Topic: What have you done for your Rig lately.

[richie]

No shims in the rear, just did the AAL, removed the overload. Rides way nicer and no bottoming out. Right now the rear is a little high, but im expecting it to settle down a little more. If not ill just get a 1/4" spacer to level out the front.

[Riz98]

Changed out the front and rear differentials with Lucas 85w140.  Had to pull the front diff cover because there is no drain on mine.  One good thing about that is inspecting the gears while in there.  All is good with no metal chunks or missing teeth.  Transfer case got done with Red Line MT-90.  After alot of searching for a while this is a true GL4(not GL4 / GL5) lubricant that will not corrode yellow or soft metals.  Spark plugs got swapped out also and tomorrow I am going to get a new cap and rotor while I am at it.  New spark plug wires are ready to go on after the cap and rotor. 

[richie]

Changed out the front and rear differentials with Lucas 85w140.  Had to pull the front diff cover because there is no drain on mine.  One good thing about that is inspecting the gears while in there.  All is good with no metal chunks or missing teeth.  Transfer case got done with Red Line MT-90.  After alot of searching for a while this is a true GL4(not GL4 / GL5) lubricant that will not corrode yellow or soft metals.  Spark plugs got swapped out also and tomorrow I am going to get a new cap and rotor while I am at it.  New spark plug wires are ready to go on after the cap and rotor.

What method of installing spark plugs did you take? I am about to do sparks on my xterra also. Im reluctant to take the intake manifold off.

[Riz98]

I have a 2002 which is the first Gen Xterra with the 3.3 liter engine.  The manifold isn't required to come off but the 6th spark plug was a pain.  Removing the hood helped a lot.  Maybe one of the guys with a second Gen X can give some advice.

[JeffBett]

Dave, Jake and I finally got around to wiring our light bars we have owned for months.  Now for some tuning to see if I can get rid of some the the new noise.  Its not much especially over the sound of the MT tires but I'll try anyway.  I also put in fog lights in the factory holes as I already had gotten the turn signal stalk from the junkyards.  I am going from my crappy fogged over headlights to brighter then the sun.  Going to be handy for the winter off roading with the short days.

[knightrider]

What method of installing spark plugs did you take? I am about to do sparks on my xterra also. Im reluctant to take the intake manifold off.

The intake manifold is not too hard to remove.  You are just removing the upper half and it uses o-rings so no worries of having to replace the gasket.  It does make it alot easier to get to the passenger side plugs.

[steve c]

My very own Mechanical Stig (Jordan) and I installed my Hefty front bumper and aluminum engine skid last week.
 Hefty Fabworks was great to work with as always.  Product shipped within the estimated time.  Shipment was packaged well and arrived undamaged. 

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

The install went well with only minor swearing.  I still need to drill a couple of holes for the engine skid.  Ran out of time.

Here are some pics.  I know everyone has seen a Hefty bumper on the front of an Xterra, but this one is mine and I've been waiting a long time to buy it and finally put this thing on!

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Very happy with the fit and finish of this thing.  The new powder coat is kind of a wrinkle finish.  I love it.

[steve c]

So, I have on board air now.
Jordan guinea pig'd this set up for "the greater good"  After using his OBA set up for like 2 years instead of the Viair compressor that lives in my truck, I decided it was time to get mine up and running.
For a couple of weeks before, we were messaging back and forth about a parts list and different ideas on how best to complete the work.  We inevitably forgot a few things and had to make a Home Depot AND Dixieline run.
Needless to say, it was a long day.  I think I arrived around 8:30am and got home around 12:30am the next morning.   

The gist of the set up is a Air Zenith OB2 compressor filling a 5 gallon tank under the truck.  Air lines are run to the front and rear bumpers.
If anyone is interested in more narrative or a parts list, I can type it up. 
The install lasted well into the night and I was actually doing stuff *most of the time, so pics from the install are lacking. 

Here are some pics. 

Parts and making a list of what we forgot.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Where the compressor ended up getting mounted.  Wires were cleaned up. 

What have you done for your Rig lately.

The 5 gallon aluminum tank.  We left the brackets long because we may end up doing some sort of skid plate and those would be great to mount to.  They don't seem to interfere with anything that I can see. 

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Front chuck mounted in the new Hefty bumper

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Close up of the air chuck.  We decided after learning from Knightrider's set up that being able to pressurize the system while driving into the air up spot is awesome.  You just let the tank fill up and you're ready to go when you stop.  What's not nice is trying to cram an air fitting into a system that is at 200psi.  Makes it a little tough.  So, we put in ball valves at each of the plug in points.  We're thinking this is going to work great!

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Compressor switch and Air Zenith gauge.  (The gauge is a little crooked - we basically installed it in the dark so I'm really surprised it's not upside down... I'll move it soon )  And, for anyone wondering what that internet (RJ45) connection is for, my ham mic plugs into there.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

100amp breaker for the 4g wire run back to the compressor

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Rear air chuck

What have you done for your Rig lately.

Some up close shots at the tank connections.  I think we're going to clean up the wire shielding a little elater down the road.  Probably some heat shrink tubing and sheathing. 

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

What have you done for your Rig lately.

I haven't actually used my set up for filling tires or running air tools, but I have a pretty good idea how it should work having used Knightriders for so long.
Pretty stoked with the whole deal.
The compressor isn't all that loud.  I look forward to airing up all the tires.

PS  I am also building an awesome dual tire inflation system.  I'll post about that when we build it!

[Celt]

Looks pretty good, I'm sure you will love it.

[RikRong]

So, I think I'm the only one on there that doesn't have on-board air. I know what I'm asking the wife for Christmas.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

[JFanaselle]

Everything looks great Steve! For some reason, I thought you had ordered an aluminum Hefty bumper. I do love the look of the full guard. I wish they offered that on the aluminum version.

[steve c]

Thanks guys!

Rick, there are definitely a few ways to do it.  Luckily, you literally have about every conceivable configuration available to you for inspection.  Compressor choice, mounting location, tank vs. no tank etc.  Next time we're around a campfire, you should look at everyones OBA set ups. 
I think my install may be a bit overkill, but who cares.  It's there now and depending on my mood or inclination, I can fill tires from two different spots, . 

Joe, if Hefty would have offered a full guard aluminum front bumper, I would have bought it in a heartbeat.  I absolutely love the look of the full guard Hefty bumper.  Plus, I've actually stuck to my guns.  I think in my first or second post on this site, I said I wanted a Hefty front bumper.  4 years later, reality! 

[Riz98]

Nice bumper and OBA setup.  The dual air fittings in the front and rear are very useful.  What winch are you looking at to stick on that bumper? 

[steve c]

Nice bumper and OBA setup.  The dual air fittings in the front and rear are very useful.  What winch are you looking at to stick on that bumper?

TBH, Jordan and I talked about this.  I probably don't need a winch.  I want a winch, but the type of wheeling I do, it just doesn't make sense as "the next mod."  That being said, probably one of Warns offerings  

There are just some other things I'd like to do before I get a winch.  Stuff to make "overlanding" more awesome.  Roof rack, reworked rear suspension, stuff like that. 

[CAWoody]

Alright, I'm jealous.   I have my compressor mounted and tank mounted i just haven't wired and plumbed the bugger yet.  I'm a little fuzzy on the pluming connections, where to get them and how to mount them.  Very nice set up you got there.  Hopefully by the next trip I can figure things out on my rig.