BlOwNXT
Need Bigger Tires
- Location
- Sweetwater, TN
^^This
4x2 to 4x4 conversion discussion thread
- Thread starter AaronsX
- Start date
- Location
- Smyrna Tn
Like Tucker said, not much flex but it is a 4x4 and that makes a big difference. I speaking from experience being a former 2 wheel drive owner. I have spacers if you do decide to do this that I will give you to lift the explorer. It will lift you 2.5" front and 2" rear. I am working on disconnects to help with my flex. I am also in touch with a guy who is making a 6-8" lift kit for the Explorer. I loved my Xterra, but I would rather have 4x4 any day over 2 wheel drive.
- Location
- Probably in class..
- Location
- Smyrna Tn
That's true, is pretty sweet having that.
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
My dad still owns the truck I used to drive. I miss it to death, but I love my X more because it is something I can say I built, upkeep, and paid for. Even though I still see the old farm truck, and drive it every two weeks or so, I'd miss my X after a day. If you love something, why give it away?
With a little research, your idea will be very plausible in a week's time. I encourage the DIY project all the way. Who is to tell you that something is "not what they would do?" Hell, my buddies keep telling me to buy a Jeep.
With a little research, your idea will be very plausible in a week's time. I encourage the DIY project all the way. Who is to tell you that something is "not what they would do?" Hell, my buddies keep telling me to buy a Jeep.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Hell this is beginning to seem like to much time money and work. Im about to just say screw it, I'm 18 and have many many more year ahead of me (knock on wood) to build a sweet 4x4 rig...its not like I HAVE to have this car for a certain amount of time.:RAWRx2:
- Location
- SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
That's what I'm screamin. Keep the 4x2 X as long as it gets you around until you can afford to get something 4x4. Don't force it.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
I mean for real, look at all the amazing rigs here. Does anyone under 25 drive any of them?
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
No offense to anyone under 25, but Im talking like more than just a small lift or bumpers
- Location
- Morrison, CO
Then you need to move! They're $75 here in Denver, all day long, at 3 different junk yards. Sometimes we're tripping over them at the pull 'n pays, they're just laying there.
And for the record, the older Pathfinders have a larger chain so they're stronger. Same $75.
- Location
- Probably in class..
jmnielsen
Need Bigger Tires
- Location
- Lincoln, NE
GuerillaXT... I'm not sure if he is on here yet, but he's got a sweeeeet rig and he just turned 21.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Funny thing is I had typed "minus zachbz" then I deleted it.
This is wisdom way beyond your years, bro. It's a good outlook to have. You DO have many years in which to build an awesome rig, and in that time you'll learn how to do it right. I wanted more than anything to have a fast car that I could say I built while I was in college, but it never happened. Finally went through a couple of them in the years since, and I look forward to a few more down the road. It just takes patience. Worry about what you're going to do with your life in order to afford all the toys you want and concentrate on getting established in that, then come back to building your dream car/truck.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Thanks man thats really what I need to focus on considering I don't have a major yet. Thats a whole nother story for a whole nother thread. I think I have a hole left in me from the jeep that I owned since it was already tricked out with lifts, 33"s, 2 solid axles and all that jazz. I will do the honors of ending the thread jack that I started on my own thread 
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Okay someone please help me put this into reality. Lets say I find a totaled Xterra at the junk yard and snag it for lets say $500..it is 4x4 and the gear ratio matches my X. I pull all the 4x4 parts off the wrecked X and put them on my X. Then I would have 4x4 and have a totaled X to either part out of scrap, which will make me money in essence making the swap only a few hundred dollars? Correct?
Correct. Wish I lived closer, I'd love to help out on a swap like that. And, even if the gear ratio doesn't match YOUR X, the gears in the wrecked 4x4 will match. So you just swap both the front differential and the rear axle to your rig, and voila, matching gears front and rear.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Sweet, and it can be a 00-04?
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Okay...was just browsing around and found these
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1941324
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1940857
Not sure how much would be salvageable on this one.
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1944309
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1941324
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1940857
Not sure how much would be salvageable on this one.
http://erepairables.com/salvage-auction/suvs/nissan/xterra/2002-nissan-xterra-1944309
midget
First Fill-Up (of many)
- Location
- what cheer,Iowa
Dude im 23, and my 02 X is SASd on 37s. Thats the joy of being able to build it yourself. My truck is no show winner and I make no bone about it I still am getting better as I go but INCLUDING my 37s my axle swap was about 2 grand.
If you want to do a budget SAS heres the first thing to look for a late 70s ford with a highpinion D44 with open knuckles and disc brakes. You can pick these trucks up for under $500 anywhere. Now theres two schools of thought on this as well, 1/2 or 3/4 ton......heres the thing the d44 front is basically the same axle the 3/4 ton is a little wider but technically no stronger. However the 1/2ton uses radius arms which can be cannibalized to reuse on the x which is basically what the calmini kit is and the 3/4 ton uses good old fashion leaf springs from the factory which are simple for those of us that are still learning to do proper fab work. Now once you have your front axle chosen take that h233b out of the x and throw the thing in the garbage its junk..... well ok thats not really accurate, while its a strong axle and hard as hell to break its just rediculous to regear/lock or to make match any other pattern than the big 6. Now the rearend is where you can save some money and either go with a 9" which is prolly the best option for below 35"s or go with a d60 from the 3/4 ton which will cost more to regear and convert to disc brakes later.
