BCXterra, the “Jackal” build. ‘03, SE, SC, 5spd.

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Yep, transmission cooler in the bottom of the radiator. It's really hard to find a replacement rad without those connections.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Not much done on the truck lately, been too cold and snowy!
Did get rid of a rattle coming from a heat shield, located on the passenger firewall, just a simple bend and tweak.
Next thing that’s nagging at me is to sort out the rattling front bumper. When I did my BL, the bolts snapped on the brackets that hold the bumper snug on the fenders, and now it rattles on bumpy roads. Had some wire on there, but not working well enough. Will have to drill out the other half of the bolt and fasten securely.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Took the ski box off of the truck yesterday, it’s time to start thinking about canoeing. Looks very different without it.
Planning to install my PML in the next week or so, as our next child is due in April and wrenching time(or any spare time) will be in short supply.
 

BEEFY

I Smile when Gasoline Can Freeze
Took the ski box off of the truck yesterday, it’s time to start thinking about canoeing. Looks very different without it.
Planning to install my PML in the next week or so, as our next child is due in April and wrenching time(or any spare time) will be in short supply.

Still have a month and a half of ski season left before canoeing starts up here.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Still have a month and a half of ski season left before canoeing starts up here.
Yeah, could probably do the same here too, but feeling the call of the paddle now. Had a great season though, got my son up on the hill from bunny hill to blues.
 

BEEFY

I Smile when Gasoline Can Freeze
Yeah, could probably do the same here too, but feeling the call of the paddle now. Had a great season though, got my son up on the hill from bunny hill to blues.

I definitely want to get out paddling, But nothing is close to open yet. We usually go camping the fist weekend after the hill closes for the season. We bring the kayaks as there is usually a bit of shore open on some of the lakes by then.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Also with you riding at Manning park, any chance you know Shaun that manages the Nordic centre there?
I haven’t run across him yet, most of my XC skiing is ungroomed at Fatdog/Cayuse. I keep hoping to get a day in the track set, but so far no luck.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
This plague has done wonders for me getting stuff done around the house.
We have been pretty much on self lockdown in our little valley for the last couple of weeks, with the new baby due any day now we haven’t wanted to take any chances....so I have had lots of time to work out in the shop.
Last night after the family went to bed I did the front end of the PML. Super easy, took about 40 minutes and half a litre of wine. So probably could’ve been done even quicker. Haha.
Clearance under the door sills went from 20 1/2” to 22”. tonight’s project will be the shackles.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
I am also trying to figure out a good spot to mount my vhf radio, not too keen on mounting it top centre of my dash. Anybody have any pictures or ideas?
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Got the back half of the PML done today. Easy job, took about an hour.
Went from 22” at rear door sill up to 24”.
Also removed the oem running boards, which made it look way higher.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I am also trying to figure out a good spot to mount my vhf radio, not too keen on mounting it top centre of my dash. Anybody have any pictures or ideas?
Are your controls separate from the unit? I have a midland mxt-275 in my xterra. All the controls are on the headset, which is connected with a standard cat6 cable. I was able to hide the base unit underneath my center console, and using a shielded cat6 cable, ran it up to a port I installed in the dash. I then just plug the handset into that.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Are your controls separate from the unit? I have a midland mxt-275 in my xterra. All the controls are on the headset, which is connected with a standard cat6 cable. I was able to hide the base unit underneath my center console, and using a shielded cat6 cable, ran it up to a port I installed in the dash. I then just plug the handset into that.
No, it’s a standard baseplate and hand mic setup. Otherwise that would be the ideal install.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
And here’s the image.

So is that JUST pml? What size tire are you running. I've got my ac shackles sitting in a box right now. I'm a little scared to put them on as I've not done anything like that before.

I feel like yours is sitting at a good height.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
So is that JUST pml? What size tire are you running. I've got my ac shackles sitting in a box right now. I'm a little scared to put them on as I've not done anything like that before.

I feel like yours is sitting at a good height.

This is a 2” body lift & a PML (1 1/2” front/2” rear)

I will have to check out the tire size,(265/70/17??) I can’t recall right now. I do have a new slightly larger set of BFG Mud tires to go on (used, 50%, for about $35/tire). Again, will confirm the size (it’s close to a 32.5”x10.5” but in metric #’s)

The PML was easy easy easy to do. Pre soak everything in PB blaster for a few days before hand, and then just fly at it. Almost took longer to get the tools out and set up than it did to do the job.
The front is super easy, just back off the jam but a couple of turns, then hold on to the bottom nut and ratchet up the torsion arm. (While the front end is supported just about off the ground, I did it on the floor jack).
The back is pretty darn easy too. I didn’t remove the tires for this, just put it up on jack stands under the frame rail. When it came time to flex it more open for the longer lift, I raised it up on the floor jack with a block of 10”x10” beam I have in the shop. Went on the second from bottom hole on the adjustable shackles.
There is a write up in the How To section about how to do this. It went on about using a bottle jack to open up the leaf spring to get the shackles to line up. I ended up using a 3’ length of 2x4 as a lever and some Armstrong to bend the leaf. Worked out just great. Stick it in to the leaf spring from under the plastic bumperette and pry on it, have the bolt in easy reach and just slip it in when good.
Truck rides better than it did originally now, I had less than 1/2” bumps too clearance originally, which caused a jarring ride on fsr’s. Now with the extra upstroke available, it’s plush.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Got stuck in this afternoon to do the hitch flip, and after getting it all apart, and then whacking the hitch mostly in to the frame rails, it turns out that the amount of vertical raise is too much. My cutout on the rear bumper would have to delete the box channel section on the top edge of the bumper.
So, tonight it all goes back together as OEM. Ah well.
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
This is a 2” body lift & a PML (1 1/2” front/2” rear)

