Nd4SpdSe's "Xtent". '03 SE S/C MT

[Nd4SpdSe]

Nd4SpdSe's "Xtent" '03 SE S/C 5spd + "Frontrailer"

Hi, my name is Mike. I'm born and raised in Ontario, Canada (Niagara region) but I joined the army just under 4 years ago and am currently posted and living in Quebec City, Quebec for the last 2.5 years.

I picked up my Xterra in May 2008. Actually, I wanted some sort of 4x4 truck as my first car, which ended up being a Mazda Mx-3 that I bought in April 2002). Although I was looking for a truck here and there, I didn't really know what I wanted, but I was looking at the 05+ Tacoma's or a Ranger. A worn throttle cable got stuck and blew the motor in the Mx-3 in fall 2007. That January I actually had a line on a '96 Pathfinder, but that fell through, however looking into Pathfinders, I did come across info on the Xterra. I was driving my parents '02 Escape during that time, which I really liked, but wasn't what I wanted/needed; I needed a real truck, something tough and off-road capable with real 4WD and decided that I didn't need specifically a pickup truck; I have no real need for a bed. Not long later I went to to a friend's place to pickup an Mx-3 manual trans and he had just gotten his Xterra. From there it just clicked. Although I didn't know what was exactly wrong with the Mx-3 at the time, I figurd that it was a good idea to finally get my truck and take my time on the Mx-3 and do what I want. Unfortunately the Mx-3 was retired because it was just too costly to get her back on the road with not only a new (and better) KLZE motor (an all-motor build was planned) and underbody starting to rust through. I parted her out and picked up a *MINT* 2004 Mazda Rx-8 in 2011, but was definitely be keeping the Xterra. The hard part will be deciding on which vehicle to spend money on....

2003 Nissan Xterra SE Supercharged - 4x4 & 5-Speed

Purchased Milleage:
73'000kms (May 2008)
Current Milleage:
128'000 (March 2010)
174'000 (January 2013)
192'000 (January 2014)
200'000 (January 2015)
220'000 (January 2016)
RTI Test:
Total Score of 905. Front: 384, Rear: 521 (2013)
Mods:
Performance
- Resistor Mod (Replaces the Knock Sensor Relocation)
- NGK Iridium Spark Plugs
- Doug Thorley Headers
- 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Catless
- Volant Intake
- Supercharged AT Radiator (MT's come with the NA rad apparently)

Tires & Rims:
- 33/12.5 GoodYear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar on Frontier Desert Runner 15" rims + Spare (Off-Road)
- 265/70 Hercules Avalanche X-Treme SUV + Studded on 17" SE/SC rims (Winter)
x 32/11.5 GoodYear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar on Pathfinder 15" rims (Off-Road
x 31/10.5 Yokohama Geolanger I/T on Pathfinder 15" rims (Winter)
x 265/65 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A on 17" SE/SC rims (Summer)

Suspension:
- 2" Body Lift
- Grassroots4x4 Center Link
- Rear Sway Bar Removed
- Idler Arm Brace
- SLR Upper Control Arms
- Revolver Shackles
- Rancho 9000XL Front Shocks
- Bilstein 5150 Rear Shocks
- Low Profile Pump Stops
- Heavy Duty Torsion Bars
- Heavy Duty Tie Rod Adjusters
- Military-Wrap Leaf Springs
- Rear Shocks Relocation / Inbound Shocks
- Extended Rear Brake Line
x Rancho RS900XL Rear Shocks(Junk. 3 sets in a year and a half)

Armor:
- Shrockworks Engine, Trans and T-Case Skid Plates
- Reinforced Brush Guard
- Custom Rear Bumper
- Shrockworks Sliders
- Leaf Spring UB Skidderz
- Transistion skid from the frame to the forward leaf spring hanger

Exterior:
- Titan Winch 10'000lbs w/In-Cabin Controls
- Nissan Pathfinder/Navara Hardbody Snorkel
- Firestick CB Antenna
- High-Lift with Lock on Roof Rack (Clears the RTT!)
- Tail Light Guards
- Factory mud guards removed
- Factory Class III Hitch
- Headlight Trim And Grill Painted Black
- Rear Differential Breather
- Receiver mounted level fold-down spare tire carrier
- Under truck spare tire is still there
x SuperWinch LP8500

