What should I do?

[PoorManQ45]

I went to close the hood on my Q45 today and the unspeakable happened. The driver side "shock" on the hood partially locked up. I didn't notice this slight increase in resistance so I kept closing it. And the driver side front part of the hood folded over .

I can close the hood "ok" if I apply pressure on the hood near the "shock". When the hood is closed, I can get it to line up pretty good, but not perfect. The only visual damage it caused is to "small" dings where it folded over. At least it didn't completely crease.

This really feels like the last straw for my Q45. I trying to fix the darn thing and something else breaks in the process . This freaking sucks. I am seriously considering junking this stupid thing.

Please help me figure out what to do.

Here are the options I've come up with (feel free to add your own):

[Altiman94]

get rid of it. They are problem-prone cars and not worth putting all the money into.

[PoorManQ45]

Wow, Altiman94. For once, you and I are on the same page.

Anybody else have any suggestions?

[elwesso]

Problem prone cars... According to him anything that doesnt have a warranty or has issues ayntime you own it are problem prone....

I will agree that some, maybe most Q arent worth putting money into... Been there, done that ..... BUt there are some that really make it worthwhile.

If your Q ran pretty good, and all you have to do is get the hood ok, then its hardly worth it. Get the coolant hose done, and the hood and youll be ready to go.....

[elwesso]

As far as what you should do, welding could cause the paint to get messed up on the other side... Personally id try and bend it back, and maybe use some epoxy or some other glue to get it back in there.. Welding would heat up the paint and cause it to look ****ty...

I will have a new found respect for you if you get this car working...

[PoorManQ45]

I don't think epoxy could prevent the hood from re-folding when I go to close it again.

I was thinking about welding a 1in x 6in steel/aluminum plate across where it folded. Specifically on the outer rail on the driver side. I think this would prevent it from folding again or as easily.

I understand where you're coming from about welding it might mess up the paint. I thought about that too. I was thinking, as long as the welding stick wasn't held to the metal for long periods of time, I would think that this would prevent the paint from warping/flaking/tearing.

I am wondering what a silver Q45 with a black hood would look like. I could have a "custom" two tone Q45

[Jesda]

Lets throw altiman in a dumpster.

Anyway, Greg or Fred (Freg) warned me at the NICO meet in April to lubricate the folding knuckle hinges that help keep my hood up, or risk damage, since my hood was difficult to close. I've been spraying WD40 regularly ever since and all has been well.

Personally, I think you should get a 240 or an Altima.

-Jesda
Modified by Jesda at 1:17 AM 10/31/2004

[elwesso]

Lets throw altiman in a dumpster.

Whole heartedly agreed..... 240 trolls need to stay in their comfort zone...

I see many Q45 hoods that sort of bend up in the middle from the hood hinges... Gotta keep those things lubed... A good thing to remember is, if the the hood doesnt pop up when you pull the thing, its not lubed good enough.....

[PoorManQ45]

Personally, I think you should get a 240 or an Altima.

It that directed towards me?

If so, I don't like altimas. They are to expensive and I just don't like them.

I kind of like 240s. Particularly the Non-hatchback models.

If anything, I'd get a Camero Z28 with a 350ci small block in it. stroke it to ~387, drop the compression to ~9:1. Give it some more gas and feed it 15lbs of boost from a twin-screw supercharger or two "small" turbos. And all that could be down for under ~$8k~$10k. And that's including the cost of the car. And then of course, i'd have to upgrade the transmission when it gives out.

[PoorManQ45]

What do you guys think about a not having a hood at all? This would definitly help with cooling. It would definitly decrease the aerodynamics though.

Another "stupid" idea.What about having a plexiglass hood? I could showcase the VH45DE engine.

Or, Wes suggested I make a hood out of wood. Maybe balsa, as it is light weight.

Opinions

[Jesda]

You want a hood. Prowl the salvage yards. Maybe if you find a black one it'll look like carbon fiber from afar.

I honestly think you'd have a blast owning a Camaro... unless there's snow on the ground.

[HeavyDuty]

If you're keeping the car, replace both hinges, they're cheap.

My car has a Buh-Wang on the PS corner of the hood from a broken hinge (prior to my ownership).

A piece of flat steel carefully welded to the hat channel where it mounts would prevent it from increased...er...creasing, just like the 73-88 Chevy truck.

[elwesso]

Or you could JBweld a metal plate like we discussed on IM.. Im a little scared of welding...

Epoxy or somehow attach something rigid under the fold...

[911/Q45]

[QUOTE=PoorManQ45]This really feels like the last straw for my Q45. I trying to fix the darn thing and something else breaks in the process . This freaking sucks. I am seriously considering junking this stupid thing.QUOTE]

Wow! Can this be the same guy that had the perfectly maintained and serviced Q? What happened to all his innovative ideas that superceded all corporate knowledge on this forum? I can hardly wait how he handles the rest of his life's problems!

