El Capitan, 01' "SILVER SURFER" Build

[FLEXterra]

Hello Everyone! welcome to my build post. I hope to post as much as I can as I continue to turn my Silver 2001 SE into my ultimate dream offroad beast.
I have some serious and large ambitions for my project called "Silver Surfer". The name has just a bit to do with the comics and more to do with my mental state of mind. I am a land locked beach bum and trying to build a super clean sleek massively modified Xterra. This is my life long project so it will be years and years to come before she is close to finished. this will be fun to look back at this post and see the entire project unfold. I love taking pictures so expect a lot. But overall i am excited to share this with others who love the X just as much as i do. I would much rather Build this Xterra than go to a dealership and buy a Ferrari. Its the getting your hands dirty and building a monster that has only been in my dreams that excites me. The Thrill is in the work and innovations.

Now on to the X!
Its a 2001 silver Xterra SE.
This happens to be my 3rd Xterra i have owned to date. My first was an 01 Green X, and the Second was an 04' Green X. It is another story for another post as to why I still don't have them. But last year I found my current X for sale and I dove back in.

the First Picture I took gassing up after the purchase.

As you can see it already had some work done!
This came with a 2 inch body lift,
PML
Stock gearing (I Think)
35x12.50 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02
Trimmed Fender
Optima Battery

I got this for a STEAL... It was purchased right when the Covid Closures started and the previous owner lost his job and desperately needed the funds. it was his second project truck too, so I told him I would take extreme care in doing her justice. He was a cool dude and hooked me up with a super deal.

Ok so once I got her home I immediately primping her up. I changed the oil (Full Synthetic) and installed a K/N Airfilter. super cleaned the interior and gave her a good waxin.

The next task was to update the trim.




I get drive this daily.

Some more mods iv done over the last year.
Fire Extenguisher


Maglite Flashlight using "QuickFist" Tool mounts


I also added Multi colored LED spot lights on the window Ferring.
I used some small aluminum plates to secure them to the plastic. I want to build proper mounts custom made for the A Piller in the future

I know its not ideal but for now it works great and adds a lot. I love making my truck be as offroad ready and modded as much as i can while still making it look like everything was meant to be there. Clean and Sleek.

More to follow in the next post.

 

[FLEXterra]

After that i had the vision of driving my X with an open sun roof...
I made it happen.
Thankfully this came with a sunroof already built in. But it only cracked open an inch or two.. I WANT FREEDOM!!!
So i first took off the latch assembly from the glass.

I used a larger drill bit to "Shave" off the rivited pin top. If you do this be very careful to not take too much off! just enough to punch the pin out.
once lose i pulled out the pin and headed to Home Depot.
I found a long screw that i could replace it with

Next attaching the smaller plate piece back onto the glass and build it all back up.


Using a wing nut and lock washer I Capped it all off.


Now all i need to do is remove the pin,
lift the window up,
SQUEEZE it past the roof rail bars,
get the glass completely vertical
Then slide the glass towards the Driver door to unhinge and BOOM!!! its free.

Its only a few steps now to Have a complete open sun roof. Most of the summer it just stays off unless its raining. This is the first vehicle i have had that has a fully open sun roof.

More to follow in the next post

 

[FLEXterra]

NOw for some light offroading pics.





Right now I only do super light offroading. This IS my Daily Driver so i gotta play it cool.
All of the powertrain is stock. It has had a new timing belt and some other engine replacements. I am sitting at roughly 225000 miles to date and iv gotta keep her ticking while i save for another daily driver. Then i can start breaking the whole truck down and do some serious modifications. but i love where she is at today.

 

[Prime]

Looking good! Welcome from Denver! Love a 1st Gen. Where was the snowy mining area?

 

[FLEXterra]

Next up i was given some LED "Undeglow" light bars, from a coworker because i was telling him about some Offroad Rock lights i wanted.
So i wired them up in a place the seemed "tasteful" and "functional" but really it just looks cool at night when you turn them on.
They are multi colored so when i feel like it i can change the color for what ever theme i am going for when i take the kiddos to a sonic run at 9 pm. They can function as Rock lights though extremely well. Matched with the SPOT lights on the hood, i think it mean and unique. certainly turns heads when going for a cruz or meet up.






More to come in the next post.

 

[FLEXterra]

Looking good! Welcome from Denver! Love a 1st Gen. Where was the snowy mining area?

Yo man i am in Aurora!!!! And the Mining pics were taken up the mountain to the northside of Idaho Springs... Twin Brothers Road if i am not mistaken. Would love to hit the hills together sometime! I am really excited to do some meet ups and trail runs with the X Crew.

 

[FLEXterra]

As the 4th of July comes around i decided i wanted to be "Loud" and fly a 3x5 American Flag on the back end.

I also had $0 to make it happen so i became resourceful and use random parts and bolts i had from other stuff i have done.

Basically using 2 universal exhaust mounts, a thick PVC pipe and some nuts and bolts to tie it all together.


I mounted it by utilizing connection points already built on the truck.

I attached the first mount to the Hatch hydraulic Mount Plate. I was surprised at how strong that point is.


I then attached the second mount down on the 2 tail light bolts inside the hatch lip.. I lucked out by having the 2 holes line up perfectly to my mount plate. It slipped perfectly down and out to make contact at the base. then just drilling some holes and tightening it down.

This turned out so well i wanted to share. It took 5-6 hours of tinkering with what i had and trying different contact points around the back end. This is very strong and sturdy... Handles highway speeds with easy. Old Glory would be proud.

This also DOES NOT hinder the hatch movement. It slips right on by the pole with just a little fidgeting, but the fact that those rubber pieces are there, this also help take the load off the contact points and helps absorb big bumps and shifts. Just need to add a small sticky felt along the tail light face for protection.

Perfect for the 4 days of BBQ, LAKE, BEER adventures i have planned.

LET FREEDOM RING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Prime]

Yo man i am in Aurora!!!! And the Mining pics were taken up the mountain to the northside of Idaho Springs... Twin Brothers Road if i am not mistaken. Would love to hit the hills together sometime! I am really excited to do some meet ups and trail runs with the X Crew.

I'm all about it. Hope to have my truck wheel worthy again in a few more weeks. There's a lot of stuff around Idaho Springs.

 

[FLEXterra]

I'm all about it. Hope to have my truck wheel worthy again in a few more weeks. There's a lot of stuff around Idaho Springs.

I love that area! I have a "secret" spot above Estes Park along Pole Hill Road that offers a STUNNING view of Estes Park and the whole Valley. looking to get up there after the holiday.

Also if you need a second hand while you work on your truck... i would love to help. I wanna get my hands dirty helping and learning more about the truck.

 

[Prime]

I love that area! I have a "secret" spot above Estes Park along Pole Hill Road that offers a STUNNING view of Estes Park and the whole Valley. looking to get up there after the holiday.

Also if you need a second hand while you work on your truck... i would love to help. I wanna get my hands dirty helping and learning more about the truck.

The truck is going up to Nisstec next week to get the new rear axle installed. And I have a few more parts to get tmfor the front and then it'll be time to turn wrenches.

 

[FLEXterra]

Just some pics after a solid days Detailing.