Interior:
- Heated Front and Rear Seats w/Nissan OEM Switches (Pathfinder/Maxima)
- Auto-Dim Rear View Mirror
- Lotek A-pillar gauge pod w/Boost & Oil Pressure gauges
- Volt gauge mount on lower right of dash
- Motomaster 1500w A/C inverter under the passenger seat & outlet in the rear cubby hole
- Sgt_Logo Shelf Mod
- Fire Extinguisher mounted on top of the factory sub trim panel
- Nissan All-Weather Floor Mats
- Deeper Center Dash Cubby Hole from a Frontier (Since the OEM amplifier is no longer there)
x Vector 1200w AC Inverter (Died Submerged In Water)
x Motomaster 1750w Inverter (Just Died One Day)

Entertainment
- Pioneer Premier 980BT Head Unit
- Claron Tweeters, 6.5" front speakers and 6x9 rear speaker driven from the head unit.
- PAC SWI-PS Steering Wheel Controls Interface
- Custom CarPC install mounted above the glovebox with 7" LCD
- Cobra 18WXSTII CB radio mounted under the head unit
- Rear Seat Headrest TV's
- Pioneer 10" Slim Subwoofer in OEM Enclosure powered by a Pioneer 700w Amp.

Electrical
- 165amp GM Marine Alternator
- Dual Optima Yellow Tops (in OEM location) using PAC 200amp Isolator
- Heated Driver's Side Mirror (Triggered with Rear Defrost) (Passenger mirror will happen eventually)
- Block Heater
- Clutch Bypass Switch
- Fog Light Highbeam-Off Bypass
- LED Brake, 3rd Brake, Reverse, License Plate, Side Marker and Parking Lights (from VLEDs.com)
- Side Marker Inverse Flash to Signal Lights Mod
- 4300K Hi/Lo HID kit.

Future Mods
- 42" spot and flood combo LED light bar (To Be Installed)
- White Underbody (Offroad/Work) lights (To Be Installed)
- Megasquirt Engine Management System (To Be Installed, But Need Intercooler First)
- Laminova Intercooler x 3 (Need SC Plenum and Supercharger for measurements)
- Differential Drop Bushings (To Be Installed One Day Maybe)
- Shrockworks Fuel Tank Skid Plate
- Electric Fan w/Shut Off
- 2.3" Supercharger Pulley (Not Before Intercooler)
- 300ZX (Z31) or JWT Cams
- Front and Rear ARB Lockers
- Transfer Case Crawler Gears

2001 Nissan Frontier SE - "Frontrailer"
https://www.facebook.com/NissanFrontrailer

Purchased Milleage:
350'000kms
Original Configuration:
- 3.3L V6, Automatic, 4x4
- Crew Cab, Short Box w/Tonneau Cover
- Cranked T-Bars + Old Man Emu leaf springs on adjustable shackles

Tires & Rims:
- 32x11.5 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar on Pathfinder 15" Rims

Suspension:
- Old Man Emu Leaf Springs
- Adjustable Shackles
- Shockless, For Now

Exterior:
- Reinforced Tonneau Cover
- Original Roof Rack mounted to the Tonneau Cover
- 4x Princess Auto 280lb 12" Linear Actuators to lift the cover
- Under-body spare tire on factory winch
- Firestick CB Antenna
- Class III Hitch
- Titan Winch's Roof Top Tent
- Sunday Campers WA02 Awning
- OEM Frontier Fuel Tank

Interior:
- The old roof makes up a temporary floor since the original floor is significantly rusted out

Entertainment
-

Electrical
- 2-wire to 3-wire trailer lights adapter to separate the signal lights from the brake lights to use the Frontier's amber signal lights
- 1x Battery charged by the 7-pin trailer harness.

Future Mods
- Electric-to-Hydraulic drum brake actuator
- Parking brake
- New floor pan, body work and a new paint job
- Storage box up front
- Inboard shocks
- New tires and rims matching those on the Xterra
- New rear bumper (properly align the original one in the meantime)
- Support Legs
- Kitchen

 

[Cruecible]

Sweet rig man! I love that rear suspension mod! You have any more pictures of the rest of the mods you did? Looks like you've done quite a bit

 

[Roadwarrior]

Welcome in sir, what an epic intro this has been. I am a really big fan of the direction you are going with this. I have heard recent news that the diff drop is not worth the effort, I know Luke (xterror04) recently did it and only dropped his diff by 3/8", not worth the hours it took to install. I am not saying that you shouldn't do it, but a few guys on here have done it and you could learn through them if it is worth it.