I will have to check out the tire size,(265/70/17??) I can’t recall right now. I do have a new slightly larger set of BFG Mud tires to go on (used, 50%, for about $35/tire). Again, will confirm the size (it’s close to a 32.5”x10.5” but in metric #’s)

The PML was easy easy easy to do. Pre soak everything in PB blaster for a few days before hand, and then just fly at it. Almost took longer to get the tools out and set up than it did to do the job.
The front is super easy, just back off the jam but a couple of turns, then hold on to the bottom nut and ratchet up the torsion arm. (While the front end is supported just about off the ground, I did it on the floor jack).
The back is pretty darn easy too. I didn’t remove the tires for this, just put it up on jack stands under the frame rail. When it came time to flex it more open for the longer lift, I raised it up on the floor jack with a block of 10”x10” beam I have in the shop. Went on the second from bottom hole on the adjustable shackles.
There is a write up in the How To section about how to do this. It went on about using a bottle jack to open up the leaf spring to get the shackles to line up. I ended up using a 3’ length of 2x4 as a lever and some Armstrong to bend the leaf. Worked out just great. Stick it in to the leaf spring from under the plastic bumperette and pry on it, have the bolt in easy reach and just slip it in when good.
Truck rides better than it did originally now, I had less than 1/2” bumps too clearance originally, which caused a jarring ride on fsr’s. Now with the extra upstroke available, it’s plush.

OK. Sounds like this is something I just need to do. I just need to get over my fears and do it.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
B673A40F-17A0-4893-8081-04AA693A0C7C.jpeg Well while in the process of putting my original trailer hitch and bumper back on, I had a brainwave.
The hitch was mostly for a recovery point and a place to stick the bike rack. I don’t have a trailer, nor do I have any impending plans of getting one. So I stuck a recovery hook on the passenger side (will be adding a second one on the drivers side soon enough, this is all I had laying about). Used the rearmost frame hole from my hitch (located just inside the boxed section) and drilled a second hole just in front after I had the first bolt in. Backside is large fender washers and a lock washer.
Boom, recovery point added.

Now for the hitch, I have some 2” C channel steel out in the shed, I plan on cutting a 41” piece to bolt across using the front hitch bolts (which also tie into the bumper bracket) and welding a 2” receiver to this. Possibly a second C channel cross piece as well/angle plates. This will end up with a 2” receiver flush mounted with the bottom of the bumper in a cut out. Obviously not for towing or heavy work, but adequate for hauling a couple of mtn bikes on a rack.
 

Jwelch

Bought an X
Location
Michigan
This build is really starting to come along, I'm excited to see it on the bigger rubber as well. I can say I haven't seen anyone mount a hook like that on the back of a first gen, definitely a good way to increase departure angle by losing the hitch receiver but without losing rear recovery points.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
This build is really starting to come along, I'm excited to see it on the bigger rubber as well. I can say I haven't seen anyone mount a hook like that on the back of a first gen, definitely a good way to increase departure angle by losing the hitch receiver but without losing rear recovery points.
Thanks, I have jumped on the opportunity to get a bunch of wrenching done while on COVID-19 shutdown. Had a big list of projects lined up but no time to do them before so now.....
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
34770414-F44E-4F32-ABC8-A216262B6662.jpeg BF16B606-8328-46DC-A5CC-82A7D5167B4D.jpeg Mocked up the accessory hitch (I won’t call it a trailer hitch!) today.
2” channel 3/16”. Thinking more sturdiness is needed, Likely a second long piece of C channel with tie pieces between the two (like rungs on a ladder).
 

westslope

Wheeling
Great photo! All the best with the delivery when it happens. Will you be in the same room assisting with the birth?

In passing, the condition of that logging road illustrates how the logging industry used to in the past hammer watersheds in British Columbia. It was the roads, the bridges and the skidder trails that caused the most of the erosion and siltation of salmon-bearing streams. The War in the Woods pushed the industry to stop most of the abuse.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Great photo! All the best with the delivery when it happens. Will you be in the same room assisting with the birth?
.

Thanks, that is quite a sandy bank above that section, further up there were several fridge sized boulders across the road.

We are pretty excited. This will be home birth #2. The boy, the dogs, myself will all be there. It’s quite the experience.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Picked up a second tow hook for the rear of the truck.
Also took a needle and thread to the side of the drivers seat, fixed a run in the fabric that had been forming along the seam.
Trying to figure out a good spot to mount my vhf antenna. Last truck it was on the hood line on drivers side, but the snorkel precludes this now.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Took the truck out for a drive around on some logging roads this afternoon, happy to say the tires fit great, no rubbing or issues, mind you I didn’t get into any extreme articulation terrain though. Time will tell.
Also re-jigged my loadout in the back (for now). Spare tire in the trunk with tools and traction boards. Will need to find a better home for that tire sooner than later.
 
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