Ok just did comp. test on $500 Q

[SATAN]

Ok, for $500 I figured this car had to have bent valves or something terrible like that. Most of the time in life you get what you pay for. I was willing to buy this car and swap out the engine for a good one.

Well... Long story short, When I picked up the car the passenger side igniter was plugged into the injector harness on one side and the knock sensor on the other side. Needless to say, I was not getting spark on 2,4,6,8. The CAS was disassembled and in the back of the car. The inspection port on the front cover was taken off so I assumed they were looking to see if something was wrong with the timing chains. This indicated maybe the engine WAS jacked up.

Well, I just did a compression test (Which most of you told me NOT to do. Glad I didn't listen) Compression is OK to not great. Standard compression on the VH45 is 185psi. Minimum is 142psi. Keep in mind I live a mile high so my compression readings will be lower than that of a VH45 at sea level. 2 - 151psi4 - 150psi6 - 140psi8 - 140psi1 - 135psi3 - 110psi5 - 141psi7 - 140psi

The lowest is the 110psi which is pretty low. This is still plenty high enough to indicate that there are no bent valves. YAY! I really didn't want to pull the whole front of the engine apart just to find out the valves were shot anyways. Now that I know the compression is not 0psi I will NOW pull the front of the engine apart to replace the guides.

I have a CAS on the way. Waiting for the insurance check I got for the totaled out mirage to clear my bank and I will be heading down the street to Infinity to buy some chain guides.

Thank for the help that you guys have given me. Even the ones who were concerned for the car, telling me I was going to fry the engine. I am still glad to have your input.

Thank you NICO

[bullittandy]

As you've discovered Nico is not kind to people that go their own way-ask me how I know!

Do you think #3 will drag the rest of the engine?

[qship96]

Not sure I see the logic of investing $ into this engine{chain guides,plus whatever else} when compression on that one cylinder indicates its just a old,tired motor

might be better to start with a stronger,younger horse

[SATAN]

This is true... I may just have to tear it down rebuild it with forged internals, twin turbo charge it and drop it into my z31! In a way, I was hoping the valves would be bent so I could just yank it out and drop in another one, then build the **** out of the bad one.

110 is bad in the one cylinder but, the engine has been sitting for a long time now. I will get it going again and see if things change once oil starts coating the cylinder walls again and stuff like that. If nothing changes then... I can always pull it out, pull the chain guides off and put them into a different engine. All of that will be easy if the engine is out of the car.

Actually, I may just pull it out and rebuild it with fresh internals. Thats not so bad.

[GseaQ]

Hey Satan,

Add up all you'll spend on that motor, including your time, and then price a JDM takeout motor. You will likely spend more on the takeout, but how much? Don't include the guides in your estimate, though, as you'll need to put them in the takeout, too.

Glenn

[SATAN]

I am going to have to search JDM motors. If I rebuild it, then it is a brand new motor again and not a JDM with 40k on it.

Do you know of any advantages on the JDM motors? Maybe different cam specs or something.

Also, could I just drop in the 94-95 vh45de that way I dont have to even worry about the chain guides. The harnesses and all the electronics should be the same shouldn't they?

EDIT: Damn, I just looked and they are not even guaranteed to have 30k or less. They may be as high as 60k. Thats starting to get up there. I just took a quick look at ebay and found them shipped for about $1100 Thats not TO bad.

[GseaQ]

Satan,

First, I have always read and heard that rebuilding this engine is rarely an overwhelming success. In fact, the guy who maintains and repairs my cars (for the last 15 years) flat out refused to rebuild the heads on a colleagues Q after the timing chain guides lunched his engine. He said once you take apart an all aluminum engine and put it back together - no matter how right you do it - it's never the same. He's got a 540i and regularly services high end cars like Mercs, Ferrari's, Rolls, etc.

I just finished reading a post here (accessed through Q45.org) on putting the newer engine in the older car. It's quite doable. There are some harnesses you may have to move over from the new car to the old, and the newer Q had a better injector/rail package that requires the injector harness from the newer car, but it plugs right in. Someone did mention the legality of putting the newer injection stuff on the older car, but I believe if it is "cleaner" (which it arguably is) it's OK with the law.