Also do you have a write up on the heated seats? That is something I believe people are going to want to see. I know I would.

 

[xterraminator]

He sweet rig, all the nice mods done to it. How do you like those rear shackles? I have always wanted to try them for more flex. Welcome to the forum and post more pics as you do mods.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

 

[Xado89]

Some serious mods, man! I'm pretty jealous of the dual battery setup!
How does the X ride with your shocks set up like that? I'm guessing a little more body roll on cornering and of course way more flex.

Looks great!

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Thanks guys! Life hasn't been easy for the last 5 year or so, but I've concentrated on the smaller mods, but mods I wanted to do anyway, so I picked here and there on them. I'm 3-4 years behind on where I wanted her to be, but she wouldn't of ended up being built the way I have her done, which honestly, I'm glad turned out this way.

I've got plenty of pics. I have a habbit of documenting all I do, especially since on some mods there isn't any, or some of the mods are a first, and I'm not one to hold back info just to keep my rig more unique...I'm all for adding functionality to a vehicle and passing on info to help others get the most of their Xterra.

I kinda do agree. I just haven't been bothered with the work involved for the diff-drop yet...as you said, I'm discouraged by the work involved, but the front axles don't spin unless your in 4WD anyway, so it doesn't hurt them to sit there, and for the relatively little miles you put on them, I doubt they'll be wearing quickly anyway. They'll be installed eventually, but I don't feel a rush to do them just yet.

I don't have much for a write-up on the heated seats...yet. I did them about 5 years ago, but I've got a buddy who has a set literally in shipping, so when they arrive, guess who'll be installing them...lol. No matter, it's an easy job, but I want to take that as an opertunity to properly document that mod.

I love the shackles. I was on a BL+PML for 3 years and finally did a real suspension liff/mod last spring. I got custom military-wrap leafs done, the Revolvers of course, and took out the overload leaf. The flex in the rear is awesome and I love it. The shop that did the mod asked me to do the RTI test and he sais he's given out 1st places to scores around 800-850 in the past. He even took pics to post on his site. She's definitely more loose in the back, but it's not that bad. She's my DD and she drifts in the snow just fine as well. People not used to driving in my truck or people following behind get nervous at my body roll in the corners And I swear my turning radius has decreased as well.

As for the direction, thanks you! it's as no offence to anyone, but I find done up Xterra's too much of a cookie-cutter between them, so I'm trying my own things, and new things in the process. I'm trying to keep my X looking in the manner that it's stock, but looks more aggressive, almost in the sence that it's a sleeper until she hits the trails. Mods are all designed to be functional as well and give her some style. Like my brush guard and rear bumper are literally in progress, I actually have to go for a refit/test on the rear bumper tonight. I know the brush guard is a highly-discourage mod/accessory, but I'm looking at changing that, especially since it's installed on a truck with a BL.

My Volant and Hardbody snorkel are planned to be installed this coming March break.

 

[bigjim247365]

very cool Xterra you have there. thats a lot of hours you put into it too. awesome!

 

[DC xterra]

sweet rig! tell me more about the rear leaf springs and shock setup

 

[Prime]

Loving the heated everything!

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Thanks. I love it, it's kinda needed up here in the "great white north", especially this winter was probably one of the consistantly coldest ones I've seen and I've been told about (only being in Quebec for two and a half years), where the average temp hovered around -25 with many days of -30. I have a block heater but never tested it since I've owned the truck, or never had the need until I moved up here. With a remote starter I don't think about it too much. She starts up fine with a single battery, but if she ever needed a few extra CCA's, I'll switch on the 2nd battery. Never got stranded once because she couldn't turn over. I had an intermitent issue with that for a bit earlier in the winter, but figured it was either the clutch switch or the interlock relay. Took apart the switch and swapped the relay with the one for the fogs (since it's the same) and she hasn't done it since. I can't wait to get the passenger side heated mirror done; honestly I love how well it works and how convinient it is. I thought about seeing how possible it would be to put in a heated Maxima steering wheel. More curious if the splines fit and how close the clock springs are.

