ratsar_nx

Some of you may remember my "in a hole, what should I do?" thread from a while back... Well, I spent a bit more money and got myself back into the Nissan family. It isn't a Datto (consider it a cousin), but the drive wheels are at the right end.... 1994 Infiniti Q45: It honestly doesn't look very exciting from the outside, but if you have a peek under the hood... ... You see a VH45DE: 4.5L V8 that Nissan rated at 278HP. That power gets sent to the rear wheels via VLSD :hyper: Luxury, power, Japanese quality and fun all in one package. Nothing brings a grin to my face quite like turning off the TCS and going sideways in the snow.

If the car was in good running order, it could probably go for about $2000. There is a used car dealership here in town who wants $6900 for one. I want to find out who their dealer is, because they've gotta be on the good stuff to ask that price. Rust you say? This is what I've patched with Bondo. The Legend is definitely a nice car. It's comfortable, drives nicely (especially given the mileage) and it has a strong engine. The only problem is, given my budget, I might end up in something similar again if I get rid of it and get something else. I've found a few options in the local classifieds., but I'll have to wait a few days until I pursue anything. This is the worst time of the year to have to worry about a car. :mad:

You guys have good points. At least I KNOW what's wrong with the one I have. I took the time to budget things out and it looks like #1 is probably about half what #2 would cost. Plus, I can consider it an educational opportunity. I've only taken heads off an engine, never back on, and never with an OHC design. My biggest concern with doing the head gaskets is that the C32A V6 in the Legend is all-aluminum, which worries me about head warpage and having them blow again. I didn't factor beer into my budget though... I need some way of convincing a friend or two to help me. :lol:

I need Ratsun's advice on my current car... After my old Nissan was no longer safe to drive, I got a '92 Acura Legend. Right now, I have about $2000 into it, including purchase price. I've had to do new pads and rotors all around as well as replace both rear calipers and the parking brake shoes. I also had to fill large rust holes in my rear rockers and wheel wells with bondo (used most of a small can). The car has about 342,000KM on it, which is about 212,000 miles. The CV joints have ben rattling since I bought it and the windshield is cracked. the car could also use an undercoating for the rust underneath. It looks like head gasket problems have just started on this car. I am currently weighing 3 options: #1 - Replace Head gaskets, timing belt, water pump, thermostat. Leave axles until later. #2 - Replace the engine with a 3.5L from an Acura RL (common swap for the Legend), along with drive axles. #3 - Replace the car What does Ratsun think is the best route to go?

Yeah, probably. :D The way I see it, I can freeze my arse off waiting for a bus or I can freeze it off on a bike. The bus is no faster and at least I'm moving to stay warm on the bike.

It's -21 here with windchill that makes it feel like -31. In Fahrenheit, that's -7 with wind chill to -24. When I rode my bike to work this morning, it was -24C (-11F) with wind chill to -31 (-24F). Some days I feel like I feel like i live in the frozen arsehole of the world. :(

The Ratsun Price was a bid of $750, for a total of $900 after taxes and auction fees. I did have to put $500 in brake parts into it right off the bat though. It has a 3.2L V6 in it, the power output quoted by Honda is 200HP. Quite the step up from the carbed E16 that dragged my ass around before :D The drive wheels are on the wrong end, but at least they put the engine in the right way. This car is going to be getting all the love it deserves now that it's in my hands.

After thinking about the rust issues I was having with my Pulsar (the structural rust thread from last Friday), I realized it was like your old dog who you love, but eventually gets really sick or hurt and you have to take to the vet for the last time (or behind the barn, depending where you're from). I went to the auto auction and left with this for a ratsun price: It's a 1992 Acura Legend sedan. While I got a deal, it does need some work. The brake pads and rotors need to be replaced all around and the rear right caliper is seized. The PO defintiely drove for quite a while with that siezed caliper because the pads were thicker on that wheel and the rotor was pitted with rust. :eek: The braking power with only 3 wheels working was still pretty good... gotta love 4 wheel disc brakes She might be newer but she still has personality... I think right now she's testing me out to see if I will take good care of her because she wants someone to care for her after her last owners :lol: By the way, if anyone is interested in buying a 1986 Pulsar, let me know ;)

It doesn't have to be pretty, but it would have to stand up to snow and salt. I'm pretty sure that's why it rusted out in the first place... snow filled with sand and salt wedged between the shock and the body. Also, there is some rust penetration in the body further down which must have let some moisture in.

I missed your first post when I posted my reply, 510freak. The possibility of retiring my beloved N12 is there in my head, as much as I like the car. After all, if I fix the wheel wells, what's going to break next? Depending on the welding patch job, it might not be safe even if I do repair it. I had a look at that '86 Pulsar on Saskatoon kijiji... That guy is asking too much for it, IMO. If it does get replaced, I'm definitely going Japanese, maybe European if I could get a good deal. Ideally, if I do get a replacement, it would be another Nissan or Datsun.

I know it's anything but safe... it's not the full coilover mounting there though. The N12 has a trailing arm rear suspension. The spring meets the body further underneath and it's just the shock that mounts to the body in the location you see in the picture. If the panel did decide to give out, I wouldn't be losing all support on that corner, but it would definitely be a bad thing.

Today I decided to take out the panels inside my trunk to try and fix the remote release for my gas door. As with nearly every car project, what seems like a small job ends up turning into something way bigger. I took the trunk liner panels out and found some rather serious rust problems. This is what the right side looks like.: The hole is bigger now after pulling off some of the rusted metal This is the left side: After removing some of the rust, there is a hole there almost as big as my fist. This is on an '86 Pulsar, which is a unibody car. Given the location of this rust, does that look like a structural area to anyone else? What is the best way to deal with this? I do not own a welder or have access to one. I do know one person who I can ask, but I don't know if they would be willing to help me or not. All of this would involve welding directly over the gas tank and the filler neck is about a foot away from where you would be welding on the right side, just out of view in the first picture. The other option I'm considering is to remove all the rusty metal and patch with fiberglass.

Looks like fun :D What sort of work have you done to the E16 in that car? In its stock form that engine is defnitely not a powerhouse by any means of the imagination.

Here's my mid 70's Peugeot UE-8, 90% original: I ride it to work every day and I love it. It's definitely not a lightweight bike at all, with a steel frame, fenders and a cargo rack. I'm willing to take the weight since the fenders keep me dry when the streets are damp and the cargo rack lets me carry so much more. Plus, it's all shiny chrome :cool: Once you get used to a road bike, you don't really want to ride anything else when you're going by pavement. I'm going to try and commute by bike this winter so I'll have to switch to a mountain bike when it starts to snow.

I'll have to upload pics of mine when I get home this evening. I ride a mid 70s Peugeot UE-8 road bike to work everyday. Chrome fenders, generator, lights, cargo rack and leather saddle :D. It's all original except for the tires (still on the original Michelin tubes tho), LED tail light and speedometer that I added.