Need Help Checking Out A 1990 Q45 In Hicksville, NY

[thejfed]

Yea...you guys have definitely opened my eyes to stuff. Not so sure about this car anymore...*sigh*

[OwnerCS]

There is something to be said for finding a nice 94 model. I've spent quite a bit of money since June of last year to basically upgrade my 91 to be like a 94 -- that is for the part that I want to change.

I know this one isn't a G50 but I bet the car in the picture could be a real nice sweetheart at 85,000 miles.. I would venture to guess that car was owned by some oil industry person connected with Phillips 66-Conoco there in Bartlesville and had it serviced in Tulsa.

With the help and expertise of this club as a knowledge base, this could somebody's nice daily driver for a good while.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/2365466517.html

Right Y33 team?

[Infinitiguy19]

What do you want to upgrade on your car to make it "1994 Q45 like"?

[OwnerCS]

What do you want to upgrade on your car to make it "1994 Q45 like"?

Ahh.. Thanks for the prompt Paul.. You know all I've done.. But for our friend let me recap..


1) Eight injectors (Phase II) BWD Black Dot -- average cost today about $150 -- I think I paid roughly $1,000. The old Phase I injectors seem to go out with increased Ethanol in the fuel. I bet I spent a good $1,500 on enhancing the fuel system (inside the engine compartment) to be ready for more Ethanol in fuel.

2) Deatschwerks Phase II injector rail kit - now $229.. So it is either the DW kir or spend a while trying to find some good Phase II rails and wiring harness from a 94 model.

3) All new hoses, timing chain guides, and oil pump chain and gear..

4) Climate Control unit -- purchased an upgraded unit from our moderator Heath -- price was under $50 IIRC.. Early Qs had problem..

5) Aux Adapter for the Stereo - so I can someday play a CD or MP3..

6) Bose stereo - door speakers -- send to Florida for amp rebuild -- that was at least $300..

7) Just received a new radiator fan as the white plastic one was starting to crack - $100..

8) Almost forgot the 94 model style radiator with improved tran fluid cooling and a 94 style tran fluid filter.

9) Transmission Control Unit (TCU) from a 94 model so it will take off in 1st gear. If you can find one in a salvage yard for a 93 (best match) or a 94.. Prices vary with availability.. Guestimate today at $100..

10) NICO ECU -- General Performance Enhancement -- need to get latest price from Wes.. Seems to go well with the TCU enhancement.

Updated below on 05/12/2011

11) Drive shaft from a 94 model - I have one in the workshop in the event the existing part needs to be replaced. I've seen members post about the 94 shaft being smoother.

12) HVAC. The previous owner had the entire A/C system replaced (at the dealer) in 97 under extended warranty. The original compressor disintegrated and sent metal fragments all through the system. I have a receipt where the dealer "replaced everything" under warranty. I think it has been converted to R134a as it doesn't really cool like an original R12 unit. The previous owner had new seals installed two years ago for the conversion. Last summer, I did an extensive "sound deadening" upgrade project for the doors. An unexpected side effect was the additional deadening/insulation material improved the A/C so that it didn't need to run full speed on those 100 degree with 95 percent humidity August days around here.. Your best bet is to get a Q that was built to use R134a.

13) Sunroof and Window regulators. The previous owner had a new sunroof and two window regulators replaced at the dealer two years ago. The plastic guides eventually become brittle and break. As a preventative maintenance measure, I pulled all guides and performed a lubrication service to avoid problems.

14) Power steering rack dust boots - dry out and crack open. I have some new ones for installation when I pull the rack later this month as part of suspension/bushing upgrades.

15) Power steering pump. The old one was noisy and the seal was beginning to leak. I replaced it with a rebuilt unit that fixed the noise issue..

16) Power steering hoses.. The under hood hoses get old and deteriorate.

17) Alternator. The old one worked fine. However, the bearing was becoming noisy. I got a Nissan factory rebuilt and replaced it as I didn't want to take a chance.

18) All new struts and rubber bumpers, boots, and bushings.

19) New fuel pump - still in the box. Soon to replace the original. Good to keep spare (got mine from salvage) FPCU on hand.

20) Drivers door seal. Mine picks up wind noise from being 20 years old.. I have had a new one on order for months. Nissan still shows this as available -- however on backorder. I managed to rejuvenate mine with some Shin Etsu seal grease but I would really like to replace it with a new one.. That just a new part that I can't find..