Gotta love the Xterra, can get me through the worse of the worst

sweet rig! tell me more about the rear leaf springs and shock setup

The military-wrap leaf springs were an idea that kind of culminated together between being in the army and one of the members of the CNTC crew breaking a leaf while down at ECXC. I really couldn't find any information on anyone doing a military-wrap on an Xterra, and even just about military-wraps in general information was hard to find, so I just went mostly with ideas and theories, and figured I've give it a try and adjust it from there. Concept was that it would give me a way to limp home if I ever broke a main leaf. Also with having 2 primary leafs, that I should be able to get rid of my overload leaf, which would also give me more flex since that one is a pretty heavy-duty leaf. It's true though, I've loaded up the truck completely with camping gear, boxed of wood being completely at the back, and she sat just a tad lower than the front, so I was happy.

The inboard shock was a solution to see about solving on why I kept blowing shocks. We had come to also realise that my Skidderz and thin leaf pack (only have 3 leafs because of the "efficiency" of my setup) robbed me of a few inches that were maybe causing the shocks to bottom out. While that may of been the case, in the end, it still didn't stop the Rancho 9000's from blowing out within a week (for the 3rd time) even after the inboard stock setup was done. They have since been replaced by Bilsteins 5150s and have been holding up well since I replaced those pieces of garbage, even with now having a steel bumper. I sent a long e-mail to Rancho with my experience with them, but never heard back. Legally it's allowed to do that modification (here anyway), but the crossmember needs to be bolted and not welded.

While doing a post, I'll just post up a quick update of mods. The snorkel installed and new LED tail lights. HID kit went in last night, but one light lasted a few minutes, the other doesn't work after last night. I'm hoping it's just a wiring issue, it shouldn't be, the install is stupidly easy, but I really did it quick since I haven't had headlights for gotta be close to a month now, but it should still be ok to go for while even with my quickie installation. What I also found weird is that the Hi-Lo is backwards; that's either a problem with the wiring of the kit itself, or just how it works with the Xterra reflector. The truck was suppose to go in to get the brush guard redone to sit right, and the hitch on the rear bumper, this week or next week, but I haven't heard back from the place. Essentially no rush, but I am anxious to see the final look of the truck with the snorkel on and the brush guard sitting right with my 32's on. My MTR's just got rebalanced and they called today saying they're done. I brought them some balancing beads, and despite their confidence with being able to balance anything under a 37 with just weights, I guess they needed to use them. No matter, as long as it works.

Next step is to work on figuring out a system to mount my roof lights, and also working on a custom fold-down trailer hitch spare tire carrier concept. I want to make a wood prototpe to see if my idea works, and get the fab shop to make it in metal afterwards, since I don't have any welding abilities or capabilities

 

[yellowx16]

Love the body color snork! Truck looks great!

 

[DC xterra]

did you have to make a bracket fot the upper part of the mounting spot for the shocks? i like the idea alot ive seen ppl rip the off the stock mounting spot way to many times

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

did you have to make a bracket fot the upper part of the mounting spot for the shocks? i like the idea alot ive seen ppl rip the off the stock mounting spot way to many times

They made up a crossmember for that part

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

The snorkel adapter is just about finished. It's been long since I can only work on it during the weekends at the mother-in-laws garage, and that"s if there's nothing going on on the weekends so I have time. I've got a few other issues to dea with first before installing it, like finding out this weekend I have a broken (original) primary leaf and my HID kit is defective and needs to get exchanged.

And the progress pics of the adapter

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

No mods until I'm done with repairs :S A loosened revolver lead me to the bolt siezed in a bushing which lead me to a broken leaf. With my old leafs carried over, I'm now running 4 leafs instead of 3, which should help against axle wrap and hopping of the rear end.

I've got an ABS light on now, which I'm hoping it's something that happened when working on the rear and not another wheel bearing up front...

 

[TJTJ]

Wow, your butt looks almost exactly like mine, and your reasons for doing it like that were almost exactly the same as my reasons.

