Y33 project daily - 1999 Infiniti Q45

Picked up this car after finding someone to buy my 98 I30. I had become accustomed to the I30's nice ride after daily driving an S14 for over 8 years. But, I did miss the fun factor that the 240 had and wanted something I could enjoy more and keep as a new project that was not only RWD, but also a little different from my LS1 swapped S14.
 
I had my eyes on a 99 GS300, but figured I should check out the Q45 since it was local, bound to be cheaper, and I am a Nissan man at heart. I found my way to the garage where it was being kept only 15 miles from my house with just 3 hours left on the Ebay auction. I have to be honest in saying that I hadn't ever really seen a Y33 up close and didn't know much about them. But, when I saw this beauty, it was love at first sight. I didn't even have to test drive it (stupid, but hell, I was in love). Went home, waited for the final minutes of the auction, and with just a minute left, the auction (no reserve) was at just over $4k. I bid $6k, and soon was the proud new owner of this Black on Black 99 119k mile Q45 for just $5400.
 
Pics from the previous owner....
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/00b9_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/01c1_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/02ab_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/048e_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/0573_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/fd2b_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/fe37_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/ff85_3.jpg[/IMG]
 
Picked up a Cima grille and it's on (no pics yet) along with some 18% tint. Also have some S14 Rear Upper Camber Arms that are installed and some Toe arms waiting to go on.  I also lucked out and found an Apex'i N1 dual catback for an S14 (for $60) that I plan on cutting up and adapting to work on here.  After that, I'm thinking I need a few power mods perhaps (possibly a small wet shot of nitrous in case I run into an annoying ricer and don't have my LS14 to put him in his place.)
 
Will be putting on Espelir springs this weekend along with the Toe arms and just picked up these wheels (which are en route)...
 
Veilside Andrew Golt Dish...
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/VeildsideGolt.jpg[/IMG]
 
-19"x9.0" +24 LOW DISK
-19"x10.5" +18 SUPER LOW DISK
 
Still looking for tires...any suggestions?

wow! that thing looks like its in GREAT condition!!! even if there are some problems youre a nissan dude who probably has no problem gettin his hands dirty! hahaha have fun dude! nice comeup

Yeah, part of the reason I snatched it up is because it was damn near flawless.  Interior is 10/10, body is 9/10 (couple of small door dings, front bumper is a little beat up on the bottom), and paint is 8/10 (just needs a good detailing and a couple of blemishes attended to).
 
Been driving it for 3 months now and put over 10k miles on it.  Car is in really good shape and I'm loving it...just wish I had the money to really mod it (engine swap).

What a frickin deal! It's a beauty for sure. I've had mine like 4.5 years and still love it just as much as when I drove it home the first time.  You put more miles in 3 months than I put in 1 year lol!!!!!  Seriously, I put under 8k a year on mine since I've had it (4.5 years, right around 30k).  Can't wait to see it done up, congrats on a bargain for an awesome car.

That's a clean car for the monies. Good luck with the build!

damn ... Can't wait to see the wheels on the car and the new pictures ... great deal and you are just what all the newbies need to read , and study 
 
cheers to the car and te sick wheels .. I hope they have center caps too thou .. and yea if you run into problems later its nice to know its still a nissan at heart .. 
 
It would be nice to run toyota Rear Upper Camber Arms but nope its about 1600-2k for the lexus ;\:pat:

wattup Ls this is Ryan from the other forum (Nico) you find those center caps yet?

No luck on the centers...haven't really even been looking.  Still waiting on the wheels to arrive and trying to sell my house and find another at the same time.  All while trying to finish up an LS6 swap into an FD RX-7.  Not too much spare time :(

those wheels are sik

[quote=LS14;181805]
 
Still looking for tires...any suggestions?[/quote]
 
[CENTER][B][SIZE=7]:dance:[I]F[/I]ALKEN[/SIZE][/B]:dance:[/CENTER]

damn you guys have it good getting a car like that for that money. i sold my S13 which id dropped about 30k AUD on for $14k AUD and paid off some debt then got out a fresh lower-rate loan to get my 98 GS300 for $19,900 AU! we dont even have those Q45s or anything like that here in Aus... Nissan range is lame, the equivalent of that is probably the latest model Maxima which is FWD and probably runs out at aruond $25k+
 
so the moral is good buy, your in a better position probably to mod that than i am after getting out of my S-series car! ;)

[quote=DriftGirl;183281][CENTER][B][SIZE=7]:dance:[I]F[/I]ALKEN[/SIZE][/B]:dance:[/CENTER]
[/quote]
 
Haha...I was thinking more along the lines of what sizes.  I need something that's not a balloon, but at the same time, has a little bit of comfort since this is my daily.
 
