Reaver's 03 XE Build thread!

[Prime]

If you suspect steering, get under it and have somebody turn the wheel back and forth. Look for play in the center link, idler arm, and tie rods.

 

[reaver]

Yeah, I might do that today once it gets more light outside.

 

[reaver]

OK, it's definitely not the tie rods. It honestly sounds like somethings hitting, so I'm wondering if it the sway bar. We couldn't get it to reproduce the problem after work today.

 

[Prime]

Weird. Could be swap bar. If you pass that, we're on to control arms and ball joints. Then we've covered the entire front end.

 

[reaver]

Yeah, didn't notice any play in the tie rods. I couldn't really see the center link, so I'm not ruling it out yet. I doubt it's control arms, as it's not related to suspension cycling (at least I think), but only does it on sharp turns. Ball joints are not out of the question though.

 

[TerryD]

Check your wheel bearings. Could have one a little loose causing a thump.

 

[reaver]

Yeah, I need to put the thing up on jackstands, and start going through it. If only I had a covered area to work in.

Also, if it was a wheel bearing, wouldn't that make a more rhythmic sound?

 

[reaver]

Ok, so I'm getting ready to order the parts and materials needed to fabricate the rear bumper. I'm driving the X for another week and a half, then she'll get parked for a while, so I can start building it.

All told, I think the bumper parts will cost me about $250 out the gate. I'm planning on having a single jerry can mount (i'll be carrying two 8gal rotopax on the roof), and a 5lb propane tank, as well as possibly some traction boards on the carrier.

I'm also planning on doing a full steering upgrade. Grassroots centerlink, HD tie rod adjusters, and new inner and out tie rods. I'm certainly open to suggestions on which tie rod ends to get!

 

[TerryD]

Ok, so I'm getting ready to order the parts and materials needed to fabricate the rear bumper. I'm driving the X for another week and a half, then she'll get parked for a while, so I can start building it.

All told, I think the bumper parts will cost me about $250 out the gate. I'm planning on having a single jerry can mount (i'll be carrying two 8gal rotopax on the roof), and a 5lb propane tank, as well as possibly some traction boards on the carrier.

I'm also planning on doing a full steering upgrade. Grassroots centerlink, HD tie rod adjusters, and new inner and out tie rods. I'm certainly open to suggestions on which tie rod ends to get!

Sounds awesome! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with there!

 

[reaver]

Thanks! The other big project is getting my storage system and sleeping platform sorted out by spring. I've gotta keep it modular, as I will periodically need to use the back seats, but don't want to have to remove the platform to do it. I'm thinking a heavy duty hinges that will allow me to fold it back.

 

[reaver]

Had the day off, so I took the time to get my antennas and radios moved over to the xterra.

 

[reaver]

I finally git around to looking at the door sticker...

Turns out my xterra is one of those apparently rare N/A trucks with 4.9 gears.

Not that this changes any of my build plans, but that's good to know.

 

[Prime]

Manual or automatic?

 

[reaver]

Mines an auto.

Also, planning on getting started building the bumper, installing shackles, and doing a PML, building a roof rack similar to the dephep rack, and building sliders after the holidays. I just got a $3/hr raise at work, so things should progress pretty quickly.

I'm also planning on doing the IAB, and tie rods when I do the lift. Followed by an alignment, and new tires.

 

[Prime]

Mines an auto.

Also, planning on getting started building the bumper, installing shackles, and doing a PML, building a roof rack similar to the dephep rack, and building sliders after the holidays. I just got a $3/hr raise at work, so things should progress pretty quickly.

I'm also planning on doing the IAB, and tie rods when I do the lift. Followed by an alignment, and new tires.

Nice! Autos with the 4.9s are rare.

 

[reaver]

I'm not planning on moving from the 265/75r16s I'm currently running, I'm not really sure what advantage the 4.9 gears give me, but I'll take that it's a rare config!

 

[reaver]

OK. Did my first off road day trip with the xterra today.

First impressions are...... Holy crap. This thing is an animal.

The first leg of the trip was along a winding washboard road along the edge of a reservoir. I had to go slow due to pretty low traction, and a very steep drop-off. I think the low traction is due to tires.

Once we got of that, and started climbing, it was ruts, and forest service roads. I took one picture at the top when we reached the fire tower. 7500 foot elevation.

On the way back down, we took a detour with a steep climb. This road was articulation city. I'm 99% sure I've got an LSD, since the xterra just kept climbing. And climbing. And climbing.

 

[Prime]

Nice view!

 

[reaver]

Nice view!

It was like that for a full 360 degrees. Pretty amazing.

 

[reaver]

I'm getting ready to start ordering parts for the build. Ordering adjustable shackles, IAB and HD Tie rod adjusters after next week.

I'm also thinking about tires. I can't decide if I want to go with 265/75r16s or 235/80r16. Either way, they're both an inch taller than the 265/70r16 tires I have now.

Are there advantages to running a narrower tire?

 

[TerryD]

Depends on who you ask. I'd go with the more readily available option for ease of replacing a damaged tire while traveling.

 

[reaver]

Hmmm.... Well, I plan on carrying a spare and a tire repair kit, but that's definitely a good point. Now, the question is
.... Which one is more common? I'd venture to guess that the 265 is the more common size.

 

[BCXterra]

I'm getting ready to start ordering parts for the build. Ordering adjustable shackles, IAB and HD Tie rod adjusters after next week.

I'm also thinking about tires. I can't decide if I want to go with 265/75r16s or 235/80r16. Either way, they're both an inch taller than the 265/70r16 tires I have now.

