2001 Nissan Xterra Build (Anconeus)

[UofA_Xterra]

UofA_Xterra Build (Anconeus) *SAS Finished! 8/27/14*

Make: Nissan
Year: 2001
Model: Xterra
Color: Solar Yellow
nickname: Anconeus


Drivetrain
86 Waggy D44 Front Axle WITH ARB locker, 5:13 gears, and Chromoly Axle shafts
Rear H233B WITH ARB locker and 5:13 gears
Complete intake ported/polished (Throttle body and intake manifold (lower/upper)
Heads ported/poilised (intake/exhaust side) and combustion chamber reworked
Wolf Technology S1 Camshafts
Doug Thorley headers
2.5" custom exhaust with Flowmaster Y pipe
Rugged Rock HD engine mounts
Supercharger radiator
AC transfercase crawler gears (best mod I've done prior to SAS!!)
Front Tom Words Driveshaft
Rugged Rocks front differential drop kit (Deleted since SAS)


Suspension
Modified Calmini SAS kit modified to fix the breaking radius arm issue
Fox Coil Over Shocks
SOA with Revolver Shackles and longer Bilstein 5100 Shocks
BF Goodrich 315/75/16 KM2's on Craiger Soft 8’s, 16x8
1" body lift
AC braided SS brake lines
32 x 11.5 R15 BFG KM2’s on black steel wheels (Deleted since SAS)
Spencer Low Racing 3" lift with Bilstein 5100 shocks (Deleted since SAS)


Steering
Chevy 1-ton stuff
Grassroots 4x4 centerlink (Deleted since SAS)
AC HD tierod adjusters (Deleted since SAS)
Calmini idler arm brace (Deleted since SAS)


Armor
Shrockworks sliders
Shrockworks gas tank skid plate
Shrockworks rear bumper with tire carrier and Hilift mount
Calmini SAS belly pan skid plate
Custom front bumper with winch plate
Custom front bumper with skid plate (Deleted since SAS)
Shrockworks engine skid plate (Deleted since SAS)
Shrockworks transfer case skid plate (Deleted since SAS)


Electrical
Nissan Quest alternator upgrade
Totron 5" 3x2 lights (2 flood and 2 spot pattern)
Custom LED rock light set up (still in the works)
Bluesea fuse block mounted in glovebox area
Cobra CB with 3' Firestik antenna mounted to roof rack


Miscellaneous
Xoskel first generation Xterra roof rack

How she sits now:

I’ve had my X for so long I figure it is about time I do a build thread..... and here we go...


A long time ago (June 2005) in a galaxy far far way (Berkley California) we bought our 2001 Nissan Xterra (AKA Anconeus) with 33,000 miles on the odometer. We bought it for my wife when she graduated from college.


The first thing we did was take off the mud flaps and stock step rails, then headed out on The Eagle Peak trail with some Bay Area XOC members.

The first “real” mod we did was Shrockworks sliders and a PML. We kept it that way for many years and mainly took it snowboarding, with the occasional mellow trail wheeling.


Once it was passed to me the major modifications began and more aggressive trails were tackled. Here is some pictures and write-ups:

Trail Pictures

Trail Videos


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5PUV5eebMc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk9ePsbkuuY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fDR3_uYGm0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkwqhgRxps


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzlshpY3j7M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GXY9umbCP4


Body lift added 3/2/2013


I only wanted a 1" body lift, so I cut 1/2" inch from each side of the 2" body lift pucks. This allowed each puck to retain the reinforcement in the middle of the puck. All and all it went very well with the use of a hydraulic lift table to lift from the front body crossmember. Then I used a floor jack to lift the back half of the body. A note for those with the stock spare tire..... you have to lower the spare tire down or the rear portion of the body will not separate from the frame. I really like how the 1" lift came out! I will be raising by shrockworks sliders about 1/2" in the near future.


Hardware used:
(2) 10mm-1.25 x 55 8.8 HEX CS
(2) 10mm-1.25 x 140 10.9 HEX CS
(2) 12mm-1.25 x 16010.9 HEX CS (this is the rear most bolts and could have been 15mm shorter)
(6) 7/16 -14 x 5 GR8 HEX CS
(6) 7/16-14 GRC NUT
(16) 7/16 GR8 SAE FW (.925 OD) flat washer

My rig is still waiting for a new head so we did some obligatory wheeling in my dad's Samurai after we installed the BL

 

[UofA_Xterra]

3/24/13 - Drivetrain modifications!