Check it out. I think a low mileage takeout that's never been apart is way better than the higher risk rebuild. If you can put in the '94-'95 takeout, even better!

Glenn

[SATAN]

I will do more research on it before I decide. But rebuilding engines is not something that is new to me. Its really not that bad. Engines are made to be taken apart and refreshed. As long as one can read and use measuring devices it is not difficult. Its just nuts and bolts man.

The other reason I would like to rebuild it, is because the VH45de is a BAD *** engine! I am in love with this engine, which is why part of me wanted valves to be bad, so I would have an excuse to pull it apart and built it and fabricate some turbo manifolds for it. The VH45DE is pure sex!

[qship96]

This thread serves as a good example of why $500, or even "free" q45`s are not always a "find" or a good thing.

People tend to confuse price with cost with their new toys!

[SATAN]

This thread serves as a good example of why $500, or even "free" q45`s are not always a "find" or a good thing.

People tend to confuse price with cost with their new toys!

Actually, this thread is a very poor example of that. If the car turned out to be more of a headache than it was worth, I would keep the rear end, hybrid it to my z31, pull the engine and build it, and part the rest of the car out. I personally had all of the variables planned out before I purchased this vehicle.

Maybe if I were disappointed with what this car is going to cost, THEN it might be a good example. I love this car though and dont think it is to much of a headache, and so far it is not out of spec from what I expected.

[SATAN]

As you've discovered Nico is not kind to people that go their own way-ask me how I know!

Do you think #3 will drag the rest of the engine?

That is fine. 99% of the people on here just regurgitate information because they don't know any better and don't have any actual experience. The just say what they have been trained to say. The 1% that do have experience are VERY helpful and post up good information.

And yes, I do believe #3 will drag.

[jmorasch]

I bought a 91 Q45t on craigslist for 350 with a excellent body not a dent nor ding on it.the chain was suppose to be broke per his mech.I started the dissasembly and got to the cam sensors and thought about things......the battery was reconnected and I did the same as you,compression check......I got a weak reading on one of the cylinders too. I wanted to see if the engine would even run. I posted when I bought the car.then the post (the timing chain that wasnt) when I got the car running that day.I double checked everything and did most of the things suggested.everyone was a big help here!!!! the engine was just as strong as the misses Q. this Q had only 125000k on the dash. dont jump to conclusions with your Q.granted IM NO EXPERT but this is from my experience,and my personal desires were to have a good running Q45 that I could turn some corners on the weekends in, yours sounds a little diffrent.this Q has a new xenon full body kit and fresh paint somebody put alot of time and money in this ride but what you want and what you get is never truly the same though. hope everything works out and your choices gain you a great Q45!!! because they are truly a GREAT car.
Modified by jmorasch at 8:15 PM 1/26/2008

[Kiven422]

I don't know about the others on NICO but I think a JDM motor is MUCH more powerful than a U.S. Q45. The engine on my 1993 Q45 was replaced while the fuel pump was bad.

The original Q45 engine was smooth as a rock and sure it still had a ton of juice but once we replaced the Q with a JDM motor... it was like TWICE the power, and keep in mind we could not even slightly push hard on the pedal, anything over 3000RPM was nearly impossible, the car would hesitate. In other words the JDM motor had SO MUCH more power in the low end revs without even pushing on the pedal. Once we replaced the fuel pump & FPCU... it was like a beast unleashed. Also makes my 94 Q seem like a V6 any day.

Its a fact that Honda JDM engines are 10-20 HP stronger than USDM engines. Could it be the same for the Q45 engines? From experience I recommend it... only problem is that its a lot of work.

In fact, the guy who maintains and repairs my cars (for the last 15 years) flat out refused to rebuild the heads on a colleagues Q after the timing chain guides lunched his engine. He said once you take apart an all aluminum engine and put it back together - no matter how right you do it - it's never the same.Glenn

Satan - Your going for performance and I agree with GseaQ.