Xterrarising

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Paint is dry. I found a remnant of rubbery foam like toolbox drawer liner and cut it up to squish between the core support and the grill. That should keep it from rubbing. I painted the radiator support brackets while I had everything apart, and she is looking pretty alright. It almost looks professional.

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No sense in doing all that cleanup without pulling her out into the sunlight for a beauty shot.

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I know it looks like she does nothing but sit in the garage, and for the most part, that’s accurate. I try to get my usual around town stuff done when I’m in the work truck because why make a second trip to the hardware store if you’re already there picking up stuff for a job? Besides, my goal is to the Xterra paid off free and clear before it hits 90,000 miles. I rolled over 85,000 last weekend. So it’s gonna be a photo finish when we cross that line.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
You may be thinking that this vehicle just sits in the garage all the time, and you’d be right. I think I’ve only driven it a handful of times last year. 2021 was a busy busy year for me, and we are only a car payment away from totally paying off this loan.

But today, I decided to go to the shop and earn some project money. Got a small upgrade to do, and getting an engine rebuild started ain’t a bad way to make some Xterra cash.

Old Caterpillar 3406 mechanical. I dunno. Some guys might like it.

Crank going in.

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Prepping cylinder packs.

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After getting the oil filter housing and oil cooler installed. Water pump held in place. Turns out, we didn’t have a gasket to seal it up once the front cover was installed. So just a couple bolts holding that big bitch in for now

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Easy money. Now let’s just hope I can get the parts ordered for the Xterra, and let’s hope that job is as gravy as today’s job was.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
You may be thinking that this vehicle just sits in the garage all the time, and you’d be right. I think I’ve only driven it a handful of times last year. 2021 was a busy busy year for me, and we are only a car payment away from totally paying off this loan.

But today, I decided to go to the shop and earn some project money. Got a small upgrade to do, and getting an engine rebuild started ain’t a bad way to make some Xterra cash.

Old Caterpillar 3406 mechanical. I dunno. Some guys might like it.

Crank going in.

K916bZt.jpg


WQfXUTu.jpg


Prepping cylinder packs.

75xsq9I.jpg


After getting the oil filter housing and oil cooler installed. Water pump held in place. Turns out, we didn’t have a gasket to seal it up once the front cover was installed. So just a couple bolts holding that big bitch in for now

11egMxG.jpg


Easy money. Now let’s just hope I can get the parts ordered for the Xterra, and let’s hope that job is as gravy as today’s job was.
I miss putting together engines. But I don't really want to do a VQ40DE so don't let my Xterra know I said that outloud....
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Decided to try this stuff out. Im not really satisfied with the stuff I’ve been using on the tires. Seems to leave a greasy residue that picks up trash. And I was happy with their VRP stuff for my interior and exterior plastics

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So here’s the front wheel and tire. It has some sawdust from some work I did last weekend. Overall, not too bad.

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But once you get closer than a magazine cover, the wheel is looking kind of ratty. I don’t really detail my Xterra in the winter because as soon as I take it out, it’s trashed again.

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But… detailing season is again upon us, and I’m always excited to pull the ole girl out of the garage, give her a good wash, clean her up inside and out, and lay on a good coat of wax before kicking off summertime. So this is for science.

Not bad for just hand washing and spraying off with an old windex bottle full of water.

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I imagine it’ll look super awesome when I pressure wash the brake dust and other crap off in a few weeks, and touch up the wheel a bit before I apply this red stuff again. Not too shabby.

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And in the interest of saving some of you some typing, yes I know… It’s too clean. :rolleyes::p
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
So I’ve been musing a bit about what to do with the front end. Every year, we end up going to Lake Powell, and every year I find myself yanking a truck with a camper out of the sand. Apparently, 35’ campers and blow sand don’t mix. Anyway, I helped a fellow in 2020 and had a hard time of it, even fully locked in the rear. My front end was losing traction, and even with the tires aired down and that ABLS thing trying it’s best, the rear was doing almost all the work while the front was there saying “I’ll be there in spirit!”

cant decide if I want to get a lunchbox locker for the front or go with an ARB. And the part I’m getting hung up on is the snow we get here in northern UT. For 2wd action, no big deal. But our roads are rather slippery here before UDOT has a chance to plow them. While myself, personally, wouldn’t see a problem with something like a LOKKA in the front end on the slippery stuff, my wife drives the X too, and I know for a fact she wouldn’t remember a locked up front diff as she shifts into 4wd and does what she does without thinking.

Thoughts? The internet four wheel drive commando in me says, “if you don’t put an ARB up front, your Xterra will end up in a ditch, and your kids will all die a fiery death because you were too cheap to do it right.” The realist in me says, “it’s a bit more nuanced than that bro. Do some research.”

Anyone have either?

As an aside, I ran a front locker in an old Dodge Ramcharger, but had also converted it to manual hubs, so I never really had to worry about it.
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
cant decide if I want to get a lunchbox locker for the front or go with an ARB. And the part I’m getting hung up on is the snow we get here in northern UT. For 2wd action, no big deal. But our roads are rather slippery here before UDOT has a chance to plow them. While myself, personally, wouldn’t see a problem with something like a LOKKA in the front end on the slippery stuff, my wife drives the X too, and I know for a fact she wouldn’t remember a locked up front diff as she shifts into 4wd and does what she does without thinking.

Thoughts? The internet four wheel drive commando in me says, “if you don’t put an ARB up front, your Xterra will end up in a ditch, and your kids will all die a fiery death because you were too cheap to do it right.” The realist in me says, “it’s a bit more nuanced than that bro. Do some research.”