(Butt meaning your rear shocks with relocated mounts)

I just have different Bils, and, more leaves (As I carry a lot of equipment for work), and I cut off the bolt threads facing down from the leaf pack U-Bolts so they don't catch on stuff.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Wow, your butt looks almost exactly like mine, and your reasons for doing it like that were almost exactly the same as my reasons.

(Butt meaning your rear shocks with relocated mounts)

I just have different Bils, and, more leaves (As I carry a lot of equipment for work), and I cut off the bolt threads facing down from the leaf pack U-Bolts so they don't catch on stuff.

Lol, I know. Check your PM in CX

I got the info from the shop that suggested the mod as a fix for my shock issue and showed me it on a customers SAS'd X that was in their lot. I had never seen or known about it until before until then. And in researching I came across you and your truck, and got plenty of info from you for them to do it on mine.

With my 3 leafs, I've loaded it fully with camping gear and wood and the RTT and she just leveled out. You must really carry some heavy stuff! I'm sure the Mil-wrap leaf helps the main leaf a lot. We'll see now with 4 (and a brand new main leaf) I hope it stops the hopping when I drift in the snow; guess I'll have to wait until winter U-bolts are cut, I just procrastinate cause I hate doing it.

I'd like to follow your setup as well with the shocks, but so far, the 5150's have surpassed the Rancho's by like 50x, so we'll see if and when I do that. I've got a big list of other things I get to before that, so I'll probably only change from them if and when they need to be replaced for a reason or another.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Well I have an ABS light on pretty much since I changed the rear leafs, but I need to verify to see if by chance another wheel bearing up front, again.

Fed up with my Pathy rims, I managed to find a set of 5 Desert Runner rims. They're paid for, but they're in Ontario. I'll be picking those up either at the end of the month, or mid-July, we'll see how it goes. I want to get them powdercoated a semi-gloss black.

The shop called for me to drop off my truck on Monday. It's to fix the fitament of my brush guard and the trailer hitch. They also want to use my truck for measurements/fitament for a production version of a rear bumper for the X. At the same time, I'll be getting them to fix a broken front sway bar mount, and I'm thinking I'll get them to make some kind of skids for the front leaf pack mounts; I've found the transition from the frame, or lack there of, is too agressive and if they had a nice angled slide it would help, just in case. I've also been working on a custom trailer hitch tire carrier. I'll probably drop-off those sketches at the same time. It doesn't need to be done right away, but get them idea over to them at least to check it out and get some feedback.

I'm working on a make-shift thingy so I can put my RTT on by myself. Nothing fancy, just cheap and functional out of wood.

 

[Muadeeb]

Pull the codes and find out for sure.

You can do that by grounding pin 9 (top right) with one of the pins in the bottom middle and turn the key to ON (do not start)

Codes are read as number of long blinks, then number of short blinks. A '12' would be LONG-SHORT-SHORT, while a '42' would be LONG-LONG-LONG-LONG-SHORT-SHORT. All codes will start with a '12', so if that's all you get, then its all fine. The codes will also repeat 3 times.

 

[Lenn]

Awesome rig man!

Just curious as to why you used the non-sc DT headers? I've not seen anyone designate the difference between the sc/na headers. Is there a difference?

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Wow, awesome, thanks for the ABS info! I can't wait to try that!

Thanks Lenn! Actually there are no S/C headers. I was curious on why you asked, but I guess recently that AC put a listing for their headers for Non-SC and SC, but if you look at the part number, they're the same. For years they were advertised as non-supercharged headers, but in the end, there is no difference except for the fact that the S/C doesn't use an EGR, so you plug that off, that's really it.

 

[GPD605X]

Nice!

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Picked up my truck this week from getting a few things done:

- Readjusted Brush Guard so that it sits right
- Readjusted 2" Receiver on the rear bumper cause it looked weird hanging 4" off the rear bumper. Rather than flush mounting it, they left just enough to squeeze in a pin hole for accessories like my bike rack of a spare tire carrier, as well as one at the proper distance inside for a trailer hitch. I wasn't expecting that, but I did want it flush, but I'll take it, it'll be convinient forsure.
- Forward leaf hanger skids, cause while she's in there.
- New front sway bar mounts; one was broken, the other tearing off...

