[samuel313]

Intro Comments: I plan to make it a decent overland vehicle. My next-door neighbor has a sweet LR Defender 90 and I'd like to be able to keep up with him. I'm more interested in getting to unique places than taking the most difficult path to them.

Username: samuel313


Comments: I bought the Xterra in January 2014 with 93,000 miles. The first weekend I had it, I replaced:

• Oil Pressure Sender
• Rear hatch struts with 170 lb McMaster units
• OEM radiator with Koyo radiator (no sign of SMOD, just Preventative Maintenance)
• Had the interior detailed to remove all the Yellow Lab fur from the previous owner's dog

Xterra's Nickname: TBD


Make: Nissan
Year: 2005
Model: Xterra
Trim: S
Color: Super Black

MODS


Armor:

• Pro4x gas tank, transfer case, engine skids
• InSain Fab Sliders
• Ballistic Fab M226 diff cover
• Hefty Fab Front Bumper (Powdercoat in 2017)
• Hefty Fab Aluminum Radiator Skid (Powdercoat in 2017)
• MaxGear (MaXTERRA) Tire Carrier Rear Bumper

Exterior:

• Removed Mud flaps
• Custom Drop-in Roofrack (Powdercoat in 2019)

Recovery:

• SmittyBuilt XRC 9500 Synthetic winch
• Factor55 Flatlink (hidden behind license plate)

Drivetrain:

• 3.69 R180 w/ Lokka
• 3.69 M226 w/ e-locker
• Rear Breather Mod

Interior:

• Cargo area tie-downs

Wheels/Tires:

• Cooper S/T Maxx LT285/75R16
• Bedlined wheels
• Melt Mod

Suspension:

• OME HD coilovers
• SPC UCA's
• Moog LCA's with anti-seize smothered cam bolts
• Pro4x Bilstein rear shocks
• 2" Daystar shackles
• Deaver Add-a-leaf
• Rear sway-bar removed

Electrical:

• OEM 7-pin trailer harness flush mounted in bumper
• Console mounted Uniden Pro505XL CB radio
• Two NMO antenna mounts on roof (currently used for 2m/70cm dual band and CB antennas)
• Blue Sea Systems 12 bank fuse block with + and - bus
• OTRATTW switches everywhere

Audio:

• Pioneer Single-DIN Head Unit

Lighting:

• 400W OSRAM LED 40" curved light bar on roof with custom mounts (no whistling or vibration)
• Baja Designs Squadron Pro (Combo Pattern)
• Rigid DOT SAE fog lights (Amber lens covers)
• Cheap Ebay LED Rock Lights
• Soye LED light bar mod Removed
• Fog light install

Photos:



The morning after I bought it

Latest

 

[Spdu4ia]

welcome and nice start.

 

[samuel313]

Bedlined my wheels a few months ago. Finally tracked down some fog lights with Xterra brackets.

Don't have pictures with the fogs in, but they work really well. They fill in the area between the headlights and hood quite well.
I chose not to purchase a stalk with fogs and instead figured out which wires in the harness needed to be spliced to make it work. Pretty happy with the result. If I ever run out of blank switch locations, I may pull the trigger on the stalk. I purchased a 4x4 switch panel with 4 blanks from Ramness, so that should last me a little while. Need to install it soon.

 

[samuel313]

I installed my new to me Pro4x coilovers and rear shocks. Also installed the OEM skids and doubled up the rad skid. I still need to mount the 7-pin trailer harness and relays.

It started to do this while I was under the truck, so I may have stayed under the truck longer than I needed to...

Also, my 3.36 R180 diff just arrived today.

 

[IM1RU]

Glad to see the stock parts I gave you are going to good use! Even more glad they are not taking up space in my garage.

 

[ChrisHaynesUSA]

 

[samuel313]

I replaced my original LED mounts with new ones last week. The primary motivator was to raise the light bar 1" higher to reduce the whistling between the air dam and the light bar. Other design changes included a 5 degree rotation on the slot to allow the bar to sit in the middle of the slot when mounted to the Xterra due to the incline of the roof. I also moved to 1/8" steel, moved the mounting locations, and used a single piece for each side. The vibrations on the bar with the old mount style were pretty visible at night since the moment arm on the mounts wasn't very large and the gaps under the mounts in the front allowed for a lot of play. The new design is much more rigid and holds the light bar much more securely.