Paul - what am I forgetting here? LOL..

[thejfed]

The reason I didn't like the second gen Q is actually simple. They did one thing that I thought completely ruined it. They stuck the gas tank between the trunk and the back seat. Makes the trunk ridiculously small and there is no longer a pass through to the back seat...for me that ruined it :-(

[BadQ45t]

I hate to the be the one to bust your bubble but the 1st Gen Q has the gas tank in the same place. I personally still question that decision on all the Q's but I could care less about the pass-through, it is the loss of back seat room that really is the penalty.

Sorry to break the news to you that the 1st gen is exactly the same. For me I was pissed about the loss of .4 liters and horsepower, but the increase in reliability and (IMHO) better body style was worth it.

[thejfed]

I thought the first gen Q had a much larger trunk than the second gen....am I mistaken?

[Q451990]

I thought the first gen Q had a much larger trunk than the second gen....am I mistaken?

If there's a difference it's not much. Same basic fuel tank behind the seat configuration.

Heath

[thejfed]

Huh...must've been imagining that.

[OwnerCS]

Added items 11 through 20..

[maxnix]

I thought the first gen Q had a much larger trunk than the second gen....am I mistaken?

FGY33 is less deep (from opening to tank) by a couple of inches.

The reason the fuel tank is over the rear axle is safety and handling.

[BCC93QT]

Up here on the border of CT and MA. Hicksville is 2 hours 15 minutes away. Heres my two cents. 6K for the car. 1-2k for the chains to be done depending on if you do it yourself. 1-1500 for a plenum job. depending on if you do it yourself + misc other things because it is 21 years old. As well as title and that sort Also to get the car to where you are. Were talking 10k-15k. To add on... even though it is only 63k miles, you never know how it was stored so rust could be an issue. as well as your suspension rubber nicks and doo dads need some love, brakes PROBABLY need some love... Love the leather and interior. I have that color paint and i absolutely hate it.... I would not go for it but thats just me.... Am in the bronx sat/sun for yanks/sox game... i MIGHT have time to shoot over

[thejfed]

I think between everything I've read here it's probably not the wisest move for me. Sad....but probably true....

[BCC93QT]

Heres what I would do. Wait until it sells and that person blows the guides.... Locate the body and purchase it for 1k.... buy a JDM crate engine and restore it a touch while its out of the car. Your in it MAYBE 5k with suspension rehab new engine/rehab and other dogbones.... And a G50 Q45 is not wise to be a daily driver... even though mine currently is

[OwnerCS]

I would keep an eye out for the right one to come along at the right price.

This member listed his upgraded G50 for $3,000. He sold it to someone in his area.. Check out his upgrade list.

These deals come along -- not every day -- but they do come along..

post5842073.html#p5842073

[BadQ45t]

The trunks are essentially the same size, I had a 92' that I drove for 6 months........both had that same design with the gas tank in a very safe abeit down-right horrible place to put it in a big car like this as it robbed too much trunk room and too much back seat space. If I could change mine I would, I know this is a very safe way to design the car, but notice not many other manufacters have followed this.

[maxnix]

Early JDM VH45DE takeouts are pretty much all gone. 16 years since these engine were produced. Later ones still around, but getting scarce also.

[ShortSeason]

A year and a half ago, I drove a '92 from CA to MN. It has roughly 80k on the clock.
It had extensive dealership maintenance during its life. Roughly $10k.

I had the guides replaced before the trip, as reccomened buy the guys here.
Good thing. They were about to go, brittle a can be. Luckly no chunks had broke off, before I had them swapped.

After all the orginal owner had spent on maintenance... I still have a list of several thousand $ that needs to be done.

If I were going to start a Q$$ project... I would start with a car with no rust.
I just changed the oil in my 6 year old F350, and the whole bottom of the truck is a rusted pile.
The best is driving to work every MN winter morning and they spray the bridge with liquid salt. Every morning.
No one had ever crashed on that bridge in the last 25 years, before the salt spray?
That's why my Q is a summer garage queen.

Welcome to NICO! Good luck finding your Q!

[maxnix]

Sounds like you treat your G50 right. One needs a sacrificial winter car in the salt belt.