newbie with Q45 -bad piston

[akble]

picked up beautiful 92 Q45- 118K emmaculate inside and out- single owner 93 year old widow- looks like she allowed it to carbon up and burn a whole in one piston- she was going to let it go to junk yard but I had told her over the years i would love to buy it- so couldn't turn it down now- Question- rebuild? buy used motor? retro? sell?thanks

[MinisterofDOOM]

You should be able to get a Japanese take-out replacement engine for pretty cheap. Some of the other guys have firsthand experience with JDM takeout replacements, so they can add useful details.

I'd hate to see an otherwise fine Q go to the junkyard.

[akble]

thanks- will check them out- it is black Q45 tinted windows and tan leather- smells new- always garaged- no way i can see hauled off-

[maxnix]

looks like she allowed it to carbon up and burn a whole in one piston

Never have heard of that. Were the factory OEM plugs used?

Please read the timing chain guide article.

Welcome to NICO.

[elwesso]

yeah i have a hard time believing that story, i bet the guides failed.

Best bet is to get a JDM takeout motor, swap it in and use the old motor for spare parts!

[maxnix]

Well, I would inspect the guides with the front timing covers removed, then attempt to had rotate it.

I am betting the records show she didn't change the oil often enough because it wasn't driven and it turned acidic.

[akble]

checking out used engines and trying to break down what I have - its a straight Q45- not an A- has no traction contol contol inside - 2 wheel steeringthese are the choices :

(4.5L, VIN N, 4th digit), 4 wheel steering (Q45t) (4.5L, VIN N, 4th digit), front wheel steering, Q45a (full active susp) (4.5L, VIN N, 4th digit), front wheel steering, Q45 (exc full active susp), w/o Traction Control (4.5L, VIN N, 4th digit), front wheel steering, Q45 (exc full active susp), w/Traction Control

Also is there any easy way to tell if the chain guides have been replaced? if not is it major job if engine is out of the car?

[maxnix]

All that matters is that it is either CA or Fed and pre 1994 or post 1993.

1996 is it's own unique one since it doesn't have intake camshaft timing change and is OBD II.

Timing guide chain guides much cheaper than new engine. Very easy if out of car, but be aware it is designed to be from the bottom.

[akble]

thanks maxnix- car is 92 and all the crossovers show only 91 and 92 engines swap- is that correct or can I get newer one with minimal problems installing? all the yards ask me about whether 2 wheel or all wheel steering and also about traction control- JDM has a couple low mile 92s that I understand are from Japan? does that create aproblem since you stated Ca or Fed?been an Aurora man so the 45 intricases are truly a little "foreign"

[maxnix]

TCS, active and HICAS only afect peripherals. The main dirive pulley may be different on the active. Most (70% -80%) G50 in Japan were active while only 10% of US were.

Be sure to read Q45tech's posts on how they choose and rehabilitate JDM VH45DE.

Personally, I would be popping off the front timing covers to inspect the conditon of your current guides and chains first before committing to a take out.

[goody90q45]

Like everyone has been saying, you need to get assurances that you are getting an engine from a 90-93 Q. Everything will be peachy until you go to plug the CAS connector to the main harness and find out is has fewer wires and is a different connector. It's happened to at least 2 or 3 members.

[akble]

this is why forums are great- appreciate all the help- looks like I will pull th cover and check out the chain an guide first- replace the plugs and valve covers before go to next step - JDM says they have 2- 92s -47K and 51K - but no idea whether th guides have been addressed though sounds like probably not - once again appreciate the help- it is such a great looking car in fantastic shape that I hate to see parted out

[elwesso]

dont worry about the TCS/ACTIVE/4 Wheel Steer stuff because you can just swap parts before you install it. The crank pulley on active/HICAS cars as wel as the PS pump is different.