OH-IO

[pouncer11]

So Infiniti of Dayton lied to me, they told me my chain guides were good when they in fact did not. The service guy was upset about me barraging him with questions he couldnt answer, well actually hes a manager or some ****. The tech there swears up and down that i have a metal guide and its the late 90s-93s with the bad guide. So i make a quick call down to Infiniti of Cinci and the master tech there tells me I should probably do it, he recommends because of the price, taht i should do it myself, which means hes not after my money. The Cinci tech also told me about guess what NICO, NO WAY! So Im going to make a trip to Dayton so i can get either proof that the guide is metal or a signed piece of paper saying its metal. If its plastic im going to run the engine as long as i can making necessary repairs and grab a used engine with new/metal guides. Even the trained Q techs around here are idiots. I have just started to dig into this car and i was speaking tongues to some of them. I FEEL SO AAAALOOONNNNNEEEE. Anyone near Dayton/Springfield Ohio that would be interested in helping me out, After tires, pads, and an injector im either looking for a used Q or an engine from a totaled one. A friend says he knows where i can get a 94 with 48k or so for 900

[maxnix]

While it is not impossible to install the later VH45DE into an earlier chassis, it is not easy either.

The best course of action is to rehabilitate an early engine, whether it is the one in you car or another is your call. Many instances posted here and IOM. One member is doing it now.
Modified by maxnix at 11:28 AM 4/23/2008

[pouncer11]

I can do with a 93 engine or something, id rather not have to put a chain guide on it. If i have to its still easier when the engine is not in the car.

[qship96]

If you think removing and replacing an engine is easier than replacing the guides on your current engine while still installed in your car..........you are fooling yourself bigtime.

[pouncer11]

Im no fool, thats several weeks of work, i just think it would be more reasonable to spend money on an engine with 50k than to pour it into an engine with 200k.

[qship96]

Good luck.......even if you secure an engine with only 50-60 thousand miles on it, the rest of your car still has 200k on it, and will require regular investment of dollars to replace worn out parts and general upkeep.This is NOT the car for someone who isnt prepared to drop $1000-3000 on any given day when the transmission dies, or rear differential goes, or any other parts failure----Just keeping it on the road in good working order AFTER all known problems are attended to and paid for{3-10 thousand dollars} will require a budget of around 250 dollars per month.....not including gasoline------why it is usually a extremely poor choice of transportation for a teenager making minimum wage and going to school.

[Q45tech]

A JDM engine is just a Japanese Junkyard engine that has been cleaned up outside and inside to look better than a US junkyard engine.

Japan has an expensive rehabilitation requirement for car that exceed 62,000 miles therefore many are just junked or exported.

Annual average mileage is Japan is around 5-6,000 miles per year so 9-10 years is norm.

A JDM engine will still need lots of rehab because of age and sitting and the chemicals used to clean. All rubber will need replacing plus the 90-93 will need chain guides and 90-95 knock sensors, plugs and a exhaust manifold swap.

We buy hand selected JDM for ~ $1,000 replace about $1100-1200 in parts and spend 25 hours doing rehab and swap so the whole process cost $4300.

Buying a 94-95 saves $300 in chain guide parts and 4 hours but this will be used up in retrofitting the 94-95 to a 90-93 chassis.

We charge $1300 to replace chain guides including parts.

[Rex]

Yes, unless someone can show you proof, I'd say your guides are not the updated metal backed.

Also, swapping a newer (94/95) motor into your Q would be more work than guides and any swapped in motor should be rehabbed while out of the car to save (repeated) work later.

As for Infiniti of Cincinnati, they like low effort, high return work, so I bet they wouldn't be interested (or price it out of "reasonable") even if you wanted them to do it. They quoted my "over $7500, so it's probably not worth it" to replace the transmission in my Q ... I got the message.

I'd suggest doing a compression/leak down test to make sure the motor is worth it. If it is replacing the guides on your Q seems like the right thing to do.

Otherwise, the smart thing to do is look for a (rear accident) totaled grille-less Q so you can confirm the miles and start from there.

[pouncer11]

Well the chain guides dont seem so bad but its not something im going to go at by myself. Im about to finish a website worth 3k and then 100 per month in upkeep so thats cash, then the lady has another website she wants done so maybe its not out of reach, my plan is just to keep the beast under 3k rpms and take care of it till i can afford it or just find one at a junkyard and learn there. If you live in Cinci Rex is there any way youd be interested in assisting? Also how does one test the compression?

[Haitian_King]

Well the chain guides dont seem so bad but its not something im going to go at by myself. Im about to finish a website worth 3k and then 100 per month in upkeep so thats cash, then the lady has another website she wants done so maybe its not out of reach, my plan is just to keep the beast under 3k rpms and take care of it till i can afford it or just find one at a junkyard and learn there. If you live in Cinci Rex is there any way youd be interested in assisting? Also how does one test the compression?

I got mine done last month and it cost me $1400. I also had hoses changed, both valve covers resealed, and the spark plugs changed while the VC's were off.

