it... so people like us could look at it and know tips with pix here and there so we dont get stuck if we end up pulling the sleeves and get down to doing it thankxxx!!!