Are there advantages to running a narrower tire?

I used to run 33x9.5 on my ‘88 4Runner. It was a great setup. I found it worked really well on moderate to packed snow conditions and was easy to manage when on rough rutted ground. A little easier on steering components too.

 

[TerryD]

Hmmm.... Well, I plan on carrying a spare and a tire repair kit, but that's definitely a good point. Now, the question is
.... Which one is more common? I'd venture to guess that the 265 is the more common size.

A spare works good to get you off the trail but if you're in for a week's wheeling and cut down a tire on day 2, you're without a spare for the remainder of the time.

I do a 5 tire rotation so I want all mine to match. If I was running a 255/85 and had to replace one with a 285 on a trip because I couldn't find my preferred brand in 255, it'd wreck my maintenance plan and be a little bit of a waste of money in my mind.

But it all depends on how you feel about the situation...

 

[meisanerd]

I run the 255s on mine. Since it is more daily driver than trail rig, the extra weight of the 285s was a negative in my book. It is harder to find these tires, though, so I can see the argument against them for trail usage. I think a lot of it comes down to preference and vehicle purpose.

 

[reaver]

I run the 255s on mine. Since it is more daily driver than trail rig, the extra weight of the 285s was a negative in my book. It is harder to find these tires, though, so I can see the argument against them for trail usage. I think a lot of it comes down to preference and vehicle purpose.

It's going to be a camping /overland rig. I wanna shoot for the best mpg/capability compromise I can get (knowing full well mpg is not great on the 3.3l v6). 33's/285's aren't in the cards at this time. 265s would be easier to source on a trip, but I can't negate the weight savings of the 235s. I'm kind of torn atm.

 

[TerryD]

235/85/16 has the advantage of being a very popular dually truck tire so you are probably not going to have an issue sourcing them the way you would a 255/85.

 

[reaver]

235/85/16 has the advantage of being a very popular dually truck tire so you are probably not going to have an issue sourcing them the way you would a 255/85.

Even an aggressive at tire?

 

[TerryD]

Even an aggressive at tire?

Depends on how aggressive you mean. Most of the popular AT tires should be easy to find. Probably the BFG MTs too for corporate accounts.

 

[reaver]

Currently, my plan is Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

 

[TerryD]

Currently, my plan is Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

Call some shops and see what availability on them are vs the 265s.

 

[reaver]

I think I'm going to stick with my plan of 235's. The weight/cost savings is just too much to ignore.

 

[reaver]

Merry xmas to me! Adjustable shackles and IAB order was just placed.

Next is all the supplies needed to build a swing out tire carrier bumper. Steel will be bought locally, but everything else will probably come from amazon, unless anybody has any cheaper/better suggestions.

 

[reaver]

Double merry Christmas to me! I got notification that my shackles and IAB shipped yesterday! Should be here before the weekend!

 

[reaver]

Just unboxed my ac adjustable shackles and IAB. Holy shark farts, are these things beefy!

 

[reaver]

OK, question. Does a bad knock sensor on a naturally aspirated motor cause it to run a bit rich? I've had a p0328 code since I bought it, but it never set the SES light off. Tonight it did, and it has a p0430 for catalyst efficiency below threshold. Runs fine, but I'm assuming I'll need to replace both the kock sensor, and the catalytic converter? Or is it more likely to just be the sensor?

 

[HolyGhost]

OK, question. Does a bad knock sensor on a naturally aspirated motor cause it to run a bit rich? I've had a p0328 code since I bought it, but it never set the SES light off. Tonight it did, and it has a p0430 for catalyst efficiency below threshold. Runs fine, but I'm assuming I'll need to replace both the kock sensor, and the catalytic converter? Or is it more likely to just be the sensor?

I have had my knock sensor code since I bought my X in 2011 I never replaced it and didn't have any codes from the cat's. The knock sensor code supposedly puts the X in limp mode and pulls timing causing a decrease in MPG. I would just leave the knock sensor as it's hard to get to under the lower intake manifold.

 

[reaver]

I have had my knock sensor code since I bought my X in 2011 I never replaced it and didn't have any codes from the cat's. The knock sensor code supposedly puts the X in limp mode and pulls timing causing a decrease in MPG. I would just leave the knock sensor as it's hard to get to under the lower intake manifold.

When I asked if it was likely the sensor, I meant an o2 sensor. Probably should clarified that.

 

[reaver]

Ok, update on the sensor. I cleared the code, and it's not come back yet, which leads me to believe that I do have a sensor beginning to go out. I'm not terribly concerned at this point.

Another update - I found a thread on thenewx.org by surf and snow (I don't know if he's on here), but I loved the way he setup his roof rack. I've decided to emulate that setup. I just ordered the Lund lock box, and will be putting it on my rack when it gets here. I believe based on my crappy measurements that I've got almost 35" between the bars on the 1st gen. Some sites list the box as 31" wide, others at 32", and amazon says it's 34.5" wide. Either way, I should be good. I'll just get some longer u-bolts, and center it between the bars.

Build is starting.....

Edit.... This is what I'm going for.

 

[reaver]

Got my roof box mounted up today.

Got some tools and whatnot in it. I'm planning on picking up some traction boards, and mounting them on the lid of the box.

Also, this happened a while ago, but I picked up a Midland mxt275 gmrs radio on black Friday, and mounted it inside the center console. I used a shielded cat6 cable to run a port up, and terminated it in the dash. Alas, I misjudged where to drill the hole initially, but the handset now plugs right into the dash.