I accomplished all of my design requirements with the new mounts, NO MORE WHISTLING, and no weatherstripping anywhere.

 

[psyc_x]

wow those mounts are pretty sweet! did you have someone make those mounts from your design or you fab them up yourself?

 

[samuel313]

I designed them in Solidworks. I sent the drawings and DXF files to GK Machine in Donald, OR. I've been using them for years. They do laser cutting, forming, welding, powdercoating, etc. Their prices are unbeatable and the turn time is fantastic. They don't mind doing one-off parts but will also do batches of 1000+.

 

[psyc_x]

it is nice. i like how it sticks out away from the air dam. if i had the design skills i would definitely fab up something like that for myself.

 

[samuel313]

I installed a Daystar 2" spacer and shackle lift today. I installed a CB radio in the center console a few days ago. I'm planning on running the coax for the CB antenna along with the coax for my 70cm/2m radio when it arrives next week. I also got a Viair 300p for Christmas that I'll carry while offroading.

Next step is sliders, 33" tires, and a 3.36 M226.

 

[samuel313]

Installed my InSain Fab sliders and custom-built drop-in roofrack yesterday.

 

[Polar Bear]

Looks great man!

 

[yakkerX]

is that cb antenna removable? I feel like it being smack dab in the center of the roof rack is pointless if you wanna pack a lot of **** up there, also were your oem wheels chrome from the dealership?

 

[samuel313]

is that cb antenna removable? I feel like it being smack dab in the center of the roof rack is pointless if you wanna pack a lot of **** up there, also were your oem wheels chrome from the dealership?

The CB antenna uses an NMO mount. It can be unscrewed and this covers the connector.

I bought the Xterra used. Everyone on here said the wheels were not factory, but perhaps the dealer had them chromed before selling it.

 

[outback97]

Drop in roof rack looks sweet, well done.

 

[samuel313]

Thanks to mulemarine's generosity, I now have a 3.69 M226 w/ e-locker, 3.69 R180 with Lokka, and a BNIB Ballistic Fab M226 diff cover.

The Ballistic Fab diff cover's skull was welded on upside-down, so I chiseled it off, straightened it out, re-drilled, welded, and polished it.

Painted gloss black with 3 layers of gloss clearcoat.

My plan is to install the diffs next week. I'll wire the rear locker sometime in the next few months when I redo the entire aftermarket electrical system in the truck and have the dash completely apart.

I have the Mag-Hytec gasket, SS diff cover bolts, and new rear leaf u-bolts ready to go. I'm still waiting to get the R180 axle seals, oil drain crush washers, and new breather for the front and rear diffs from Boulder Nissan. The front diff breather was broken in shipping, as was one of the connectors for the e-locker. I will also be doing the rear diff breather mod during install.

And before anyone starts asking, yes, the M226 is the older style with only two spider gears. I'm not overly concerned about it, and, considering the awesome deal I got from mulemarine, even if I have to replace the e-locker in the future, I'm still ahead.

 

[samuel313]

Axles have been installed for a few weeks now. I waa just waiting on the ABS sensors for the M226. It's all buttoned up now and drives great. The Ballistic Fab diff cover fill bung interfered with the carrier on the rear diff, so I ground it flush, cleaned it up and got it painted and installed. The 3.69 gearing is quite deep for measly 31" tires, but new 33's will improve the problem this fall.
The Lokka works very well and I'll get the rear e-locker wired up once OTRATTW has the switches I want to use back in stock.

 

[samuel313]

I got 5 new 285/75R16 Cooper S/T Maxx's installed today from Discount Tire. They couldn't get the spare to fit under the truck with the U-Haul hitch in the way. I guess that just means that Dave (MaXTERRA) is going to have to build me a tire carrier soon.

 

[jeffnjm3]

Looking great! I just installed a M226 in my S as well, wish i could have gotten 3.69's!