How To: The Melt Mod--33" tires on 2nd Gen

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
This isn't exactly proprietary knowledge so I figured I'd do an XN how to on the Melt Mod. This modification is needed on most additions of 285 75 16r tires added to a second generation Xterra.

I'm not doing this how to to show I can do it better or anything like that, I'm simply putting together how I did it to be a source on XterraNation.org

If you have anything to add to this how to by all means post up about it. We want the information provided to be the best available.

Also, use this thread for questions regarding this mod and many members would be happy to answer your question.


First off let's identify the area needing attention that drew the need for this mod's creation in the first place.

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If you encountered another area needing attention please make it known.

Secondly, there are several ways this mod can be tackled. From reading other's experience it seems a heat gun may be the most effective and clean way to accomplish this. More commonly a hair dryer is used. I personally used a hair dryer in conjunction with a small lighter.

In order to create the necessary clearance for the larger tires the plastic must be heated to a point that when it cools it retains the new shape you are going to force on it. I found that heating the inside corner of the bulge with the hair dryer first and then heating it further with the lighter made it pliable enough to wedge a small 2x4 between the fender and the tire to hold the plastic in place. I was careful not to push the corner into the plastic because at times the plastic was melted enough to allow a hole to be pushed through. I didn't push any through but I got close a couple of times.


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After working on that corner I would move along the bottom edge heating it with the hair drier first and then the lighter and slowly pushing inwards with the 2x4. To finish off I would work higher up on the bulge getting the largest portion of the plastic to push in that I could.

I used a small squirt bottle filled with ice water to spray on the area immediately after heating and applying pressure. I did this thinking that the heating and quick cooling would make the plastic form more quickly. If nothing else it sped the process along. I used a hammer at one point but found I liked the 2x4 much more.


After pictures:

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After new tires:

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Rear tire clearance for peace of mind:

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civicjoe

lone wolf mod
Founding Member
Location
Nevada
I thought the melt mod was install 33"s and drive around! Lol! Good write up there Mac!


Sent from the Nighthog mobile command unit.
 

kgbanddrb

Bought an X
Founding Member
Location
Tennessee
Thanks for posting this Mac...we did this a few weeks back and it has been AMAZING for my sanity....there is just something about pulling into the parking lot and rubbing that is a bit embarrassing :)

Great write up!
 

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
Just a tip: if you have a heat gun, it takes far less time than the hair dryer/lighter option, and you won't have to fight with the lighter keeping a flame in breezy conditions. Just be careful, you can heat the plastic up enough with a heat gun that it will actually melt all the way through.
 

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Just a tip: if you have a heat gun, it takes far less time than the hair dryer/lighter option, and you won't have to fight with the lighter keeping a flame in breezy conditions. Just be careful, you can heat the plastic up enough with a heat gun that it will actually melt all the way through.

Most definitely would have been easier with this option.
 

ryne

Test Drive
Location
Canada
Thanks so much for making this How To, will be utilizing it this spring to help fit some new boots!
 
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