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2nd Time is the Charm - Building the Silver Unicorn (2015 6MT P4X)

5563 Views 38 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  anonim
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Thread Subject Title: Building a Unicorn: 2015 Pro-4X 6MT

Username: Zanethan

Message Body: If anyone’s been following my old build and posts my 2011 X was totaled in June when a distracted driver rear ended me. (Old Build Thread: Zanethan’s Slow but Steady Build ). I went back and forth on a buy out or turning it over an ultimately decided that a new start was best due to the age and some rust issues on the frame. I briefly considered a new platform but Toyota’s and Jeeps are at least 50% higher for a model comparable to the Xterra so I decided to stick with the X. I searched high and low and eventually found this 2015 Pro-4X with the manual and 77k on the odometer. Majority of my build will initially be moving over/redoing my old mods. There are a few lessons from my old build that I will be changing but mostly going for a mild build that looks like it could be factory.

Xterra's Nickname: Alina

Make: Nissan
Year: 2015
Model: Xterra
Trim: P4X
Color: Silver

Mods:

Shrockworks Sliders [X]
Tow Hitch [X]
P&P Rear Recovery Points [X]
Doubled Up Factory Skids [X]
Custom Shift Knob [X]
Wet Okole Seat Covers [X]
PRG Diff Cover [X]
Rear Axle Breather [X]
EVAP Breather [X]
WAM Winch Mount [X]
Smittybuilt X20 10k Winch [X]
Ditch Lights [X]
CB Radio [ ]
Suspension [X]

Comments: First task was a baselining of the fluids. Replaced all dif fluids and the transfer case fluid with fresh fluids. I still need to do the transmission. Fluids looked old but nothing odd in them.

Photos:

How she looked at the dealer.



First Mods! Recovery points and trailer hitch with 7 pin connector.



Original diff cover was weeping (and rusting) so I picked up a PRG aluminum one. (Yes I realize it’s not the strongest on the market but it’ll suffice for my needs)



Phone mount and accessory bar added.



Sliders installed!



Shift Knob (in a fitting fashion the one I made for my 2011 split in half while I was removing all my old mods. Seemed appropriate as a stripped away a year and a half of work).



Smittybilt X2O winch installed with WAM hidden mount.



Small ~1.5” lift installed. I’m sure it will settle some but maybe not since it was on my old 2011.



Interior control panel and fuse panel installed (a while ago at this point. Oops)



Also added my off-road lights back. They’re cheap chinese specials but at least they aren’t knock offs!



Made my own axe and shovel mount. Mounts aren’t kept up for daily driving duties.



Did the raptor grill mod using 6mm amber LED bolts for funsies.





More to come as I move over my old stuff over time.

Most recent pics:



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Spent the weekend doing some painting…

Preview:



Plastics are all currently curing safely in my shed until mid week.
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What did you use? I really like how that looks.
Is it BLACK or more toward grey?

Get some pix up when all done!
What did you use? I really like how that looks.
Is it BLACK or more toward grey?

Get some pix up when all done!
It’s Raptor liner (non-aerosol kind) and it’s BLACK its got a semi gloss finish so it appears more grey in the photos. Was pretty easy to apply and came out looking good but as always with paint stuff, prep work is 99% of the time and effort. This afternoon is the 3 day mark (you’re supposed to avoid water exposure for the first 72 hours) so I may start reassembling but Friday is more likely.
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Thanks for the uber fast reply!

Couple more questions to bug ya with:

Prep- did you do the usual degrease, sand etc? Or anything special?
Liner- is this the roll on type? How did you apply? Where bought? How much needed? Will it touch up ok ya think?

Thanks again for the info. I’m hopefully going to spruce up my ‘10 soon and finalizing what to actually use for the project.
I bet yours is gonna look damn good.
Thanks for the uber fast reply!

