More than a little frustrated

[silentfurymm]

Today we finally got the chance to do the timing chain on my car. Everything went pretty well, my roommate who is a mechanic, was motoring through everything to get down to the guides. Getting the crank pulley was a bit of a hicup, but eventually we got it. As a bonus, becuase it was myself, my two roommates and my father, I was able to start on the suspension pieces as well. Got the SPL adjustable upperlinks, and tension rods, springs and struts on the front. We then started on the rear, but ran out of steam, and the SPL Adjust. rear uppers need some machining to fit.

However our fun came to a screeching halt when we actually started replacing the chain guides (which showed a little stress, but no breaks). Apparently whoever packed my kit thought it would be funny not to include the new longer bolts. So, we where unable to complete the project, my car is in pieces, and I dont know how long it will take to get the parts in. Ill call Scottsdale in the morning, but I think Im just going to get the bolts locally if I can. This annyos me to no end and makes things more difficult for everybody.

Ill post up pictures in a little while.

[Jeff Williams]

It does suck, not havaing all the parts or the correct tool to finish a job.

I had to put my old control arm back on, because the stupid ball sead would not come off. I wen to the dealership, and they wanted 3 weeks to get the part from the warehouse.

I ended up using a 10# sledge and a tie rod remover a week and a half later.

I hope you get your parts. Be sure to use good quality bolts, if you decide not to wait for the correct ones from Joe.

[silentfurymm]

Just laying all the parts out so they are ready to goDrivers side Upper link installedAll the new suspension on the Drivers sideThis is the box diagram we came up with to keep track of all teh bolts fro the chain cover.

[silentfurymm]

Im gonna try using nico's uploader for the next couple pics.

This is what the chian guides looked like when we got the cover off.

[Jeff Williams]

All the new suspension on the Drivers side

Why is your strut rod still showing in the picture? Shouldn't the dust boot cover the entire rod surface?

[silentfurymm]

Thanks Jeff, I only plan on using the correct part number bolts from either the local Infiniti or Nissian dealers. Its just such a small pience that is holding everything back.

Here is most of the wheels off, working on the suspension on three corners. We didnt get teh last shock and spring on teh passenger rear done. It was pretty funny when we took off the old shocks. You could compress them buy hand, and they would extend for about 15 minutes.

[silentfurymm]

Yea, I noticed taht too, but I think its ok becuase it was only showing about two inches of rod with the new dust boot (the old boots where compressed to about four inches tall, and crumbling) and the spring is fully extended in that picture. So when we let the car down it was sitting flush to the top.

Last pic for the night. This is what the drivers side with the new suspension looks like. Its a little lower, and a little meaner. The front wheels have a noticable positive camber though, so first thing when everything is buttoned up is a trip to the alignment shop. Hopefully my new G35 five spoke wheels will be here by Tuesday.
Modified by silentfurymm at 10:17 PM 3/5/2006

[CrimsonQ]

lookin nice, i still need mine put on

[Rex]

lookin nice, i still need mine put on

Same here.

I have to ask, did you have help putting the new spring/shock on the car, or were you able to do so by your self?

[PopPop]

Same here.

I have to ask, did you have help putting the new spring/shock on the car, or were you able to do so by your self?

You can install top with 3 nuts first then bottom bolt and nut! Just pull down on lower control arm with one hand and pull bottom strut mount into place until lined up! Some people use a pry bar to keep lower control arm down while aligning strut but, its not that much pressure! Just watch your brake lines if factory units have not been replaced not too over extend! All that suspension upgrade he will definitely need 4 wheel thrust alignment!

[squeefoo]

Hopefully my new G35 five spoke wheels will be here by Tuesday.

What were the old rims??? Those look !

[sdkhalsa]

Simple Question: Did you replace the upper links(Fronts) for performance or just an inability to get the camber adjustment off the stock parts? I just replaced my upper links (94Q) and still run almost a -2 degree camber on both sides. Same question for tension rods. Having replaced the bushings, find that caster is off a bit, as car drifts to right. In your case, did you note much wear in lower arm or third link?

