It's Time

[90Q45blue]

Ok fellas,

Over the past 2 years I've learned a lot about my car and this forum is the only reason my car has lasted as long as it has. Well, it has been really cold here the past few days. This morning it was 18 degrees outside so I went out 15 minutes early as usual to start up my Q. It started alright, except that even after 10 minutes the rpms were very quickly wavering between 1600-2100rpms. Also, the exhaust was billowing white smoke that was so much and so thick I couldn't see car coming up from behind me (I was parked on the street). That is when I decided that I had had it and that I was through spending $100 on this or $300 on that. I am at wits end.

So...

Rather than get rid of the car, which many of you know I probably couldn't bring myself to do, I am preparing to do some serious work to get her well again. I am ready to spend somewhere in the range of $5,000-$6,000. So now I ask you, should I do an engine swap? Is 5-6 grand even enough for that? If not an engine swap...what should I do? Help me get my car well again, because at 254k miles, I still can't let her go.

Nick

[Q451990]

I thought there was a sad ending to this story, but I'm glad to see you're going to try to keep her alive

I think that's a reasonable price range for the engine swap. The real issue is finding a good engine and installer. I don't know how much it would cost to ship her to Atlanta, but that might not be a bad option... and most economical in the long run vs. getting a dog engine or bad installation.

Think it's still drive-able for a 12-13 hour road trip?

Heath

[90Q45blue]

I don't know, based on the problems that I indicated above, what do you think may be the problem? That may help determine if my car is 12-hour-road-trip capable.

Thanks for the encouragement Heath!

Nick

[90Q45blue]

Just got off the phone with Major Infiniti in Kansas City. Their service manager Dave quoted me $2,300 plus parts for an engine swap. At that price, I don't know if this is looking do-able. What do you guys think? Any help is appreciated.

Nick

[Q45tech]

The $2300 is just for labor, does that included an iron clad 12,000 mile 12 month 366 day warranty on the newish engine, does that include all the labor to do the chain guide in the newish engine [assuming they are using a JDM takeout. Will they change the knock sensors, sparkplugs,hoses under plenum, reseal valve covers, replace water pump, thermostat, etc, etc............ for that amount?

If the answer is yes, then that is a heck of a deal as we would want the same labor if not a little more as the work is really 35 hours $2450 at $70/hour] not the 25-27 hours of swapping a new long block with all new parts because of the need to do the guides.

Be sure you fully understand what is being offered........short cuts abound even at dealers.

[90Q45blue]

Thanks for the info Dennis. I was gonna ask what T3 charged for that kind of work. Now I just have to see if the dealer is cutting corners because I think it would be quite expensive to have the car towed down to Atlanta.

Nick

p.s. Dennis, any idea on what might cause the cold weather symptoms from above?

[elwesso]

I really dont think what your describing is uncommon to be quite honest.... IT was really friggen cold today, and I drove our suburban today, and it was billowing out its single pipe.... my Q does that too sometimes too, albiet not THAT much.....

5000 would be reasonable for an engine swap at T3.... If you have a lot of good new parts parts on your engine, you might be able to get away much cheaper....

[90Q45blue]

Well, I'd rather not go cheap if I can. This is because I don't want to worry about replacing things on the car for a while after this swap. With a 35k engine and 80k pump, you already have the engine completely out so you're just paying for the part. I dunno, we'll see what happens.

Nick

[PalmerWMD]

Nick:

Its real common for a lot of white vapro/cluod come out of a Q at low temps for a while.

This cars exahaust system is huge and many a owner has ben fooled into thinking a headgasket failure ( which hardler <ever> happens) when nothing was really wrong.

If I was you I'd just take a few days off and bring a couple grand to T3 and they'll fix your idling/vaccum problems what ever it is, plus do guides if u dont have'em yet.

Yes an engine swap costs real money ,even at T3 ,but I'd be surprised if you need it.

just try to make sure u dont have a bad injector sprying too much, cuz then a long trip could destroy your rings in that cylinder.

Fred..