It was a three month process but I am really excited about my new drivetrain setup! From everything I’ve seen on the forums I’m pretty sure this is the only Gen1 X with this engine setup. The engine had 160,000 miles on it with a leaky head gasket, so I pumped some fresh blood into it. I pulled and installed all the drivetrain myself and farmed out the machine work and short block assembly. I don't know the exact HP/TQ increase yet but I plan to have a dynotune done; then I will post up the numbers.


The engine bottom end was totally gone through and freshened up by Fultz Machine shop in Las Vegas (702-647-0311). I can’t say enough good things about Dan Fultz, his shop did a great job and turned it around promptly.


I had extensive work done to the heads and intake system. The heads were ported, polished, and had combustion chamber work done to improve quench. Additionally Wolf Technology S1 Cams were installed and valve work was done to improve flow. The lower intake, upper intake, and throttle body were all ported and polished. I also had the injectors cleaned and flow matched by RC Engineering.


Old one:

Port/polish work:

Wolf Technology S1 Camshafts:

I re-wrapped all the electrical harness as they were all cracked and brittle:

New one:

I went with Rugged Rocks heavy duty motor mounts as I wheel a lot and my drivers side stock mounts was broken:

While I was at it I upgraded to the Quest alternator (in anticipation for my lighting upgrades!). This is a simple bolt on upgrade:

The exhaust is Dough Thorley Headers --> stock secondary cats --> 2.25 inch pipe --> flowmaster 2.25 to 2.5 inch Y collector --> Dynomax muffler ---> 2.5 inch single tail pipe. The custom exhaust was installed by Performance Muffler in Vegas (http://www.performancemufflershop.com/). It sounds perfect! I had a Magnaflow on there at first but the drone was too much for me:

While the X was down for engine work I also installed a differential drop kit from Rugged Rocks. This thing was a serious pain in the arsss to install. I’ve done the rear lower control arm bushing on a few 240z’s (if you have you know how tough those are!) and this kit was almost as tough to do:

Lastly I had a set of AC transfer case gears installed!!!! I’m really excited about this and can’t wait until the engine break in is done, so I can test them out!

5/12/13 Revolver Shackles
Added revolver shackles and longer Bilstein 5100 shocks. The shocks are the ones AC sells in their "Articulator" kit. I had to modify the ABS bracket, extend the differential breather, and install a longer brake line (I had already done this a while back). The flex in the back is crazy now!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

9/1/13 Xoskel 1st Gen Nissan Xterra Roof Rack


This is the first Gen 1 Xterra roof rack that john has build. It took a while but the wait was worth it! The installation was straight forward and the quality is top notch.

The transformation video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPkamqIM0Dg

Roof Rack lights 1/20/14


Instilled Totron 5" square roof lights on my Xoskel roof rack, the outer two are fog pattern and the inner to are spot. I also installed a Bluesea fuse block in the glove box to power the lights. I decided to put it in the glove box because on the 1st Gens there isn't a lot of room under the dash. From the fuse block I ran the wires up the passenger A-pillar, above the head liner, through the roof (using a water tight fitting), and along the roof rack. The with panel is not finished yet. Rock lights are also coming along (1/3 of the way done), I'll update when they are finished.

















Shrockworks rear bumper 5/15/14:

I installed my shrockworks rear bumper with tire carrier and Hilift jack mount. It was pretty easy but it did take some time to clearance the holes in the frame for the frame stiffener bolts to line up. I don't account this to a mistake by Shrockworks, just the nature of modifying a truck that has been wheeled for years. Shrockworks was very cool about setting this bumper up to match my 1" bodylift!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

IFS Weight Reduction 7/6/14

I'm not sure what happened, but I parked my truck in the garage and all the IFS parts just started falling out. When I figure out what is going on I'll update my build thread lol.

Test Fit & First Drive

The rear axle is in!

Now I just need to install the ARB compressor, the slip yoke eliminator, and have a new front bumper made! It does stand about 1-1.5 inches too tall for my taste, probably going to remove the AAL from the spring pack and adjust the front to match.



8/12/14 Update
I lowered the truck 1-1.5 inches and had a new front bumper made, the old one attached to the lower control arm mount so it had to go.

Once I finished plumbing/wiring the lock compressor I took her out for a shake out run in Logandale NV (its very much like Moab). I used to out drive the trucks set up but now my skills are the limiting factor.....time to get out of my comfort zone (Mike Marriott made sure I did)!

It was all going great until I broke! I've decided SOA is not for me and I will be having an Alacan pack made for a spring under set up.

Trip Reports Found In Post:
#26, #33

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Space Save 4

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Space Save 5

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Space Save 6

 

[drbandkgb]

Awesome man.. Glad to have some of the old guard on the forum

 

[bigjim247365]

great rig, and the videos are awesome!

