35's are a Go!

[sleeper00]

And it begins...

Some type of 315/75/16 is in route by next week!!!


Right now I'm at about 4"-5" of lift. I'm planning to run 35's with no body lift. My reasons are simple. A body lift will raise my center of gravity, and i'm all about performance, not height. In the front I'm cutting fenders so I can stuff the tires. Pics and a mini "how to" below. In the rear I'm going to change around some things in the future. I'm planning to go with revolver shackles along with a custom 4.5" pack and a center limiting strap. I'm also planning to re-align my lower shock mounts and raise them 1"-2" to compensate for down travel since the pack should give me another inch or so in the back, but for now I shouldn't have any problems fitting these monsters.

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Quick How To: Trimming Fenders!


Before the Trimming

This was actually very easy, just requires patience. You will need:
- Angle Grinder w/ metal cutting wheels
- Painters Tape (for making your lines)
- Dremel with a grinding stone (for cleaning the cuts up)
- Some sand paper (200 grit) to further clean the cuts
- a sponge (for dabbing the paint onto the bare metal)
- touch up paint or bedliner
- weather stripping (to keep her clean)
- a BFH to handle the pinch seam


Step 1: Tape it off

Step 2: Cut off the fender


Short Video:



Pieces cut off (notice I cut them off in segments, it's easier that way):

Pic after cutting:

Step 3: Dremel your cuts to clean the lines up, the use the sand paper to finish it off


Pic of Pres making it look easy:

Step 4: Smash the ever loving piss out of the pinch seam to bend it back


Looks like this after your done:

I painted the exposed metal:

Step 5: Paint the exposed metal on the fender


Again, Pres doing his thing!

Close up:

Step 6: Place weather stripping along the new fender line to clean it all up!

Step 7: Enjoy your new look!

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Leaf Packs

Originally, I was running a PRG AAL Kit on my stock packs. I wanted more lift so I purchased a Nisstec AAL which started the Franken Pack (essentially a 3 Leaf AAL setup). My packs were holding some lift pretty well, but didn't feel stable in the rear. I contacted R&H Spring in Wall, NJ. They took my stock leaf pack, re-arched it and added another leaf under the main leaf. I then added the 3 AALs to the fresh rebuilt pack which lifted me up to 41" of fender height with the 33's!

Pic of the stock leaf pack rebuilt by R&H (No pics of the pack with the added AALs)

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Tires

I went with 35" Cooper STT's

next to the 33" MTZs

35's are on. I ended up going to a local spot to snap some pics

I couldn't get a complete stuff on the tires, but you can see...they fit like a glove!

 

[drbandkgb]

Good luck sir... Im not a fan of retreads.. I've seen way to many all over the roads..
From what I know of these tires .. They are very loud.. But the tread pattern is good off road.

Over all I get that 35" tires are high.. So I can see why the need to go there.



Look forward ti seeing some pix..

 

[Macland]

Sounds like a plan man. Pics are definitely in order.

 

[joel]

Welcome to the club.
I have been running these exact tires (+kedge grip) since April last year.
They can be loud on the road and have pretty significant vibes, but that is such with any aggressive MT tires.
These tires seem pretty skinny compared to most other 315/75/16s, which isn't a problem for me.

I also am not running a body lift. Fiberglass up front and a little hammering in the rear, still have a little rub but nothing significant to worry about.

All in all they are a great value and you should not be disappointed.

 

[sleeper00]

Thanks for the input guys.

Joel, out of curiosity, what did you do to the rear fender well in terms of hammering?

Sent from my DROIDX

 

[SnickerDoodle]

Woot! New tires!!! I can't wait to see the beast!

I'm very happy with my Guard Dogs. They have been on for about 4 months so far so good. They are a bit of the high pitch sound rather than a low rawr, but other than that i love em! If they have been wearing I don't notice so therefore they are wearing evenly.

 

[sleeper00]

OP Updated w/ fender cutting pics.

Also, I cancelled my order with treadwright due to the fact that they do not warranty any of their 35" tires! An email response from management:

"315/75/16's are not covered under our Limited Warranty since they are sold for off-road use only."