[silentfurymm]

The spring and shocks actually where not all that difficult to replace. however things where made much much easier with the lift, and a pry bar. Once we got them off I left it to my other roommate to handle the compression and fitment of the upper mounts. I actaually regret not buying new upper mounts,but I was ignorant that they should have been replaced before we started, so I might do it in the future. Here is a pic of said roommate with the spring compressor, of all the things we did yesterday, this part scared me the most.

The wheels are 15 inch Borbet Type-E's for whoever was wondering, they are the stock tire size and the new G35 wheels are 17inch.

Simple Question: Did you replace the upper links(Fronts) for performance or just an inability to get the camber adjustment off the stock parts? I just replaced my upper links (94Q) and still run almost a -2 degree camber on both sides. Same question for tension rods. Having replaced the bushings, find that caster is off a bit, as car drifts to right. In your case, did you note much wear in lower arm or third link?

I replaced the upper links for three reasons. 1) They had 137000 miles on them, and the creaked, thunked and groaned. 2) the performance enhancment and 3) the ability to get the camber right. The tension rods I went ahead and got after I posted a picture of everything that I had bought. Several people, including Wess told me that I should probably go ahead and get teh adjust able tension rods to keep everything in spec. And I didnt notice much wear when we had it up on the lift.

[Flagship-Q]

Very nice work! It's nice to see a installation on the custom springs as I am going to be doing the same thing soon. Good to know about the strut mount replacement too. Maybe a dumb or obvious question, but where is the best place to shop for some of those SPL parts from? I just bought O.E. tension rod bushings from infiniti as Wes said that they would offer the better ride vs. adjustable poly ones. By the way Wes, I finally received my springs!

[silentfurymm]

Very nice work! It's nice to see a installation on the custom springs as I am going to be doing the same thing soon. Good to know about the strut mount replacement too. Maybe a dumb or obvious question, but where is the best place to shop for some of those SPL parts from? I just bought O.E. tension rod bushings from infiniti as Wes said that they would offer the better ride vs. adjustable poly ones. By the way Wes, I finally received my springs!

Definatly get that upper strut mount, mine are definatly no longer up to spec. I got my SPL parts from splparts.com. Just by the z32 susupension parts and your good to go. But like I said, we are goign to have to shave a little metal off the rear adjustable links becuase they rub the spring just a little. Ill post pictures of the process in a couple days.

Ordered my bolts from Scottsdale today and they will be here tommorow. They where never included in my original chain guide kit, so those of you who bought a kit from Joe, and havnt put it on yet, make sure you have everything. I looked at the list of suggested parts from Joe in the original Chian guide threads to figure out what they didnt send me.

[66mgb]

Matt,

Any chance you could work up a parts list and costs for the suspension components? This is exactly what my '92 Q needs!I've got to wear a bib, I'm salivating so much!!!

If I could get all of these parts together, I would take them up to Sqee, while I get the chainguides done.

Just curious why you don't get the 18" rather than the 17" G35 wheels?

[PopPop]

Monroe makes a nice front strut replacement mount kit for about $40.00 a side I have used them on about 5 different Q's but, make sure you ask what comes in the kit! Also make sure its the three bolt strut mount kit with gasket, mount, and three new nuts!

[silentfurymm]

Matt,

Any chance you could work up a parts list and costs for the suspension components? This is exactly what my '92 Q needs!I've got to wear a bib, I'm salivating so much!!!

If I could get all of these parts together, I would take them up to Sqee, while I get the chainguides done.

Just curious why you don't get the 18" rather than the 17" G35 wheels?

Oh man, asking me to recount how much Ive spent! Its a little painful to recount, but in I just have to tell myself its still cheaper than four months of car payments and insurance on a new WRX wagon.

Front Upper links - $335Rear adjust links - $258Front adjust tension - about $120Tockico Blues with dust boots- $384Lowering springs - $206New wheels with tires - $750Subframe spacers - $60 Thats all I can remember that time.

