Syst3mcr4sh3r
Bought an X
- Location
- Murfreesboro, TN
Hey, I'm mostly making this thread as a way to track my own progress. Just a warning now, it will probably not be updated super often (some of the guys I've seen on here, holy jeez you fly through mods quickly) because I am still a student, and I also have a 1995 Civic on its way to a total tear down and rebuild. I make a lot more money now than I did a month ago, though, and I've made more progress on this thing than I ever did on the Civic..which is a little sad considering I've had the Xterra for a year and a half, and the Honda for about 4 years. However, I'll do my best to update as best as I can. I've always been more of a lurker on every forum I've been on, learning a lot but never having much to contribute in terms of my own personal build. Now that I have a decent paying job with the new Amazon facility that just opened up here, I'm hoping to finally show what I've got. So, bear with me as I learn more about this vehicle and what it can do, and what I can do to it. Any and all criticism, positive and negative, will be welcome. I have a thick skin, and am not easily offended. If I do something stupid, PLEASE tell me.
I guess to start, I'll basically do an intro of myself and my vehicles. This will be stolen from my introduction at ClubXterra, sorry
First off, my name is Zach and I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. About 2 years ago my my other long time love, a 95 Civic, blew a coolant hose which ultimately resulted in the head gasket saying good bye. Thanks to that, and some other problems cropping up due to the hard miles I put on it, I put it up in a garage to begin a total transformation: engine swap, conversion to 5 speed, and a turbo setup. This meant I needed a new daily...and my ex-girlfriend's mother, who considers me pretty much part of the family, gave me a good deal on her 2002 Xterra. At 149k miles, all highway and meticulously maintained (husband is a top manager at the Nissan plant here) it was perfect to get around in until the Honda was back in shape, and since she considered it helping out her "adopted son," I got it for $2000. I just figured I'd hang onto it until the Honda was good, sell it, and pick up an 80s GMC truck as the next project.
Then I fell in love with it...aided somewhat by my friend taking me to Big South Fork in his Wrangler. That trip sealed the deal and killed any chance of the Xterra getting sold someday, or remaining stock. Unfortunately, it is RWD, but from what I've seen and read it seems the RWD can hold their own in most trails, so I'll just enjoy that for now.
Mods so far (not many)
DIY intake mod
Removed the muffler (thing was just too dang quiet, and quiet vehicles bug me...this let it sound the way I wanted without being obnoxious as hell)
Bilstein shocks
PML + Rear Shackles
Side steps and mudflaps removed
Ditched the tires for something a little more off road friendly (I assume..it's possible I bought gimmicks, I don't know tires outside of go fast rubber)
Zombie sticker (confers immunity to zombie disease)
For now, I'll just raise it up a couple inches and take things slow, get a rear locker and maybe some mild performance stuff. It's my first off-road type vehicle, I've always been more of a speed guy but after that trip to Big South Fork, I'm ready to embrace this new world..but slowly. The Civic ain't done yet, so I can't get real crazy. Yet.
2002 Xterra
162,000 miles
N/A V6, 5 Speed, RWD
Some pictures...the ones where the spare is on, I managed to get a nail in the original. Then I got a screw in one of the rears. So I just went ahead and got the new tires you see...Labor Day sale at Discount Tire, figured what the hell, needed em anyway. One of the geniuses that put the old tires on while the previous owner had it snapped one of the lug bolts also..so there's something I'll be fixing soon.
Homecoming
Post PML
Living low, Riding high...one of my buddies got a job at Amazon too, so we park together. Such opposites..
For anyone that's also into cars and understands not all Hondas are riced out decaying machines begging to be saved..my Honda. If you don't like cars, feel free to skip this section.
1995 Civic LX
N/A 1.5L
Bought at 109k, now at 152k.
Not much to say about this, as I never really had the spare cash to modify it. It's lowered on Neuspeed springs and that's pretty much it. Handles great, slower than hell. Still in good shape, bought it for 3000 when I was...19, I think, and it was in perfect shape despite being over 100k miles. Love this car, will not give it up except through theft or being totaled.
My buddy owned the Subie here..sold it for the Wrangler.
And this..this is me, wrenching on my buddy's 300Z.
I guess to start, I'll basically do an intro of myself and my vehicles. This will be stolen from my introduction at ClubXterra, sorry
First off, my name is Zach and I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. About 2 years ago my my other long time love, a 95 Civic, blew a coolant hose which ultimately resulted in the head gasket saying good bye. Thanks to that, and some other problems cropping up due to the hard miles I put on it, I put it up in a garage to begin a total transformation: engine swap, conversion to 5 speed, and a turbo setup. This meant I needed a new daily...and my ex-girlfriend's mother, who considers me pretty much part of the family, gave me a good deal on her 2002 Xterra. At 149k miles, all highway and meticulously maintained (husband is a top manager at the Nissan plant here) it was perfect to get around in until the Honda was back in shape, and since she considered it helping out her "adopted son," I got it for $2000. I just figured I'd hang onto it until the Honda was good, sell it, and pick up an 80s GMC truck as the next project.
Then I fell in love with it...aided somewhat by my friend taking me to Big South Fork in his Wrangler. That trip sealed the deal and killed any chance of the Xterra getting sold someday, or remaining stock. Unfortunately, it is RWD, but from what I've seen and read it seems the RWD can hold their own in most trails, so I'll just enjoy that for now.
Mods so far (not many)
DIY intake mod
Removed the muffler (thing was just too dang quiet, and quiet vehicles bug me...this let it sound the way I wanted without being obnoxious as hell)
Bilstein shocks
PML + Rear Shackles
Side steps and mudflaps removed
Ditched the tires for something a little more off road friendly (I assume..it's possible I bought gimmicks, I don't know tires outside of go fast rubber)
Zombie sticker (confers immunity to zombie disease)
For now, I'll just raise it up a couple inches and take things slow, get a rear locker and maybe some mild performance stuff. It's my first off-road type vehicle, I've always been more of a speed guy but after that trip to Big South Fork, I'm ready to embrace this new world..but slowly. The Civic ain't done yet, so I can't get real crazy. Yet.
2002 Xterra
162,000 miles
N/A V6, 5 Speed, RWD
Some pictures...the ones where the spare is on, I managed to get a nail in the original. Then I got a screw in one of the rears. So I just went ahead and got the new tires you see...Labor Day sale at Discount Tire, figured what the hell, needed em anyway. One of the geniuses that put the old tires on while the previous owner had it snapped one of the lug bolts also..so there's something I'll be fixing soon.
For anyone that's also into cars and understands not all Hondas are riced out decaying machines begging to be saved..my Honda. If you don't like cars, feel free to skip this section.
1995 Civic LX
N/A 1.5L
Bought at 109k, now at 152k.
Not much to say about this, as I never really had the spare cash to modify it. It's lowered on Neuspeed springs and that's pretty much it. Handles great, slower than hell. Still in good shape, bought it for 3000 when I was...19, I think, and it was in perfect shape despite being over 100k miles. Love this car, will not give it up except through theft or being totaled.
And this..this is me, wrenching on my buddy's 300Z.