Picked up up a set of 5 Desert Runners rims! I'm however going to get them powdercoated a semi-gloss black. I picked them up from the owner on last Friday and had to do a swap with my parents for them for my mountain bike sinc e we had limited room in the van I was in. The rims are coming back with my parents the end of next week than I'll look at dropping then off to the powdercoater.


I had also dropped off my plans for my tire carrier. They loved the idea and plans, so I'm anxious to see the outcome. I had a week of working the duty desk, so that was what kept me busy during that long and boring week, but in the end, I'm glad I did, cause I needed that much time, especially with making dorrections. He slowly started to put it in CAD, but there's no rush on getting that done, as much as I'm anxious for it. I just wish I had metal fab/welding abilitites and capabilities to do it myself.

Put the RTT on the truck last night for a camping/wedding event this weekend.

 

[Prime]

Nice idea on the spring mounts! I might have to steal that!

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

No problem Was a little something on my to-do list for the last few years. It's always a pain when you get caught on them or hut them hard because of the abuptness of the design. Decided to get it done while she was on there, considering the "free/warranty" work for the bumper and brush guard, at least they can make a few bucks off me me while the trucks in there

 

[Davcos]

Looks good. Enjoy my old rims

 

[metzican]

Is that a duel hing on the rear tire carrier?

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Is that a duel hing on the rear tire carrier?

Ya, it`ll be hitch mounted, level fold-down, tire carrier.

Been working on the truck, trying to get some progres done, and especially some stuff that`s been on the list for far too long....
- Repaired the front side markers. The bulbs were broken inside, the connector corroded, and so was the harness (that nice black corroded copper), so I wired up my own. Although only the drivers side is done at the moment, I'll be doing the passenger side shortly. I couldn`t put in my new LED bulbs because the sockets were no good. I picked up some new Ford sockets for $2 at CarQuest and just needed some slight tweeking to get them to fit in the Nissan side markers. I also threw in a relay so they would reverse flash with the signal lights while I was at it. Later I'd like to have them flash with the signal lights as well, but I'll have to make a smaller package with smaller relays rather than automotive relays since it would need 2 relays per bulb for that to work.

- Painted my rear plastic bumper pieces as well as put a few coats of Tremclad on the rear bumper itself so it doesn't rust. The finish the shop used last time started to rust through in weeks. I started the plastic mudguard on the fenders, they just need another coat. I`ll get to the rest of the plastics as I can.

- Put a 7-pin trailer connector on the right one cause I didn`t have the heart to drill into my new bumper to put it as I wanted to in the first place. No controller yet, but it`s there for when.

- Repaired my rear plate light, cause why? I don`t know, but the wiring was messed with and cut, where the lights were in series on the ground line only, and the power like was cut and just sitting there unused. I have no idea why, when or who did this, but it definitely wasn`t me.

- Winch was pulled out. It hasn`t been working this year. I assume there`s a short in the motor, but for the price, I might just get a new one, when I can afford it...

- The replacement HID kit was finally installed. It looks to be the proper 4300k, but my highs aren`t working. It should be an easy fit since it`s just a powered solenoid triggered system, but still frustrating that kit #2 isn`t 100% either...but it should be an easy fix rather than waiting for another replacement.

- Snorkel piping is finished. It`s not 100% sealed, but all it connected and working. I`ll need to put some silicone in a few places, pretty much where my Volant adapter is since it isn`t 100% perfect seal, but its almost done.

- And looking for a new OEM bumper to replace my abused and torn original one.

 

[TJTJ]

If you use Furnco fittings for the Volant and associated snork plumbing, it makes things a lot easier.

If using caulk on an air intake, be aware that its under negative pressure, and the caulk is sucked inwards - so when caulking it, keep that in mind, and always keep a part of the "donut" on the outside edges around the "hole", to help brace it against being sucked in over time. (If it does leak, its the WATER that gets sucked in instead, etc...)


For your tire carrier, consider it ROTATING down instead of flipping to the rear to go down to open the hatch. The reason is that you are sometimes parked in front of something that doesn't give enough room to flip the tire down, but rotating to the side doesn't need any additional rear clearance. That makes it better than a swing out gate, drop down, etc.

 

[Jack Stilts]

Awesome updates! Love this truck.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

If you use Furnco fittings for the Volant and associated snork plumbing, it makes things a lot easier.