Their reasoning (which they explained to me on the phone) is that buyers tend to air the tires down which can compromise the tires.

So now I am ordering some 35" Duratracs due to many recommendations from members of the forum and I got them for a ssssiiiccckk price!

 

[SnickerDoodle]

Man that sucks about the treadwrights but I don't blame ya!

Im glad ya got a sweet deal on the Duratracs! I can't want to see how they look on that beast of a truck!

 

[sleeper00]

Thanks dani, I do love the way the duratracs look and reviews say nothing but awesome things about them.

Sent from my DROIDX

 

[drbandkgb]

Duratracs are great.. If its a dd and light wheeling I say go for it.. But go with e rated.. I've cut 2 side walls on the c rated and seen one more cut of another rig. As to the all MT tires are loud .. Not true. I ran km2s and they were as loud as my current Duratrac tires.. Light hum ..

 

[drbandkgb]

Oh and if treadwright will no warranty 35s because of air down issues.. Makes me think the 33s shouldn't be aired down. I know I have read warnings on their site about it.. I just don't see the savings in those I guess

 

[SnickerDoodle]

Hey Winnebago.. what did you use for the trim, the weather striping that is? I'll on the hunt to find something to finish off my bumper.

 

[RATTFINK]

Looks freakin awesome man!! The X is MEAN!

 

[sleeper00]

Thanks for the complements and info guys. Ask Hoagie about the trim Dani, He's the one who found it.

 

[SnickerDoodle]

I thought the background was his place! lol Thanks will do!

 

[sleeper00]

Op updated

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jmac289gt]

Looking sweet man, I want to see a good picture of this thing in your build thread all finished up sir.

 

[sleeper00]

No worries. Its coming along with some flexi shots!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[sleeper00]

New Pics Updated in the first post!

 

[mudchet]

Hi guys,

I have taken the plunge and put 35" 's on my rig. I now have some rubbing that needs to be addressed before NXM3. Below are some pictures. I have a 5" Calmini suspension lift w/ no body lift. I would prefer to not do a body lift, I don't want the truck any higher up than it is already.

So my questions for the group and Sleeper are:

1. When trimming, did any important parts of the truck need to be relocated. I know the evap canister is directly behind the left rear wheel. Is there enough space there to trim and not have to worry about the canister?

2. Sleeper you said you put weatherstripping on the edges that you cut. Could you show some close ups of that? I would like to put a nice rubber/plastic edge trim on the fender for a clean look and so I don't cut myself. Not sure where to get this stuff. Links, part numbers wanted please.

3. Has anybody put fender flares on their X? What is the skinny on flares? Who makes good ones?


Thanks!


mudchet

 

[Xado89]

Mudchet,

I'm pretty sure you can pick the weatherstripping up at a hardware store or auto parts store. It's a rubber or sometimes Vinyl material with a track filled with glue/resin that you just press the edge into. I got a 25ft roll of it from Advance Auto Parts when I did my hitch flip mod for the metal edges on my bumper. I think another name is "Trim Guard"

This is what I used on my bumper.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...e-blk-cowles_10064174-p?searchTerm=trim+guard

Fender flare wise, there are some limited options form what I've seen. Cheap rubber extensions from JC whitney. Or could go all out and get pre-runner style fenders. I personally don't know if like Bushwhacker has a style for Xterra or not.

 

[mudchet]

Good stuff. Thanks Xado

Mudchet,

I'm pretty sure you can pick the weatherstripping up at a hardware store or auto parts store. It's a rubber or sometimes Vinyl material with a track filled with glue/resin that you just press the edge into. I got a 25ft roll of it from Advance Auto Parts when I did my hitch flip mod for the metal edges on my bumper. I think another name is "Trim Guard"

This is what I used on my bumper.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...e-blk-cowles_10064174-p?searchTerm=trim+guard

Fender flare wise, there are some limited options form what I've seen. Cheap rubber extensions from JC whitney. Or could go all out and get pre-runner style fenders. I personally don't know if like Bushwhacker has a style for Xterra or not.

 

[bischofnt]

looks good!