The best way to attack maintenance issues on a VH45DE is to preempt problems and fix them or shell out for serious work as a one-time thing. It costs more in the end to keep repeating labor, especially when not doing it yourself.

[Rex]

... If you live in Cinci Rex is there any way youd be interested in assisting? Also how does one test the compression?

Interested, yes, have the time, means or place to? no .

Check with Wes (elwesso), he may have some time coming up after finals, and he's not too far from you.

[MinisterofDOOM]

For compression test, you can buy a tester at an autoparts store (should be under $50). Then you just swap out a spark plug for the tester one cylinder at a time and crank the engine (obviously with spark and fuel disabled).

[elwesso]

Im always up for working on Q. Hit me up, maybe pay for my gas and spot me a few bux and/or a case and I'll do about anything...

[captainluigi]

Wes, you have such a great attitude. Best of luck in all your endeavors. You will go far and prosper.

[maxnix]

my plan is just to keep the beast under 3k rpms and take care of it till i can afford it....

That's not a good strategy unless you leave it idling all night. Most stress is on a cold start.

Solution has been well known for a long time as are consequences of ignoring it.

[StarPD]

Listen to these guys, pouncer.They know of which they speak.

[Haitian_King]

How many miles are on it again?

I had to deal with plastic guides for a year. It was awful! Everytime I started the car, my brown eye puckered up so tight, I could squeeze a diamond out of a lump of coal. Not to mention Brian and Qship making fun of me and telling me horror stories about chain guide failures and the associated costs. It was like telling your little brother ghost stories.

It was a very stressful experience that I'd never wish to experience again. I was fortunate enough to have a low mileage engine and Keith close by.

I totally understand that it's not always possible to get the jobs done right away because you need to drive the car and can't have the car sidelined. Just understand the risk that you're taking. It was a risk that I considered and reluctantly accepted every time I started the Q.

God forbid if the guides go, you may be looking at a new engine.

Good luck. I hope it works out well for you.

[qship96]

HK, I didnt look at it as making fun, more a continual nudge to help you realize what a dangerous game of Russian roulette you were playing every mile you drove.

[pouncer11]

wes i just gotta get the money up for it and permission for my father probably, his suggestion is "to run the thing till it blows up, you only paid 700 for it". Im considering fixing the injector and selling to some unsuspecting hillbilly. Also if its worth the work on a 200k engine i could save up but with full time college coming up im going to get my *** chewed for tossing that at an old car. Btw my dad cooks mean steaks (home grown/raised) along with green beans and the likes. And Budlights are no stranger to my house hold.

the guys at both cinci and cbus said theyve worked on the cars since they were made and the only chain guide problems were on cars owned by punk kids showing off and revving their engines in the driveway
Modified by pouncer11 at 8:49 PM 4/24/2008

[Haitian_King]

wes i just gotta get the money up for it and permission for my father probably, his suggestion is "to run the thing till it blows up, you only paid 700 for it". Im considering fixing the injector and selling to some unsuspecting hillbilly. Also if its worth the work on a 200k engine i could save up but with full time college coming up im going to get my *** chewed for tossing that at an old car. Btw my dad cooks mean steaks (home grown/raised) along with green beans and the likes. And Budlights are no stranger to my house hold.

the guys at both cinci and cbus said theyve worked on the cars since they were made and the only chain guide problems were on cars owned by punk kids showing off and revving their engines in the driveway

Modified by pouncer11 at 8:49 PM 4/24/2008

One of the chain guide failures that I read about on the board didn't happen to a "punk kid" revving his engine in the driveway. Having the timing chain jump time isn't the only thing that can happen. The chain itself can wear a hole through the oil cover and will leak oil all over. Or the guide pieces block the oil pickup. Have you seen how small the opening is?

[pouncer11]

yeah ive seen it, id love to drop my oil pan actually. My father is my biggest obstacle at the moment, Ive be educating myself like a madman on this car and foreign cars period. For only having two-three weeks in on learning about it ive come pretty far as far as the engine goes. Whenever i discuss it with him he tells me to drive it into the ground, or that its not worth spending more than the cost of an oil change because of what i paid for it. If I cant find a way to secretly save that much money and do it when hes not around or someplace besides home then thats the end of this machine. Ill either fix the injector and put it in the lawn for 1500 or just keep up on fluids, plugs, etc. till it drops. Part of me thinks it would sell from its condition (other than the guides but i dont think anyone around here is a Q fanatic) and the other part of me has Gas Station flashbacks just like those horror movies 3.69 is pounding in my face glowing red saying WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BUY A V8???? If i could sell it id either buy a 98 honda with 150k on it from this lady at work for 2.5k or fix my parents old 86 chevette, body is good, small oil leak, needs a radiator, windshield (hillbillies busted it out with a bat) and a passenger window. Runs good though

If i ended up driving it till it drops i got room for it to sit so you guys could grab whatever you wanted off it for dirt cheap
Modified by pouncer11 at 10:05 PM 4/24/2008