Nedd help with 93 Q45 Purchase

[LarryL]

I need help with the purchase of a 93 Q45. The body and interior of this car is in good shape. Everything is still inplace. I am looking at purchasing this car for $800.00. The problem with the Q45 is that the engine ran hot. I have never own nor worked on any Infiniti cars. The owner says the heads need to be replaced. What am I looking at with this car? Will it be better to replace heads or replace engine, or leave the car where it is. How much trouble will it be? I have replaced heads and engines on other cars.

Any advice will be appreciated!

Larry

[DAEDALUS]

Honestly if you're not sure what you're getting, that $800 is a real gamble. The upside is you could always part it out and make that much probably.Why do the heads need to be replaced? There are a few possible reasons the car's running hot. Bad thermostat maybe, or a blockage somewhere, or maybe the timing's off. Take it to a deaership for Consult diagnosis.

[elwesso]

I agree..

For $800, and a $2500 engine swap, if the body/transmission is good, Id think that might be a worthwhile thing looking into....

[maxnix]

What are your cash reserves? Do you need this car right away for daily transportation? Are you up for a restoration if that is what it takes?

Early JDM Q45 enginies are getting very rare if not extinct. T-3 R&R, take out the old and install the rehabbed VH45DE well run closer to $5K.

There is always something worn out on a 12 year old car. Why it's only $800 now. You have to do some serious assesment and evaluation. Reading the previous posts here can easily save you thousands of dollars.

Service records and an inspection by an Infiniti senior technician would be a valuable starting point after your reading.

Remember, a $45K luxury car still costs a lot to maintain after it is returned to OEM as new state. It doesn't know it is an $800 car. Neither does the parts manager nor the technician.

[Jesda]

^--- He's dead-on right.

Here's my latest maintenance log:http://q.spilky.com/irl.xls

[Q45tech]

To put matters in real perspective, AFTER you fix the engine, it probably needs another $3,000 in misc. immediately, then at least $2500 per year to maintain thereafter. Tires, brakes, alignments, hoses, belts, suspension prorates, mounts, ac

You can never escape the wear and tear items on any big heavy car especially with Japanese lux parts costing twice as much as domestics and no substitutes due to low volume.

If you can do all/most of the work yourself and use Inet 25% discounts it becomes managable.

If you have the $800 and $8,000 to spend to fix it up, $2500 per year * thereafter is pretty inexpensive.*assumming you drive between 15-20,000 miles per year. Say 15 cents per mile.

Many people own them and don't spend this much but there are always operation defects, that they have ignored or adjusted to in the process.

[SFBayQ45]

Were the metal chain guides installed on any '93 model, or did they start that only in '94s and beyond?

I was informed that the production change to metal guides was made in June 1992, but is this accurate? An acquaintance's 1993 Q was manufactured in December 1992 and he believes that the plastice guides was no longer an issue since it was built after the June date. Is this accurate?

I know that this issue has been discussed to death, but based on previous posts there isn't any concrete evidence to substantiate what appears to be new facts.

Any inputs?

[Jesda]

1994 model year is the only certain thing. Anything else is hearsay and rumor. And a late 1992 would absolutely not have metal-backed guides -- your friend is taking a risk.

[LarryL]

Thanks for all your help. The car was taken to a repair shop and the owner of the care was told the heads would need replacing. Maybe $800.00 is to much to pay.