[louiegz]

I know I'm a newbie with not much mechanical knowledge, but what I do know is that I would find it very difficult to spend that much money on a 14 year old car. Still cheaper that buying new. You would get an almost new $40,000 car for less than the price of a Chevy Cavalier. Like if you were having surgery, I'd ask for a second opinion. Find out if fixing the old engine is more reasonable than replacement. How's the rest of your car? Is the rest of your car in working order? Are the leathers too worn? The power seats won't move? That's another thing you have to take into consideration, and if things like that bother you. How banged up is the body work? Mine is a bit, but I drive it to work. If my fork lift or one of my trucks don't bang into it, it gets bombarded by bird droppings from all the birds trying to eat the rice in my warehouse. Maybe looks don't matter so that would be a non issue. How does the car run now? How did it drive that morning? I don't know if this helps but just think before you do and be careful when you spend all that money.

Lou

[90Q45blue]

Thanks for the advice Fred,

I may end up doing that. My only thing is that I'm tired of nickel and diming this car when what it really needs is a serious makeover. Hopefully that won't involve a swap, but if it does, I'll do it.

Louiegz,

Thanks for your advice also. My theory on my car is that I only live once and why not drive the car I enjoy the most? I would rather drive my car than any other so money is not an issue when comparing. I look at it as entertainment and not so much as an investment, but I do realize that it needs to run consistently to make it worth my $$$.

Nick

[PalmerWMD]

For the price of good engine swap you can buy another early Q and use this one as a parts ship.There are 2 early Q's currently in BST, less than the cost of an engine swap.

Fred...

[90Q45blue]

This is true.

But I love my color combo. I've never seen one like it.

Nick

p.s. i know i know. stupid kids.

[VimyJ]

Boy, we've got some cold weather novices here! It is entirely normal for huge clouds of vapor to exit the exhaust on cold days. On the frozen praire, traffic jams can be caused on very cold days from exhaust vapor hanging in the air. Going to WOT throttle on one of these frigid days is fantastic. Explosion of vapor from the duals yesterday! The air is dense and cold. Great power.

[elwesso]

Yes!! you hit it on the nose..... IT really looks werid with this whole cloud of vapor following you, like none other!!

[Jesda]

Nick, are your guides done?

[elwesso]

yes, his guides are done... Sorry nick I answered for you......!

250k with no guides would have to be a record!

[VA99Q45]

90Q45blue,

Have you consisdered this option?

With $5,000 - $6,000, you can buy Jesda's Q for $3000 and spend another 2K to do the chain guide.

[crubio]

So whats the color combo?

[Jesda]

I think the highest mentioned on this board so far is one guy who finally did his guides at 201k.

[azskygod]

Ahem... 214k before the guides failed. See my thread in the Online Mechanic's forum. :help

AZSKYGOD

[90Q45blue]

The color combo is Blue/Blue. I like my car too much to get rid of it and pick up somebody else's. VimyJ, I know that a lot of vapors come from that exhaust, but it just added to my frustration that day. The worry for me was the rpm mess.

I think I'll probably take Fred's advice and head down to T3 with a couple thousand dollars and have them fix that problem and make a grocery list. Then I'll slowly get my car awesome again.

Greg, when's that BRM exhaust gonna be done for the Q? Now may be a good time for me to make that switch.

Nick

[Jeff Williams]

That is a unique color combination.

I say that trip to T3 is a good idea.

I love my Quicksilver/grey combination, myself.

Spend some money in maintenance, and keep rockin'

[Jesda]

I would love a maroon/burgundy 94-95 with a tan interior. *Drool*

Hey Wes, whats your price!

Hope it works out for you Nick. I'd hate to see an OG (1990 Q) tossed aside.

-Jesda

[elwesso]

Jesda.... More than you got!!! I will let you envy over it more when the meet comes and I have my brand new SUEDESKIN interior....!! WOOHOO!!!!

(hopefully Fred's rims too, hint hint)...

Oh yeah and so it doesnt look like I hijacked..... I hope your engine gets better.... It sounds to me like a vacuum leak, although in the FSM it does mention compression as a possible cause of that.......