They don`t look much different than the fitting you buy at Home Depot and the like. This is how I got it at the moment.

The only thing that sucks is that the 2.75 to 3 adapter is the only part of it that is flexible, so it`s hard to get it all aligned. I would of needed it to be longer, or have another flex joint in the piping, but I can`t, I`m really limited to space to make it all connect. But relooking at it now. I could replace the 4 inch straight between the 3-4" adapter and the 90 degree bend with a flexible version..it would probably make installation a whole bunch easier too!

If using caulk on an air intake, be aware that its under negative pressure, and the caulk is sucked inwards - so when caulking it, keep that in mind, and always keep a part of the "donut" on the outside edges around the "hole", to help brace it against being sucked in over time. (If it does leak, its the WATER that gets sucked in instead, etc...).

Oh, interesting. I actually wouldn`t of thought of that. The only part that needs it is the Volant adapter I made on both ends, because it`s not 100% perfect. It would of been easier to seal it from the inside than the outside because of the limited space in the fender to work, and to get around the adaper conneted to the Volant, the underside of the adapter specifically, but it makes sence on what you say, so I`ll see what I can do.

For your tire carrier, consider it ROTATING down instead of flipping to the rear to go down to open the hatch. The reason is that you are sometimes parked in front of something that doesn't give enough room to flip the tire down, but rotating to the side doesn't need any additional rear clearance. That makes it better than a swing out gate, drop down, etc.

You know, I didn`t at all think of that for the idea. I figured for the common bumper swing-out carrier, that the inconvinience is not much different for my drop down in terms of having room because of parked cars or wall, etc. It`s actually a great idea, but my plans have already been submitted to the fab shop a few weeks ago. While it`s not planned to get done anytime soon since it`s not a rush to have this, it took me a while to design the first one, to rotate it would be simpler since it doesn`t need the levelling function of my design, but I'll leave it as is. If anyone wants to design a rotating one, it`s all yours

Awesome updates! Love this truck.

Thanks you

And a few more pics

Re-Painted bumper and corners

And my WTF wiring for my license plate lights

And how the truck sits, except the fender is back on.

Oh, and ordered a pair of 5K LED parking lights from VLED. So for the exterior, I`m just missing LED signal lights. I have the relay on hand, I just need the cash

And one more issue that needs to be taken care of soonish...
It`s like that on both sides, but the left is worse than the right. Regardless that that whole section would need to be replaced anyway.

 

[TJTJ]

Mine now ha the old bumper piece from my '01 welded across that rotted out area on my '04 (So there's now solid metal there at least).





The only thing that sucks is that the 2.75 to 3 adapter is the only part of it that is flexible, so it`s hard to get it all aligned. I would of needed it to be longer, or have another flex joint in the piping, but I can`t, I`m really limited to space to make it all connect. But relooking at it now. I could replace the 4 inch straight between the 3-4" adapter and the 90 degree bend with a flexible version..it would probably make installation a whole bunch easier too!



Oh, you mean like a Furnco fitting would do for you, gotcha. (Not just the ends are flexible...)

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Oh, you mean like a Furnco fitting would do for you, gotcha. (Not just the ends are flexible...)

Lol, exactly. Exactly like I could find at Home Depot, hahaha.

Fernco - Pipes, Fittings & Valves - Plumbing at The Home Depot www.homedepot.com/b/...Fittings.../Fernco/N-5yc1vZbqpfZ4hs ‎

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Been working and finished the painting of the trim. Also sanded and polished the headlights and fog lights. The rims were done this week from powdercoating, so with that, I painted the center caps to match; sanding them was time consuming. Also my VLED 5k parking lamps also came in, so they were installed, which is super easy when the drill and bumper are off!

 

[xterraminator]

Lookin good! Nice when you paint up the parts. Makes you appreciate your truck more.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Lookin good! Nice when you paint up the parts. Makes you appreciate your truck more.

It's true, it feels nice to get some tlc done to the truck. I put the trim, grill and bumper back on last night. I do really like the gloss black, really bring the truck to life. I just need to paint the plastic trim on the doors, but that'll wait to get done inside the mother-in-laws garage to avoir overspray from the wind.