 

[Timrich]

Nice rig! Loving that bumper!

 

[Macland]

Nice rig man, yours and NMTerras could be cousin xs.

X nerds unite!

 

[Xado89]

Sweet rig, I've come across some of your youtube vid's back a while ago. Nice to finally meet the person in the driver's seat!

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

nice rig man! you hit up cali often? i'm from cencal. also tube bumpers FTW!

 

[Xterra Performance]

Great build! let me know if you ever need anything!

 

[NismoFire]

That's a different combination on the SL...I like it.


Also,32" KM2s FTMFW..I'm rockin' em too.


LOVE the tube bumper, too.

 

[TKDx00]

Welcome to the Nation... I too like that bumper.

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Thanks for all the positive words!

nice rig man! you hit up cali often? i'm from cencal. also tube bumpers FTW!

No I don't get out wheeling in Cali too often. I would like to do some wheeling in big bear and do the Mohave Road sometime.

That's a different combination on the SL...I like it.


Also,32" KM2s FTMFW..I'm rockin' em too.


LOVE the tube bumper, too.

I LOVE the KM2s! I'm thinking of jumping up to 33 X 12.5 for the next set.

As for the SL I had the PML with the Calmini shackles and then picked the SLR ULAs years later off another Xterra guy. I figured why not just get the Calmini AAL to have the full 3in's.

 

[Xterraforce]

Just came across your build thread. I'm loving it. Just about to log off tonight but can't wait to watch the videos.

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Thanks Xforce

Bump for 1" BL install 3/2/13!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

3/22/13 - Las Vegas Meet-N-Greet. This was the best turn out I have seen in 3+ years of wheeling in Vegas!

 

[drbandkgb]

Besure to post up your Vegas runs on XN.. We have a few people in that area

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Bump for drivetrain modifications!

Besure to post up your Vegas runs on XN.. We have a few people in that area

You know it! I posted this one up but we didn't get anyone from this forum besides me and Nick

 

[rokdaddy]

Nice looking port 'n polish. Any idea how much they took off the heads when they decked them?

My local shop took about .008" off mine when I had them done. It wasn't an interference engine when it rolled of the production line but it may be now.

Very nice start to your build.


-Rok

 

[UofA_Xterra]

I believe they milled the head surface 020".

 

[NismoFire]

Holy mother of engine mods!! NICE.

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Thanks Nismo!

Did an easy late afternoon ride of Blue Diamond Wash to test out the AC T-case gears..... they are awesome! The gears really transform the X, obstacles that previously took some effort are now a breeze.


It was a quick run so I didn't get much video or photos.


The only video I took:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4hjJoshtC8


The photos:

 

[xterror04]

So how much stronger does the motor feel?

 

[02Xterra]

If you don't mind me asking, what's a ball-park figure for all of the machining work you had done?

 

[UofA_Xterra]

So how much stronger does the motor feel?

Much better! I can cruise at 75mph on rolling hills when before my truck would struggle to hold 60-65mph

If you don't mind me asking, what's a ball-park figure for all of the machining work you had done?

You can get the head work done for less than $1000. I had the some MAJOR issues with DPR during the process which added significant cost, but I'll be doing to post soon discussing my lack of enthusiasm for their service.

 

[UofA_Xterra]

A teaser picture of things to come:

 

[bigjim247365]

^ I like where this is goin' :kewl:

 

[UofA_Xterra]

5/12/13 bump for revolver shackles!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

I wanted test out my new revolver shackles, nick wanted to take his freshly rebuilt truck on its maiden voyage, and Jeff is just always down to wheel; so we headed out to the trusty Tierod Canyon trail. We had a buddy of mine who, is a great photographer (www.aksnapshots.com), come along and he took some cool shots.


Here is the video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCkFVaUjrKs




The full album of photos can be seen here:


http://www.aksnapshots.com/xterra4x4


My two favorite (I think there is a TTOTM here):

 

[Macland]

I tried making the urls into img tags to see if the pictures would work and I still can't see them. I did go through you look at them on the actual site and they are nice!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Install first ever Xoskel gen1 roof rack!

 

[drbandkgb]

Install first ever Xoskel gen1 roof rack!

Pix?

 

[02Xterra]

Pix?

They're in post #3

 

[Jack Stilts]

That's awesome man!! I love it!

 

[gorillamel]

That's a great looking roof rack. Congrats on being the first Gen 1 to get it!

 

[UofA_Xterra]

Thanks guys... I'm stoked at how it came out. Now I just need to get some lights up there!