9" wheel up front - Thinking about a 235/40/19 or 245/40/19 or 245/45/19 (to match the rear if I get a 275/40/19)
 
10.5" wheel in back - 275/40/19?? A little beefy I know, but it's very common and easy to find.
 
 
[quote=ant_jzs160;183289]damn you guys have it good getting a car like that for that money. i sold my S13 which id dropped about 30k AUD on for $14k AUD and paid off some debt then got out a fresh lower-rate loan to get my 98 GS300 for $19,900 AU! we dont even have those Q45s or anything like that here in Aus... Nissan range is lame, the equivalent of that is probably the latest model Maxima which is FWD and probably runs out at aruond $25k+
 
so the moral is good buy, your in a better position probably to mod that than i am after getting out of my S-series car! ;)[/quote]
 
Yeah, but you have Skylines so I don't want to hear it.  :p

235/40
 
and maybe a 255/45
 
i still have my s13 tire fitment at heart and need atleast a little streatch!
 
i got the jics yesterday, but didn't open the box yet. 
 
hope all goes well with the house hunting, and can't wait to see updated pics.
 
if you don't mind me asking, where did you find the wheels?
 
alex

[quote=nismornr;183320]235/40
 
and maybe a 255/45
 
i still have my s13 tire fitment at heart and need atleast a little streatch!
 
i got the jics yesterday, but didn't open the box yet. 
 
hope all goes well with the house hunting, and can't wait to see updated pics.
 
if you don't mind me asking, where did you find the wheels?
 
alex[/quote]
 
 
Might be too agressive for me, but I agree that I should probably run a bit of stretch...who knows.  I need to just find some super cheap tires in somewhat close sizes so I can get an idea and at least get it mobile with the new wheels (got them on Club Lexus).
 
Oh, just so you know when you open the box...I sprayed them with PB Blaster in case they were bound up...but I had no wrenches, so I never got a chance to try anything with them.

i still have 2 sets of wrenches from old coils!
 
wheels look great!

i would have thought for tight fitment that 35 series tyres were necessary?
 
As for Skylines, yeah we get them but theyre imports and theyre big heavy things anyway. you're not missing much! GT-Rs are nice though but i havent had much to do with them. i considered one instead of my current Lexus but didnt want to worry about a performance car and mechanical downtimes any more!

That's why you get both!  :p

awesome car, 
will be watching for progress updates!:biggthumpup:

OEM EVO RIMS, AADDDDVANNNSSSS!!! i loved falkens, got em on my Q now running Z rims on a G50 but those advans even on their last stretch of days WOULDN'T LET GO they were beastlly... good investment PROMISED! clean @ss prjkt btw! DAMN NICO FOREVER!!! we got 2(aaron)  of you now! haha!!!

Lets see some progress! Post some pics. jk yo take your time w the ride. Some people say time is money, but patients is the key imo. Good luck w everything!

The Y33 looks great dude! congrats on purchase! top colour!
 
Those rims look tasty, cannot wait to see them on the car!

can't wait to it with the wheels on

[quote=The Avalon;186320]Lets see some progress! Post some pics. jk yo take your time w the ride. Some people say time is money, but patients is the key imo. Good luck w everything![/quote]
 
Yeah, I ended up dumping a bunch of money into upgrades on my LS1 powered 240 so I've held off on the Y33 for now.  :(
 
Also trying to sell my house so haven't had much time to do anything.

I have a couple of questions...does anyone know if the R200s (rear diff pumpkin) in the G50s is interchangeable with the one in the Y33?  I have a G50 diff w/ the ~3.53 gears that I'm thinking about swapping in my Y33 to get a little better gas mileage, but I want to know if there are any slight differences that will make it more than just a bolt-in affair.  I know you can swap a J30 diff into an S13 or S14 very easily, but some diffs seem to have a smaller hole where it mounts to the subframe nearer the pinion or if maybe the cover had to be swapped in order to clear anything.
 
Also, when swapping to S14 front suspenion in a Y33, what have people done with the sway bar since it mounts to the strut body?  Is everything else pretty much a direct bolt-in?  For example, if I bought Megan Street coilovers like I have on my S14 for my Y33 (comes with the camber plates up top), all I would need is the S14 spindle, hub, lower control arm, and tension rod?  Will the stock S14 sway bar just bolt up or will it interfere with the subframe?  I guess I could just not run one and be fine.  Also, do I need to switch out the tie rods (inner and outer?) or can I just use the stock Y33 stuff?
 