Now my front drivers side signal light stopped working, but the rear works. I ran out of daylight to work so I need to check what the problem is, but there's no power on that circuit at all. The service manual says to check the ground, but I don't see the revelance on that if I'm not getting 12v to the signal light. I also got a relay tied into it to inverse-flash the side marker (cuts power to the side marker when the signal light flashes on) so that's got no power either, of course. I didn't think to pull the relay last night to see if it's part of the cause, but I find it weird it's only the front and not the whole side that's affected. Also threw in my LED Flasher Relay just to see, and while I have the dash apart.

Also checked the HID kit on why I have no highs. It seems the relay pack is backfeeding 12v into this circuit, rather than triggering the high beam solenoid. I was just made aware that it could be wired wrong, mixed up between 9007 and 9004. New info for me, so it'll give me some good direction for tonight. But it's the signal light issue that's frustrating me the most :S

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Oh wow, been a bit.

Crazy summer, so I didn't get to do what I needed to before winter. But what I've got so far:

LED interior lights

LED parking lights

Just a pic of my 4300k HID's while I'm at it.

And before winter, some paint to take care of the rust and especially rust I found taking off the fender trim

Well after 2 months (rather than 1-2 weeks), the truck was finally finished, about 2 days before I had to leave to Kingston for a 2 month course (had a 2 week notice), which the car needed to be put away for winter as well, and have to squeeze that in between, but technically I had no vehicle for a few hours since I had put the car away before I had the truck back because that's the time I had to do it with a ride back from dropping her off. Mind you, my cousin did 95% of the work, but I did learn a hell of a lot for the next time, so I can give it a better try.
Anyway, what was patched/painted:
- Dent on the passenger fender : Drunken military fight. I didn't use putty when I did it so the dent was still visible, popped it out as much as I could. The primer held, but the paint ended up cracking off.
- Dent on the forward drivers-side door : Hi-Lift sliding off and bashing into the door.
- Scratch on the rear drivers-side door : Hi-Lift slid while lowering the truck
- Rust above the windshield. I patched it and it cracked like the fender, but it looked horrible. I feared the worst for rust, but it actually looked worse than that it was and my patch held and no rust had spread.
- Rust around rear wiper.
- Major rust on the rear passenger fender.

I still need to put the door trim back on (needs to be painted first). Also for the rear wiper, a few of the plastic pieces and the cover broke when removing, and apparently are discontinued....so I'll have to source parts at a wreckers, eventually. I also lost the metal piece that does between the fender and the upper headlight mount. I put it down somewhere in my uncles garage and couldn't find it for the life of me. Nissan doesn't tell that part apparently either...
The lower rad support still needs to get done, but that will have to wait until spring. I want to replace the rad with at least the proper one, at the same time that gets done. Also since my winch is no longer functional, nor repairable, I'm going to wait until after that repair is done to buy and install a replacement winch.

Also getting the truck back, it seems my power steering pump is going, again. I just replaced it last year too. Just found out today that it has a lifetime warranty! I thought it was a 1-year, so perfect, just the pain to replace that, again.


I want to try to get my remote starter installed soon, I want to try to get that installed, cause I HATE installing remote starters in the cold, and especially outside, in the winter. But I also need to replace the drivers side door switch (it being manual) which I did this weekend. Also the other thing is that my parking brake has been working poorly this year, and the last few months really not at alls, I've been parking in gear, but I can't do that with a remote starter. I pulled the brakes off this weekend to check, see if it's just an adjustment needed, but the brakes are almost done and the cylinders are jammed. I did the rear brakes maybe 2 and a half years ago so it's sad that I need to already redo the drum brakes...

Also new winter tires waiting to get installed. Retiring my old Yokohama Geolandar I/T 31x10.50 on my Pathfinder 15's to these Hercules Avalanche X-Treme SUV in 265/70 on my S/C 17s

And Shrock skids installed

 

[ericcris10sen]

I drove through Canada when I went to work in Alaska....man soooo many trucks there had TONS of rust, but I can see why lol Harsh conditions there! I'm impressed with how well you guys can keep you X's clean! I clean it and in a day or two, it's dirty and muddy on the inside again Love the color of your X and what you've done to it! Sorry to hear about the rust! Can be such a pain

 

[Jack Stilts]

Man, that looks great!