Don't have either BUT... with multiple drivers I would want to make it as simple and safe as possible. Thus ARB for the win.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Been doing a lot of repairs to the ole Saturn lately, but I’ve been thinking of installing these metal pegboard panels for almost a year now. So while I was replacing a lower control arm, I found this arrangement very intuitive and easy. No more shuffling back over to the toolbox to grab the tools I use 90% of the time. It’s rare that I’m completely satisfied with a project, but I’m more than satisfied with how this turned out.

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Now I’m left wondering what I’m going to do with all the space in my toolbox drawers. Probably buy more tools to fill them back up. :D
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
So this little mod does nothing to enhance performance. But I'm bored. Trying to kick this COVID nonsense out of my system, and trying to stay busy rather than sit on the couch watching other people modify their cars. So there's that. It was fun to do. And if I'm waiting forever on parts for another project in the works, then we might as well find something else to do.

I am running the lights with a relay that I hid under the hood, with the control side tied into the tail light circuit. So it's automatic,

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Gonna wait until it's dark to take a good picture of it.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
I wish the camera did it justice. Once it gets dark, I’ll pull it back far enough to get a better shot. But it’s really subtle and cool. And the headlights don’t overpower it so you can still see it.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Sigh, the camera doesn’t do it justice.

But it’s pretty cool. For some reason, the light appears more yellow with the headlights off.

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But check out this view with the headlights on. :cool:

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Grill closeup shot.

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One more with the driving lights. Cuz we can.

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My brother told me it reminds him of The Predator some some reason. I like the look. It’s not overpowering, and will go unnoticed unless you’re paying attention.
 

meisanerd

Need Bigger Tires
If the camera is in automatic mode, it will be attempting to guess color temp/white balance based on what it sees for light, and the headlights are different than the rest of the lights, which is why it changes with those on vs off. Proper night shots with a camera can be a lot of fun to get right...
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
I might mess with it when I pull it out today. I need to drive it a bit and get the juices flowing. Plus, it needs a wash something fierce. Sitting in the garage all winter has put a layer of dust on that feels awful to the touch. It doesn’t help that they are crushing rocks less than a mile from my house. I need to pull the Saturn out of the way while it’s waiting on an alignment. Can’t seem to get in anywhere. Everything is scheduled out for weeks.

I think I need to send an email to the damn supplier about parts for the X. I ordered them mid Feb, and they were on national back order until Apr 15. I emailed them seven days ago, and they never got back to me. I’ll be damned if they keep my money and not deliver parts as promised.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
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Well, it needs a wash anyway, so I went to the spot I always used to test the fourwheel drive on my old Jeep. It’s a pretty darn steep hill climb. Slammed her in 4-lo and locked the diff. Crawled right up.

Anyway, that’s a better pic of the grill with the mountain in the background.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Every time I run across these worthless little clips, I get rid of them.

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Half the time, they are broken anyway.

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A unibit is used to make the hole 3/8”.

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On this one, I have plenty of room to use the Nutsert installation tool.

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The 3/8” hole is wide enough for an M6 nutsert or 1/4” if that’s what you’re into.

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I would have put a bolt there anyway, but securing a wire in place was a good excuse to do it now.

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XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Circling back. The electrical sausage-making process, so to speak.

Locating the relay and initial run for the signal wire and the B+ wire. The B+ was landed on the fuse block I installed last year. I spliced the signal wire that goes to the control side of the relay to the tail light circuit. No physical switch in the cab or anywhere else. The yellow wire is the power feed to the lights. Red is unused. Black is chassis ground

1s26E9Q.jpg


For this project, I used non-insulated butt connectors and heat shrink. It’s way cleaner looking, and gives a factory appearance.

tKHiO2n.jpg


Oh look. A ground behind the air filter box.

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Easy way to splice two wires into one. All this mess gets hidden in plastic wire loom and routed beneath the radiator. I tried to find a spot on the passenger side, but it’s getting rather busy over there with all the stuff I have going on.

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Hiding wiring isn’t hard. If you do it right, it’s hardly noticeable, except to the really discerning eye.

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Almost invisible.

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This little side project brought to you by the letter C for COVID. Without which, I wouldn’t have been in quarantine and had enough time to mess around with it. :D
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Circling back. The electrical sausage-making process, so to speak.

Locating the relay and initial run for the signal wire and the B+ wire. The B+ was landed on the fuse block I installed last year. I spliced the signal wire that goes to the control side of the relay to the tail light circuit. No physical switch in the cab or anywhere else. The yellow wire is the power feed to the lights. Red is unused. Black is chassis ground

1s26E9Q.jpg


For this project, I used non-insulated butt connectors and heat shrink. It’s way cleaner looking, and gives a factory appearance.

tKHiO2n.jpg


Oh look. A ground behind the air filter box.

L3MgOT6.jpg


Easy way to splice two wires into one. All this mess gets hidden in plastic wire loom and routed beneath the radiator. I tried to find a spot on the passenger side, but it’s getting rather busy over there with all the stuff I have going on.

Oblp8eu.jpg


Hiding wiring isn’t hard. If you do it right, it’s hardly noticeable, except to the really discerning eye.

smkn2Vr.jpg


Almost invisible.

E3hpHVc.jpg


This little side project brought to you by the letter C for COVID. Without which, I wouldn’t have been in quarantine and had enough time to mess around with it. :D
Clean work. Very nice.
 

XterraRising

Bumpers Installed
Location
Utah
Haven’t been around for awhile. Lots of crap going on since May. But we are on vacation in Cali, and I thought I’d share a couple pics because my Xterra made it to the coast in one piece. :eek::cool:

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Now we just gotta make it home in one piece. Last time my wife drove home from California, the engine in her car gave up the ghost.
 
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