ORR theres another option that is tougher to package but plenty strong and prolly cheaper yet than the first.
Yota front axle is passenger drop which means a no go for 4wd guys, but if you dont have a tcase already theres nothign stopping you from getting a divorced passenger drop case to run a yota. These things are great little axles but packaging will be a royal pain as the Nissans were designed for a drivers drop. I beleive ou have to notch the oil pan to clear the driveshaft but still you could get a divorced case from a dodge for under $100 and a yota front axle for $100 then regearing and leaf springs or radius arm it you could get it done for $1500 if you have a welder and a little bit of "Want".
If you want to do a budget SAS heres the first thing to look for a late 70s ford with a highpinion D44 with open knuckles and disc brakes. You can pick these trucks up for under $500 anywhere. Now theres two schools of thought on this as well, 1/2 or 3/4 ton......heres the thing the d44 front is basically the same axle the 3/4 ton is a little wider but technically no stronger. However the 1/2ton uses radius arms which can be cannibalized to reuse on the x which is basically what the calmini kit is and the 3/4 ton uses good old fashion leaf springs from the factory which are simple for those of us that are still learning to do proper fab work. Now once you have your front axle chosen take that h233b out of the x and throw the thing in the garbage its junk..... well ok thats not really accurate, while its a strong axle and hard as hell to break its just rediculous to regear/lock or to make match any other pattern than the big 6. Now the rearend is where you can save some money and either go with a 9" which is prolly the best option for below 35"s or go with a d60 from the 3/4 ton which will cost more to regear and convert to disc brakes later.
ORR theres another option that is tougher to package but plenty strong and prolly cheaper yet than the first.
Yota front axle is passenger drop which means a no go for 4wd guys, but if you dont have a tcase already theres nothign stopping you from getting a divorced passenger drop case to run a yota. These things are great little axles but packaging will be a royal pain as the Nissans were designed for a drivers drop. I beleive ou have to notch the oil pan to clear the driveshaft but still you could get a divorced case from a dodge for under $100 and a yota front axle for $100 then regearing and leaf springs or radius arm it you could get it done for $1500 if you have a welder and a little bit of "Want".
- Location
- Morrison, CO
Or find a totaled X and swap everything over.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Ah yeahhhh there is a guy on CX who is SAS'ing his rig (I don't know when but he's in the process) and he is going to make me a deal on all his 4x4 front end parts. He even has the after market upper control arms (for the 3" SL?) Im not sure how much he will want or how much shipping with be but he said all I will need is a transmission and transfer case...but I won't if his gears are the same ratio as mine correct?
Im not sure how much he will want or how much shipping with be but he said all I will need is a transmission and transfer case...but I won't if his gears are the same ratio as mine correct?
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
Ah yeahhhh there is a guy on CX who is SAS'ing his rig (I don't know when but he's in the process) and he is going to make me a deal on all his 4x4 front end parts. He even has the after market upper control arms (for the 3" SL?)
You shouldn't need a new transmission. Now, if his front axle (no idea what it is called) is geared differently, you may need to look into a new rear.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
I think thats the transfer case...and if thats the case I bet a junkyard would swap me if they had one that fits my gear ratio.
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
No, I'm talking about the differential, which connects to the front DS and the CV shafts.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Ah well I could still do the same thing correct? Find one and trade/sell mine and buy that one?
I think swapping that one part with another would be easier than removing and replacing my entire rear axle.
If this works out I FOR SURE smell a mod day!
I think swapping that one part with another would be easier than removing and replacing my entire rear axle.
If this works out I FOR SURE smell a mod day!
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
I just realized he has a 2002 (1.5 gen)....pleeeeeaaaasssseeee tell me it will still work??
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
Yeah, you should easily be able to find the diff at a pull-a-part. Swapping the rear would be easier IMO. Everything is attached to the axle, which means everything doesn't have to come off, unlike the front. IFS is difficult to work around because of all of the INDIVIDUAL and INDEPENDENT parts. Either way, it will take work and I totally say you should do it.
You'll also need a new rear driveshaft. 4wd rear driveshafts are shorter because the transfer case is between the transmission and driveshaft.
Also, since there seems to be some confusion....the gears that MUST match are the differential gears (ring and pinion) in the front differential and rear solid axle. The gearing in the transfer case is irrelevant.
Also, since there seems to be some confusion....the gears that MUST match are the differential gears (ring and pinion) in the front differential and rear solid axle. The gearing in the transfer case is irrelevant.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Hmmm...Im still thinking buying a wrecked one would be best money wise but you never know if the 4x4 was working before and after the wreck, or if anything got warped,etc.
The guy I'm talking to is from wyoming...that means shipping would be a pretty penny and I doubt he will just give the parts to me.
The guy I'm talking to is from wyoming...that means shipping would be a pretty penny and I doubt he will just give the parts to me.
- Location
- machesney park IL
Yes if you have a 5 speed the whole tranmission is different. I'm not sure about the autotrans but I'd assume it too is completely different.
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
I stand corrected on the whole thing I said about not needing a new transmission. While you may not need a new tranny, you will need a new output shaft. Either you can replace it yourself or buy a new transmission.
- Location
- SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
This sounds like a whole lot of work for something that you'll likely replace once you get a full time job. I'm just playing devils advocate.
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
This...I say I want to do it but I would be furious!!!! If something happen to my truck within a year or so after doing all this hard work. I have no idea what I want to do. I am a decisive person but I just don't know about this whole thing.
- Location
- Probably in class..