Couple more questions to bug ya with:

Prep- did you do the usual degrease, sand etc? Or anything special?
Liner- is this the roll on type? How did you apply? Where bought? How much needed? Will it touch up ok ya think?

Thanks again for the info. I’m hopefully going to spruce up my ‘10 soon and finalizing what to actually use for the project.
I bet yours is gonna look damn good.
Prep:
-Washed panels on the X ahead of removal wish Dawn dish soap.
-Removed panels.
-Washed backsides of panels with Dawn.
-Sanded plastics with 120 grit paper
-Wiped panels with lint free cloth and acetone
-Sprayed panels with UPOL plastic adhesion promoter (available on Amazon)

Liner is of the spray on variety, but per the instructions you can also roll it on, and you’ll need at least a 2 gallon pancake compressor. HF has some for like $50 but I needed a new compressor anyway so picked up a 6 gallon one.

I purchased the 4 quart kit with spray gun on Amazon for $130 but they also sell it at Autozone. I think it’s like $30 more though. I only needed 2 quarts for all the bumpers and side plastics. It took 2 full coats a third didn’t appear to be needed but YMMV. Liner was sprayed at 60psi and allowed to flash for 30-45 minutes between coats. Instructions say an hour but it was warm out so it dried faster. The higher the PSI the finer the texture so you’ll want a test panel to play around with before spraying the panels.

Edit:
Forgot touch up: should touch up fine. Raptor makes a 2k aerosol can (it’s not cheap at $40 a can) but I suspect it’ll do a fine job a touching up if needed. That being said this stuff seems pretty durable. Full strength is after 7 days per the spec sheet and I just went out and hit the test panel (wasn’t prepped at all) with a hammer to test the durability and one tiny flake popped off.
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Appreciate all the deets, thanks tons.

Did some research today and this stuff is definitely legit.
Appreciate all the deets, thanks tons.

Did some research today and this stuff is definitely legit.
Anytime! I’m impressed by it. If/when the paint on my X fails I plan on spraying the entire thing in this stuff.
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Get pics up when you have it all back together! ASAP!!!! Lol!
5
Get pics up when you have it all back together! ASAP!!!! Lol!
Ask and you shall receive.





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Hells yes!

Lookin GOOD.(y)(y)(y)
Hells yes!

Lookin GOOD.(y)(y)(y)
Thanks! I was worried black would contrast too much but I think it plays. Just gotta figure out how I want to handle the roof rack and wet box. I’d spray it with the raptor liner but I know there are going to be spun rivnuts and that’s a whole new world of pain.
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/\ Thats my issue with the plastics, and why I haven't done anything to the bumpers. Even if faded, at least they match the roof stuff.
/\ Thats my issue with the plastics, and why I haven't done anything to the bumpers. Even if faded, at least they match the roof stuff.
Touché. Since the rack is up so high I don’t notice it nearly as much though. If it weren’t for the rivnuts I’d use bedliner on the rack as well but I’m not touching those stupid rivnuts. 75% of my air dam ones were spun so I expect the same result elsewhere.

I’m experimenting with a combo of trim restorer and ceramic wax right now to see how long that lasts. Initial results are positive. If I can get 3 months out of it I’ll be happy.
Why not just tape it all off and spray it as is?
Why not just tape it all off and spray it as is?
Because that stupid air dam is made out of unobtainium if I mess it up lol.
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Great build!! I'm enjoying this thread.
Thanks! It really is such a great platform and great vehicle. I wish it got a bit better gas mileage but these are the cards we were dealt.
Well I’ve been dealing with the dreaded rear leaf squeak for the last month or so. Power washing and lubing the pads would alleviate it for a few days or a week but it would come back. Decided to replace the anti-squeak pads. We’ll see if that lasts a bit longer. Old one is on the right. There was clearly wear on the old ones and some impregnated debris so time will tell! I’m hopeful but wouldn’t be surprised if the squeak comes back.

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@zanethan - really enjoyed this build thread! Any updates in the last 18 months? 😆
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