WTP'S "WhiteTrash Renegade" Day 1

[WTP]

Just thought up the name for my build. WhiteTrash Renegade. I live in a mobile home, i'm doing it on my patio with nothing but the basic tools and some creativity.

A little backstory, I acquired my 2000 Nissan Xterra 4x4 V6, 11 months and 24 days ago, from a Craigslist ad. 160k miles on it with a few minor issues for $2500. (Image) Overall the truck was reliable but did not pass emissions,(FML) so I did the plugs, (FU #6 plug and Nissan engineer who approved that design) with moderate effort. I took the hood off (in my front yard) and used 2 universal joints and practiced my mechanic's yoga and got it first attempt. Thermostat was replaced and water pump inspected. Still didn't pass emissions. Tried every trick in the book to avoid replacing O2 sensors or the timing belt. Nothing worked. So i "moved" to a county which didn't require emission testing

Next i promptly added the most obscene sound system i could slap together in a weekend. A 2000 watt RMS 12" Pioneer Champion series subwoofer powered by the matching amp. Mounted in a 3/4" MDF slot ported
box with 2.5 cubic feet of airspace. A little boom . The door speakers are ??? name brand component speakers mounted in the stock locations. The rear speakers are the same brand but 2 way speakers which give an optimal sound stage. The single din head unit was not quite enough power to run the mids and highs so I cut out the 1/2 din pocket underneath the radio and added a 14v out (RCA voltage) equalizer which drastically improved my sound and reduced the load on the battery and amplifier which increases their lifespan) My truck now boomed down the street obnoxiously. The first gens are amazingly sound deadened from the factory already so i had very few rattles to address right off the bat. Make eyeballs rattle type bass. Piss your neighbors off bass. Make old folks roll their windows up bass.

I then preceded to do some WhiteTrash customization which included various stickers to make my fellow drivers laugh and express my opinions. Most revolved around a certain F word(see my avatar for an example).
I pulled the roof rack and blacked it out then traced the failing Xterra sticker in silver sharpie (i know stupid but it works, is cheap, and doesn't run or fade). Blacked out my 16" rims (craigslist find) and blacked out anything shiny. The grill and Nissan logo's were given the same treatment. All with rattle cans, in my front yard. WhiteTrash AF

Fast forward 6 months or so and I get a phone call out of the blue. "Hey bro you want a first gen Xterra motor?" "Sure but i'm broke and not sure when i could get enough to buy it" "Did i say anything about buy? Come get this thing out of my garage, i'm tired of tripping over it." SCORE!!! The motor is an exact replacement for the one in my truck with the exception of the transmission and it ran when pulled. DOUBLE SCORE! I brainstorm how I'm going to get a free motor to my house. Pull the subwoofer out and load it into the Xterra? Call a tow truck? Borrow a truck? Rent a U-haul with a ramp as I have no cherry picker? Home Depot rents flatbed trucks for cheap, See Avatar, that's what i'll do. Its the cheapest and fastest option. But how to load a 400lb plus motor onto is with out a cherry picker or a lot of guys to manhandle it? Answer.......Ratchet Straps and floor jacks. WhiteTrash AF!!!I get there and my buddy and I load it without incident onto the flatbed with a lot of assistance from a Hi-Lift my buddy had. Wish i'd have taken some pictures. As i'm leaving dude tells me not to forget my jack and smiles.........TRIPLE SCORE!!!!

In my haste to get home and return the rental i neglected to figure out how i was gonna get the engine off the truck. My buddy was not coming with to help, my neighbors are too old to be moving engines and my GF and 11yr old son had no business helping me offload a truck at pm. The car gobbles were smiling on me once again when I received an email as I was driving home from Harbor Freight with a 1 ton cherry picker for $139.

With little fanfare and a lot of patience i offload the truck by myself without injury or catastrophe. My neighbors and family couldn't believe it, heck i couldn't believe it. Right in the nick of time too, a storm was on the way in snow and subzero temps. I packed the engine away satisfied in my efforts and luck. 2 days later i'm lying in bed enjoying my post holiday break I have an "OH ufck" moment that causes me to leap out of bed and into my clothes. I forgot to add coolant to my truck, i had added more water than I knew I should have added to my coolant, like a 90/10 mixture. WTF was I thinking? I knew better than to do that. So in my continued spree of doing stupid shiat, I try to start it. I'm a moron and I should have my mechanics merit badge stripped from me. I'm not worthy of it, LOL. Disaster mitigation time, pull all hoses and get things flowing and get 50/50 in there before i blow a freeze plug or crack a block. 10 degrees outside, dark and late and im pouring hot water into an open radiator and hoses trying to thaw the ice CHUNKS in my entire system so i can get coolant into the water jacket. FML, after 3+hours and pot after pot of warm water i get the truck to a spot i'm comfortable with, in regards to coolant and temp resistance. Despite my best efforts i jumped timing when i tried to start a frozen motor, FML.

That leads us to today. Time to inspect and install the gift.
To Be Continued.....................................

 

[Cptpackrat]

This seems like it could be an interesting build. For sure will be popping in from time to time to check it out

 

[bigjim247365]

This quite the story so far. Welcome

 

[WTP]

So i'm at a "spend some money" point and i'm seeking some input. Zero budget, and less time than i can spare. Thoughts on this parts list? Additions Subtractions?
Manifolds are off and in good reusable condition. O2 sensors are not. Reuse old ones?
PS pump is???????
Intake/air/fuel components will be swapped with ones in truck right now as I am sure they work.

 

[Prime]

So i'm at a "spend some money" point and i'm seeking some input. Zero budget, and less time than i can spare. Thoughts on this parts list? Additions Subtractions?
Manifolds are off and in good reusable condition. O2 sensors are not. Reuse old ones?
PS pump is???????
Intake/air/fuel components will be swapped with ones in truck right now as I am sure they work.

On the radiator. Get one from an 02-04 supercharged X.

Everyone hates this, but I'd get all the timing parts from the dealership. Aftermarket parts tend not to hold up as well on these trucks.

 

[HolyGhost]

On the radiator. Get one from an 02-04 supercharged X.

Everyone hates this, but I'd get all the timing parts from the dealership. Aftermarket parts tend not to hold up as well on these trucks.

I agree with both these. When I had the stock radiator my X would run hot when towing or climbing mountain passes. I switched to the supercharged radiator and never had an issue since.

I only buy OEM timing parts. You can find the part number and sometimes get the parts cheaper on ebay just make sure you are buying form a legit seller.

 

[WTP]

So down to the block, weather put a dampener on my exploits. here's a few photo's. Engine looks great,

 

[WTP]

Update: 6 months later........Im STILL elbows deep in the engine but I am making progress. Blown motor was removed last weekend ,by MYSELF!! While the neighbors looked on astonished with doubting whispers. i've cleaned scraped and painted just about every single piece inside the engine bay as well as the engine. Not really for any specific purpose other than i know more things will be done to it and 19yrs or grease and grime from previous neglectful owners took a bit to remove. Not to mention i'm a bit CDO (OCD) about everything and refuse to do anything half assed. Found a major PS leak and had to redo plumbing entirely. PS fluid was on EVERYTHING. ALmost ready to bench test the new engine then its stabbing time. Oh also picked up a KA engine for my 99 altima for $80. Trailer is starting to look like a proper one. Just need a toilet bowl planter in the yard. Update more soon.