At 193k miles, currently on daily driver status hopefully through the winter. About 50k since the 5 speed swap. I want about another 40k out of it before I take it off daily driver status (about 2 years), and hopefully before I need a new clutch or anything else major goes wrong. The clutch is starting to show its age as it doesn't have as much bite as it used to but it still hooks up fine so I'm hoping it has a lot of life left. I should be at 200k by the end of the year. Only thing I really fear failing at this point is the alternator or fuel pump. Alternator is original (but still fine), and the fuel pump has probably almost 100k on it (about 10 years). Unfortunately I haven't had any track days with the Q recently or anything exciting like that to speak of, but its still running very strong and last summer when I did the spark plugs it had brand new compression on all 8 cylinders even cold. Not bad for nearly 200k.
Current mod list
1994 Q45t- NICO owned and operated since 1994 (first Rex, founder of NICO, then Fred, former Admin, and now myself).
NICO 8-way custom ECU
Nissan 300ZX 5-Speed Manual Conversion
- Custom Pedals
- South Bend Clutch stage III clutch
- Shaftmasters custom 2-piece driveshaft
- Dakota Digital speed calibrator
- "elwesso" adapter plate (my design, and currently selling)
- Custom short throw shifter (to fit in stock shifter location)
- Custom "modifed" exhaust headers
Custom Dual exhaust (straight pipe to a single dual in dual out muffler)
Stillen FSTB
Tokico Blues Shocks
California Custom Springs
SPL Front Upper Control Arms
SPL Tension Rods
SPL Rear Upper Control Arms
SPL Subframe Spacers
Energy Suspension diff bushings and rear sway bar end links
Q45a rear sway bar
300ZX twin turbo brakes
Hawk HPS Pads
Brembo Drilled Rotors
Stainless Brake Lines
Battery Located in Trunk
Installed but not active:
150 Shot JWT Nitrous
ProCell fuel cell with in-cabin switch
First little thing I did was I painted the infiniti logo on the front grille. I noticed that the little plastic infiniti logo that is embedded into the grille was missing, either from someone prying it off or it falling off. I think it falling off could be likely as there was no sticky stuff left behind. In any event, I masked it off and shot it with some black. It looks better than it did, although it looks kinda funky with the two holes that were used to hold the logo on.
At the beginning of June, I took the Q down to replace the differential bushings.. It was getting to the point that any time that I released or pressed the gas I would have a large "clunk" from the back end, nearly to the point of being undriveable... At the same time, I scored a differential from a NICO member with under 100k miles. Long story short, it was a pain job, and the MVP of that job was the saws-all. I probably spent 12-14 hours on the job total nickel and dime-ing couple days a week after work, but after knowing what i know now, its would take me probably 4-6 hours using jack stands and very basic tools. A lift would have been really nice. If anyone plans on doing the differential bushings, I can write up a little more on the procedure because it will be impossible unless you cut the bushings out using a sawsall..
You can use Energy Suspension bushings from a nissan 300ZX or nissan 240sx. I didn't take any pictures of the swap because I'm trying to forget that from memory.
Next, I needed an alignment because the car was pulling to the right. As many of you know, I have all adjustable suspension parts on the Q from SPL. Great quality stuff, however Indiana winters have taken their toll after 7 years. The rear control arm adjustments were completely seized and had to be replaced. The front control arm adjusters were seized but they were able to get them apart (sorta) and get the alignment back in spec. The control arms are fairly mangled from it, and it stinks because they don't make the upper control arms any more. $180 later for an alignment, the car is driving straight again.
Lesson learned: Any time you do ANY suspension, brake, or anything under the car thats exposed to the elements, COAT THE THREADS IN ANTI-SEIZE.. That would have saved me a ton of headache.
Oh, and once I replaced my rear control arms with SPL the display on my radio HU went out.. Everything still works, but still that was rather annoying.
Going back a ways, I replaced my wheels and tires, and I also picked up a 2005 Caddy CTS-V. Can't remember if I posted that or not either.
This picture was taken at a rock quarry I visited this past March for work.
This is a shot of the machines my company makes, large rock shakers mainly for sand and gravel. Notice the Q in the lower part of the picture.
Here's a couple shots of my CTS-V
... getting fixed now) She has the original single-mode 91 octane NICO ECU... back when you would sell just the chip (I did not have problems installing it). And California means no rust 