Any help to these questions would be a big help!  Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=LS14;190007]I have a couple of questions...does anyone know if the R200s (rear diff pumpkin) in the G50s is interchangeable with the one in the Y33?  I have a G50 diff w/ the ~3.53 gears that I'm thinking about swapping in my Y33 to get a little better gas mileage, but I want to know if there are any slight differences that will make it more than just a bolt-in affair.  I know you can swap a J30 diff into an S13 or S14 very easily, but some diffs seem to have a smaller hole where it mounts to the subframe nearer the pinion or if maybe the cover had to be swapped in order to clear anything.
 
Also, when swapping to S14 front suspenion in a Y33, what have people done with the sway bar since it mounts to the strut body?  Is everything else pretty much a direct bolt-in?  For example, if I bought Megan Street coilovers like I have on my S14 for my Y33 (comes with the camber plates up top), all I would need is the S14 spindle, hub, lower control arm, and tension rod?  Will the stock S14 sway bar just bolt up or will it interfere with the subframe?  I guess I could just not run one and be fine.  Also, do I need to switch out the tie rods (inner and outer?) or can I just use the stock Y33 stuff?
 
Any help to these questions would be a big help!  Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]

To Answer your questions:

S14 LCA with 5 Lug ABS Spindle and Hub (i have some but not abs for sale)

Y33 Top Hats for the front and S14 Tophats for the rear . (bought 2 sets courtesy of winning ebay auction and buying yokotas)

You will need S14 front Coils and S13 Rear coils. (Just buy S13 Coils and widen the 12mm mount holes to 14mm)

Z32/S13/14 Tension Rods

S14 Tie Rod Ends  (I have some for sale $60 Shipped)

If you are going to use your stock Y33 Brakes you will need to drill out the spindles on the S14 Spindle to 14mm for the brake caliper mounts. If you go with Z32 brakes no need just bolt and go and use the Y33 Rotor is bigger by 1/2 inch.

To answer the swaybar questions you cannot use the factory sway bar unless you design and make a strong enough bracket for it...

Awesome information!  Thanks a lot man...I think that about covers it.

i can't believe i forgot you had these wheels! i just ordered some from upgarage too.

no problem you got pm

$4500 for serious? How much do Q's normally go for? I thought like 7-9. WOW!

I'm starting to write up my autotrader add right now so I can get a Q. I LOVE THEM!

[quote=gh0st;190766]$4500 for serious? How much do Q's normally go for? I thought like 7-9. WOW!
 
I'm starting to write up my autotrader add right now so I can get a Q. I LOVE THEM![/quote]
 
$5400, yeah.

[quote=LS14;181805]
 
Veilside Andrew Golt Dish...
 
[IMG]http://www.streetelite.net/pics/Cars/Q45/VeildsideGolt.jpg[/IMG]
 
-19"x9.0" +24 LOW DISK
-19"x10.5" +18 SUPER LOW DISK
 
Still looking for tires...any suggestions?[/quote]

just got mine in
19x9 +11 lo
19x11 +24 super lo

clean

That's really clean for the price! I want to see more pics of the car with the wheels and cima grille on. good luck with the project!

Thanks....I actually tried to test fit the wheels the other day with some cheap tires I picked up hoping that they would work.
 
Of course, they were way too big to fit.  The fronts were hitting the spring perch and the rear fenders were sitting on the tires...haha.  So....I put what were supposed to be the front wheels in the back and am rocking stockers up front at the moment.
 
I'm pretty sure that with the following tire sizes that everything will fit much better.  I've already installed the RUCA in the back and will be rolling the fenders once I decide on tires.  It's now lowered on Espelir springs and hopefully that will keep me happy until I piece together the S13/S14 suspension.
 
This is the plan...
 
225/40/19 up front on a 9" wheel
255/35/19 out back on a 10.5" wheel
 
Between that slight stretch, the fender roll, and just a little camber, I think everything will work out and I'll get some decent pics of it.  
 
I'm really itching to do an exhaust as well.  Picked up an S14 Apex'i N1 Dual exhaust for $60 so I think I"m going to hack it up and make it work.  Probably run 2.5" all the way to the manifolds...possibly two resonators inline.

thats fenna be a sickass setup... the fender rolls gona possibly barely make it. get down homie!=)

looks good so far