- Location
- Big Island
Had my 2002 Xterra since it was new (long time but only 96k, island isnʻt that big!) been used for camping, ferrying kids, and filming lava flows. Started to look long in the tooth and then power steering drained everywhere. Local mechanic fixed it and decided if I was going to keep it, it needed some upgrades, so I started searching the web and found this forum and other advice. Anyway, my name "ThatGuy" (real name is Ken) I blame on you folks as one of the first things I did was polish my yellowed headlights and switch to LED bulbs. Which led to my older kid say "Oh so youʻre THAT GUY now" and here I am.
Anyway appreciate all the learning I did here and the liberating feeling of having a 20 year old vehicle and some spray paint. Itʻs still basically stock, but I repainted all the trim, bumpers, and roof rack using bedliner and rustoleum hammer red and black paint. Added a tiny bull (calf?) bar on front to put driving lights on activated by a zombie light switch, new touch screen stereo with backup and forward cameras, added tiny 1/2" shackles to the front and back bumpers (not for pulling but cool looking kayak tie downs
), removed sway bars, changes all the oils (engine, trans, differentials), timing belt, waterpump, upper engine gaskets, crankshaft seals etc., and then removed rear sway bar and got some 265/75 r16 MT tires to replace stock 265/70s. So thatʻs where I am right now, still tinkering and have to repaint the tailgate. Ultimate goal is to do a lot of ocean "glamping" in comfort down some pretty rough 4wd trails along wild parts of the coast.
Here is the "LavaX" named after itʻs previous forays with molten rock. Thanks for everyoneʻs help it keeping me an Xterra owner (with an assist from inflated car prices and one kid still in college as well). Anyway, cleaning and painting and upgrades have made me fall in love all over again with this X.
Anyway appreciate all the learning I did here and the liberating feeling of having a 20 year old vehicle and some spray paint. Itʻs still basically stock, but I repainted all the trim, bumpers, and roof rack using bedliner and rustoleum hammer red and black paint. Added a tiny bull (calf?) bar on front to put driving lights on activated by a zombie light switch, new touch screen stereo with backup and forward cameras, added tiny 1/2" shackles to the front and back bumpers (not for pulling but cool looking kayak tie downs
), removed sway bars, changes all the oils (engine, trans, differentials), timing belt, waterpump, upper engine gaskets, crankshaft seals etc., and then removed rear sway bar and got some 265/75 r16 MT tires to replace stock 265/70s. So thatʻs where I am right now, still tinkering and have to repaint the tailgate. Ultimate goal is to do a lot of ocean "glamping" in comfort down some pretty rough 4wd trails along wild parts of the coast. Here is the "LavaX" named after itʻs previous forays with molten rock. Thanks for everyoneʻs help it keeping me an Xterra owner (with an assist from inflated car prices and one kid still in college as well). Anyway, cleaning and painting and upgrades have made me fall in love all over again with this X.
