Reaver's 03 XE Build thread!

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I will be taking delivery of my 2003 Xterra XE later today. Picked it up with 135k on the clock, with a clean bill of mechanical health (had it thoroughly inspected by my mechanic before buying it) for 5800 out the door, including tax and dealer doc fees.

The purpose of this vehicle is building a dedicated overland/camping/trail rig. I'll have to build it as I get the money to do so, so it will be a fairly slow process. In the meantime, I plan on using it in stock form, and just getting out there. I also plan on dailying it for about a month or so, with the intent of getting a solid feel for how it drives on the road.

My plan over the winter is getting a storage/organization system built up, so that I can keep the vast majority of my camping gear in the truck.

Pics will be inbound shortly after I take delivery later this afternoon or tomorrow!
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce....

Gamora!

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Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Congratulations man, you put a lot of effort into the search and I'm sure it will pay off.

If you ever wander as far as Kentucky for an adventure let me know.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Congratulations man, you put a lot of effort into the search and I'm sure it will pay off.

If you ever wander as far as Kentucky for an adventure let me know.
One of these days, I wanna come out there and wheel with both you and Ken. You guys have been incredibly helpful with both the colorado and this xterra! If you guys ever come up to the Idaho area, I know several places we could go.

You got the green one? (Yay!)

I did! It's more than I was planning on spending initially, so I don't have a budget for mods yet, but that's ok.
 

RxnNic66

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
TX
I spent more on Roxanne than I intended to as well. Overall I would say it was worth it
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Looks nice!

Thanks! I think so. I'm gonna need to redo the headliner, as I noticed it's starting to sag a bit, but it's not bad yet.

I need to decide if I'm going too move my comms gear over from the colorado (wires are run under the carpet), or just buy new antennas.

It also still has the factory first aid kit. I know that's small, but it's there.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
OK, it's gonna be a while before I really start building this thing, but in the meantime, I have a couple of questions.

I've read that steering is generally considered a weak point of the first gens. Other than the idler Arm brace from AC, what else should be beefed up?
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
OK, it's gonna be a while before I really start building this thing, but in the meantime, I have a couple of questions.

I've read that steering is generally considered a weak point of the first gens. Other than the idler Arm brace from AC, what else should be beefed up?
Brace and heavy duty tie rod adjusters. If you can get your hands on a Grassroots center link or an old Total Chaos system to replace the entire thing, that's be best.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
OK, driving it around today, I made a sharp right turn out of a parking space, and got some clunking in the steering. I thinking I was at full lock, so I'm wondering what that might be. I couldn't tell if it was coming from the driver or passenger side.

Any ideas where I could start looking?
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
So, I should elaborate a bit.

The truck has free running hubs. So if everything is working correctly, the cv shafts should not be spinning while driving in 2wd. If it is, then you have a problem with the hub also. The only other thing that would make noise in the front is the wheel bearing.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
You have auto hubs or manual hubs?
If auto, have you disengaged them as per the instructions (rather than just shifting back into 2wd from 4wd)?
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I have the oe auto hubs.

I back into my driveway. Wouldn't that disengage them? I need to read the manual, which is in the glove box.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I have NO idea. Lol. I'm gonna try backing up a bit in neutral and seeing if they unlock. Hopefully that's all it is.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Drove it to the store today, and everything seemed fine. So maybe it was just the hub didn't unlock like it was supposed to. We'll see I guess. I doubt it's the cv itself, since it doesn't make any other noises.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Ok, update time. I heard it again, but remembered when I did the pre-purchase inspection, the shop mentioned it needed new tie rods. Could that be the source of the clunk? If so, I already planned on the upgraded tie rod parts, so that would be a good reason to upgrade. :D
 

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Ok, update time. I heard it again, but remembered when I did the pre-purchase inspection, the shop mentioned it needed new tie rods. Could that be the source of the clunk? If so, I already planned on the upgraded tie rod parts, so that would be a good reason to upgrade. :D

It's possible if they are very worn or have no grease they could make noises.

I don't know 1st gens, but if it has inners and outers, make sure you check or replace both sets. Lot of times people forget inners if a vehicle has them. Badly worn outer rods will usually trash the inners if let go too long.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
It has inners. I don't want to throw money at parts, so I need to check it first, but the alignment is also off, so I'm suspecting that's the issue.
 
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