[elwesso]

Wow! Can this be the same guy that had the perfectly maintained and serviced Q? What happened to all his innovative ideas that superceded all corporate knowledge on this forum? I can hardly wait how he handles the rest of his life's problems!

Sorry Brien.. Tryin to feel for you, but he just you

[maxnix]

I agree with Altiman, sell it and get some Detroit iron. So much better for the self tinkerer.

By the way, the hood folding is a designed crash deforming behavior. I wouldn't mess with "reinforcing" it or it may come through your windshield in a frontal crash because it didn't fold as designed.

Sorry the WD40 didn't work for lubricating the hinges, but that OEM lithium spray is so overpriced! Right, 911/Q45?

[squeefoo]

Take a picture and post it. I've fixed those before, it can't be that bad unless you really beasted on it. I leave mine open all the time, it keeps the mice from putting condos in the plenum. But I also keep everything lubed.

[pito11213]

Hey PMQ......That hood thing is on big deal. I have heard about it from people before. First do the lubrication thing and start closing the hood slowly from the sides. Those shocks are pretty damn strong. I totally understand what you mean about the Q's though. But everytime I hit the turnpike and hit 130 with ease, I feel better about my car. It makes me want to keep it and put the money into her.

You have the skills so just go ahead and fix the hood.

[Jesda]

Its strange... the Q is the ONLY car I've ever seen where -closing- it was a problem. On some of my cars, I've kept a broom in the trunk to keep the hood open.

I've had a couple 929s smack me hard on the head thanks to weak hydraulic arms.

-Jesda

[louiegz]

The hood problem isn't enough to get rid of the car, if it runs fine. Patch it up, close the hood and drive. If your getting sick of the Q, get an American pony car and save some cash on repairs. Seem like a car you'd enjoy to fix more. Cheaper parts and more mods. By the way, I love that new Mustang.

[PoorManQ45]

I really don't like the "shocks" that hold the Q45's hood open. I am thinking about taking them off and replacing them with a standard "stick" to hold it up.

Wow! Can this be the same guy that had the perfectly maintained and serviced Q? What happened to all his innovative ideas that superceded all corporate knowledge on this forum? I can hardly wait how he handles the rest of his life's problems!

Dude!!! Where did that come from? My Q45 is and was "perfectly" maintained. The engine has NEVER had a problem. All of the accessories are the things that fail. That is partially why I buy "cheap" replacements: so I can get a lifetime warranty. So when the accessory fails again, I don't have to pay anymore.

I agree with most of you guys when you say that the VH45DE is a solid engine. That is very true. But what good is an engine when everything connected to it fails? I mean, how is the engine going to run without a fuel pump? A water pump? That's my biggest problem with the Q45. I can deal with somethings failing (this happens on all cars), but I can't deal with it when 5 things fail at once. I know, the car is ~14 years old, and it is great that it has lasted this long. But if these failures continue, I will be forced to "kill" my Q45.

[Jesda]

Your Q is on its second life cycle, and you have to be willing to make the investment to freshen it up for another 10 years of service.

After a few grand, mine is finally ready for another 200k (need to do the plenum hoses soon). Despite some annoying fuel system problems, everything else is smooth sailing.

-Jesda

[PoorManQ45]

A piece of flat steel carefully welded to the hat channel where it mounts would prevent it from increased...er...creasing, just like the 73-88 Chevy truck.

That's what I was thinking about doing. Do you think JB Weld would be sufficient? Or should it be "normally" welded on? As Wes pointed out, wouldn't welding it cause the paint to peel/flake/warp?

When you say "hat channel" is that the "rail" that runs down both sides of the hood?

[PoorManQ45]

Will a 94 Q45 hood fit on a 92?

[louiegz]

Will a 94 Q45 hood fit on a 92?

Nope.

[HeavyDuty]

That's what I was thinking about doing. Do you think JB Weld would be sufficient? Or should it be "normally" welded on? As Wes pointed out, wouldn't welding it cause the paint to peel/flake/warp?

When you say "hat channel" is that the "rail" that runs down both sides of the hood?

You wouldn't be welding to the outer skin, just the "rail" reinforcement. I'd have to see pics to see if it's worth salvaging.

A "Hat Channel" looks just like an upside-down Top Hat. Yes, the rails. A "U" shape in the middle of a flat panel for reinforcement.

[90Q45blue]

The biggest question is the following:

"Are you enjoying all this work you are doing to your Q?"

See, guys like Wes love DIY work. I mean, Wes freakin volunteers to work on other people's cars. If you aren't enjoying the work, then it's really not worth it for you to keep at it IMO. I can understand your frustration with one thing breaking after another. That was my problem with my first Q. That's why I sold it and got a newer, better-maintained one. Seems like a different car is your best option.

That is unless, like I said, you enjoy all this work. Then keep at it.

Nick