Time, no money, an old car (plus NICO)

[tangalora]

WAY too much time on your hands!

Is it true that those who learn about cars usually have time --- --- and no money --- and an old car!

I'm told if you don't have all three, you will not work on your car.Should we add the fourth ally (all the boys on NICO)?

For example, see these time-consuming HOWTOs on NICO:- replace fuel pump & diy re-engineer the FPCU (~ 3 weeks)- re-engineer the Infiniti sun visor the best way possible (~ 3 weeks)- replace front/rear brake pads & check rotor runout (~ 2 weeks)- replace oil pan (essentially remove engine) on the Q45 (~ 3 months)- clean windshield washer injectors (~ 2 weeks)etc.

The links to these (time, no money, old car + NICO) threads are at:- FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT: http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=6268 (www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=6268)- SUNVISOR: http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=50000 (www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=50000)- BRAKES: http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=47476 (www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=47476)- OIL PAN: http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=77266 (www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=77266)- WASHER NOZZLE: http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=50382 (nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=50382)etc.

I'm told those who learn about cars have time, no money, and an old car but I'd like to add NICO to that list. What do you think?

Alora Duncan

[tangalora]

Ooooops ... I stand corrected (as usual).

I posted the wrong URL to the sunvisor complete step by step howto repair (saving 250 dollars per visor)!

Here is the correct URL (which shows how to properly remove the front interior): http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=39096 (nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=39096)

Still, I'd like to know what you think about the old adage that you need time, no money, and an old car to learn about them; if you are missing just one of those three (the maxim goes), you will just abdicate on learning how to fix it (and how to fix the things you break fixing it)

Alora Duncan

[SmithSR]

My vote for best thread ever. Even better than the Mike Tyson thread!

[Jesda]

Alora: You'd be surprised how much I (and others) learn from your experience doing things yourself. Your famous threads are linked at q45.org.

[gniknave]

Alora, did you need a second car for all that time spend without your Q? If so, you need to add that to the list of things.

[tangalora]

you need to add a second car to the list of things

Most excellent point! - A scooter is what I had in my old-car/no-money/lotsa-time college days.- A motorcycle would do as well (for most climates).- Personally, I am using a borrowed econobox kindly lent me by a friend.- (I've had it so long, I paid for the registration, insurance, & smog check).

Here's our new supposition:

You will learn about cars ... if you have: - an old car - no money - lotsa time And - an alternate vehicle

If you missed any one of the key factors above, you're likely to more easily succumb to the expensive yet quicker (relatively) dealership "drop it off" tempation.

[gniknave]

Just a guess, maybe there's a timing chain tensioner there? Alora, you must show me how you type color into your posts on Nico. I don't see an option for that.

[DAEDALUS]

Not much.



Just the passenger-side, slack-side tensioner and guide on the Q. It's been suggested before, but I don't think it's possible to work a borescope in there to see the other guide. Maybe, maybe not. I think they need 1/2" clearance minimum.

Probably just there to provide access to unlatch the tensioner after assembly.

[tangalora]

Just the passenger-side, slack-side tensioner and guide on the Q.

Wow! What a photo. So clean. So crisp. So clear. That's as professional a photo as they get!I'm embarrassed by my blurry photos & grubby engine compared to yours!

But, even more, what you just said has me reeling with possibilities.Did you say "access to one of the chain guides?"

Does that mean there is a way to easily visually inspect to see if (at least one chain guide was replaced with the steel-backed version?

Can that be?

Putting it bluntly, if I remove that cover plate and look inside, can I tell if the chain guide (at least that one under the cover) has been replaced with the stronger version?

My assumption would be that if one chain guide were replaced, then the likelihood that all four (I think there are four offhand) would have also been replaced. This would be just too easy so it might not be true.

But, I gotta ask (because the payback is so high):a) Is (at least one) chain guide visible under that cover plate?b) Can we visually (from what we can see) if it's the replacement style?

[tangalora]

Jshow me how you type color into your posts on Nico. I don't see an option for that.

xxx [/C0L0R] xxx [/C0L0R] xxx [/C0L0R]

[DAEDALUS]

Does that mean there is a way to easily visually inspect to see if (at least one chain guide was replaced with the steel-backed version?

Can that be?

Unfortunately, no. The guide that's visible is not one of the 2 that's problematic, and never had to be redesigned. So even if it has been replaced, it would not be apparent. That's why the borescope has been mentioned as a way to thread a view through the port over to the other side of the engine. What's worse, it has been reported that sometimes only 1 of the 2 weak guides gets changed, since it is the only failed one upon opening up of the engine.

[tangalora]

That's why the borescope has been mentioned as a way to thread a view through the port over to the other side of the engine.

Interesting idea.

[Megaseth]

I second the nomination for best thread ever. this one hit right on the dot....many a times have i been ready to do something to roxy, only to have no money to get what i want....and when i do, these weekend installs take a week or two *cough* header and struts....and i often have to dust off the spare(luckily) vehicle to drive to the parts store to further deplete my wallet in order to end the downtime of the car. excellent thread!

[themadscientist]

I have money but too many projects. After I sell Lucky I can put the last R32 on the road to drive and start work on my RX7. After that I cut up one of the R30s and disassemble the other. I can switch the RB20 out for the FJ20 with the Haltech and start restoring the R30. If I could find a fertility clinic I could make one of my other hobbies support my cars. suffer for my art!