Topic: Mountain Express

[zaphos]

Joined SCCX: 2016 but didn't get secret handshake yet

Username: Zaphos

Real Name: Mark

Year: 2001
Make: Nissan
Model: Xterra  4x4
Trim: SE
Color: Black

Mods:

Engine:
-K&N intake with extra filter sock
-2 core radiator
- Swapped the horrific stock 3-1 for port matched log type exhaust manifold ~ +10 HP

Suspension/ Lift:
- Lokka front locker
- Front diff drop bushings
- Warn manual hubs
- UCA front lift with idler arm brace
- +30% Front Torsion bars
- "Drilled" front compression bump-stop for some extra travel
- Rear 2" adjustable lift shackles
- New OEM rear springs with add a leaf springs
- Bilstein yellow shocks/ mounts soon to be replaced for longer travel
- 2" body lift, necessary evil to avoid having to massacre my wheel wells

Armor:
-Shrockworks front bumper
-Calmini rear bumper/ tire carrier
-Custom sliders
Lighting:
-LED bumpers lights, maybe roof lights in future if needed

Comms
-CB and 2m/ 440

Wheels:
-17x9 with Cooper 285/70/17 A/T3

Future Mods:
- Full aluminum skids
- New heads to be port/ polished by Randy down at Chassis Masters with Jim Wolfe Stage 1 cams courtesy of Auto Customizers.
- Custom Exhaust system - Want to try outside frame rail to open space for aux fuel tank
- Aux fuel tank
- Possible replacement of front & rear bumper with home-fabbed aluminum replacements

Recovery:
- Land (boat) anchor
- Bogout soft winch

Furnature:
- Ironman awning

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[CAWoody]

Very nice set-up.  BE careful with those side steps, they usually end up crushed and blocking the doors.

[fourxfunk]

Nice rig man, I love a nice first gen!

[JFanaselle]

Nice to see some photos of your rig! Looks great.

[zaphos]

Update:

I now have a full size spare!

Rear Calmini bumper/ tire carrier has arrived after 11 months (That has to be some kind of record). That having been said, it did fit perfectly so maybe that is my reward for an insane level of patience.

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Picture makes spare look HUGE. I'll take a better pic from further away.

I am also installing a Bearcat 980 SSB CB. I'll get to the HAM radio in the future but the CB will do for now.

And the winch, I'll need some quality weekend time for that one.

More to come...

[EJsarus]

very nice. Hopefully my 1st gen will have the same upgrades by next summer.

[0317]

She's a beauty

[Jayrat]

Looks Good Mark

[Ghost65]

Congrats man...I know that feeling.  Glad your armored up!

[zaphos]

O.K., I decided to spend a bunch of money because I'm a masochist. After my 11 month ordeal getting a rear bumper from Calmini, I am going custom fab wherever I can. Plug for The Truck Shop, they rock but keep wondering why I bring a Nissan to a Toyota shop  .  So here is the latest list...

- Custom front skidpate
- Custom sliders

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I also inherited a crazy K&N dirt sucker. Until I can retro back to a stock airbox, I went with the oldest trick in the book...

Before...
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After...
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Next, spare tire cover, Trasharoo, and HAM radio install. More to come.

[Celt]

Looking really nice. I feel your pain with Calmini, they make a great product but don't hold your breath waiting for them to come in.

[Jayrat]

I Have a couple of friends that work for the Truck Shop

[zaphos]

Well some BAD news and maybe a cool new tool.

Bad news: Fabricator "Captain flake" ran off with my new Warn M8000S winch under the pretense of fabbing me up an aluminum bumper. This will be resolved eventually but not answering calls or texts for months so, until I can get up there to pin him down, I need another option. All future fab is going to the Truck Shop until I get my garage finished.

Found...

Weight being a major consideration on my 1st gen, I spoke with these guys in Australia (Charlie Aubin is a really cool guy) and convinced them to offer the product on US Amazon, and they did WITH PRIME shipping...

https://www.amazon.com/BOGOUT-BOG-OUT-Aussie-VERSATILE/dp/B077PRLD5W




I'm going to play with it until I can "recover" my damn winch.

./Mark

[zaphos]

Hey all, happy new year. Hopefully, it will be the year we get out of this funk.

Well, it looks like after 170,000 miles, the head gasket finally gave up the ghost. With those miles, just fixing the head gasket is kind of lipstick on a pig I think. The rest of the engine will still be worn. Time to get a fresher engine. Reman = $4000.00, JDM = $1000.00, JDM it is unless anyone has a fresh VG33E lying around .   

My idea was to get a swap at JDM of San Diego. Anyone done business with them or have another idea or someone you recommend to do the install?

Also, here's an update on my buildout:

Future Mods:
- Full aluminum skids - Done
- New heads to be port/ polished by Randy down at Chassis Masters with Jim Wolfe Stage 1 cams courtesy of Auto Customizers. - TDB due to engine wreckage
- Custom Exhaust system - Done, not as exotic as I had hoped but quiet and flows well.
- Aux fuel tank - Done, went with Titan Trekker II on the tailgate, awesome setup!
- Possible replacement of front & rear bumper with home-fabbed aluminum replacements - I did get a welder but this is kind of a loooong term idea, LOL.

- New - 50w solar so I don't have to start the truck to keep the batt up. Got the panel in and going to connect via Renogy DCC50S to LifePO4 batt (possibly replacing the starter batt) to save weight. If not, secondary house batt.
- New - AC 4:1 Transfer case gears. Have gears and spare transfer case, just need to work out the details (do the work).

   

Recovery:
- Land (boat) anchor
- Bogout soft winch - I STILL haven't tested this combo. Every time I go out, we are either in a bad area to test, or in a rush or ... 

Furnature:
- Ironman awning - Killer setup, I really like it.



 

[Jayrat]

Looking good Mark , hope the Family is well