I wanted to the 17inch five spokes becuase I love the look of the five spoke wheels on a G50, and there are only three wheels made my Nissian/Infiniti that I would feel confident could handle the weight of a G50 (this pretty much kills the Maxima/ Altima wheels, especially as they are FWD, probably would be ok with them though). The Y33 five spokes, The G35 sedan sport rims, and the new 2006 350z 18 inch wheels. I really cant justify 18 inch wheels personaly, they are just too big for my personal taste. But the picture I found of a G50 with the wheels I bought looks awesome to me.

[66mgb]

Thanks for the list

I know I can get the Tociko's w/ Joe. BTW - is there any Nico special going on this month w/ Joe? If there is, I will definitely buy the rear sway bar and struts from him.

Could you could let us know where the other parts came from?

I bought 18" G35 wheels for my Q. I think these are cast rather than forged. You think these might be too weak for the Q ship?

[silentfurymm]

No, I think your wheels will be fine. I just know that some voiced some concern on the load rating of some of the wheels designed for smaller cars.

I got my parts either from Scottsdale Infiniti (Joe), or splparts.com. I was a bit impatient and like Wess suggested to me I probably could have gotten alot of the adjst. pieces for a cheaper if I would have cruised the Z32 for sale forums. But I bought everything brand new from splparts.com, so it was a little pricer.

In fact, I just now took delivery of my new wheels from the UPS guy! Thank you Red_Det, everything came as advertised, I hope your as happy with your new wheels as I am with your old ones.

[Falkdesigns]

Wow dude, this is shaping up real good! I can't wait to see pics with the wheels on it. How much of a drop are the springs? Doesn't look like much in the pic you posted, but remember, when you set it down from the lift, the camber is generally positive and until you roll it back or forth, it doesn't set down.

[silentfurymm]

E

Wow dude, this is shaping up real good! I can't wait to see pics with the wheels on it. How much of a drop are the springs? Doesn't look like much in the pic you posted, but remember, when you set it down from the lift, the camber is generally positive and until you roll it back or forth, it doesn't set down.

Supposedly the cali customs are around a 2 inch drop all the way around (give or take a 1/4 inch), but your right, I havnt noticed much difference. When side by side the stock springs are noticably taller, but they had fewer turns. Im actually going right now to go work on it, so I should return in hopefully a few hours.

Thanks for the advice on the positive camber, its a good thing to know becuase I was worried about it when I saw it.

[66mgb]

Now you need to swap out the stock brakes w/ some Brembo's, Wilwoods or 350Z's!

Did you get a strut bar? I'm looking for one if anybody has one.

[RED_DET]

Damn those are some clean A$$ wheels! I'm glad to hear you are completely satisfied. I can't wait to see what they look like. Post up some pics soon.

p.s.Don't forget to add some more air to those tires, I only had them put about 10-15psi in them.

Here's the link to some pics of my new wheels if you want to see what they look like on the car.zerothread?id=162295

[silentfurymm]

Its DONE! We got it back together, and everything worked! In fact, it lit with the first bumb of the ignition, just like it always does. Of course its 3am, so I wont be posting much right now, but before I go to bed I will give this one pic of what it looks like now.

[silentfurymm]

Ok, Im a little more awake now, but just bearly. I was amazed last night when the car started and ran perfect on the first try. The suspension is leaps and bounds different now, the car is so much firmer its hardly recognizable. Gone are the shimmys, shakes, wobbles, thunks and groans that I had grown used to. The wheels look fantastic, and with the drop they finally fill out the wheel wells. I will do beauty shots this weekend probably.

Thanks everybody on the board who helped with ideas and advice that helped me get this project done. Id also like to post a pic of all of us who turned wrenches these past couple days to get it done. In the pic is my father, myself and my roommates, whithout there help and time it wouldnt have gotten done.

Edit, Im the guy with the dirty face. My glasses start to fall of, so then I touch them with my hands to adjust them, and get dirt everywhere.