My girl's Xterra build

sharksanddanger

sharksanddanger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Location
Reidsville
We picked up my GF an Xterra about 6-8 weeks ago.

Currently it's a 2003 Auto with a 3/4 ton Ford 8 lug D44 front, welded with chromo shafts and 5.38 gears. The rear is a ford 9" with a detroit and 5.43s. It's got leaf springs front and rear, 3" yota springs up front and the calmini Xterra SAS pack sprung over in the rear. It's got some next to bald 37" mts that will need to be replaced and it also has a SYE on the t-case. Has an ARB front bumper with a MM8k winch with synthetic line. I've done all the welding on the truck and have known Nick about the entire time he's owned it so I know the truck has been taken care of for the most part.

I replaced the timing belt a couple weeks ago and after adjusting the time and idle it runs great. I also converted it over to a manual tranny. Since I can't seem to sell my coilovers I'll be putting them under the front with a 3 link and leaving the leafs out back. The truck will come down quite a ways to about 23-24" under the frame and we'll be running 37" tires.

Anyway here are a couple pictures of the Xterra and Ellen draining the fluids. She'll be doing most of the bolting and unbolting work on the truck and I'm doing the fabrication.
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All the new goodies going on the front
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Frame all cleaned up
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ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01193.jpg
 
New hoops and plates for the frame.

ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01195.jpg

ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01196.jpg

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Hoops welded and gusseted on the frame, you can't see it in the picture but there is a pretty cool plate gusset behind the tube closest to the steering box that welds to the frame and about 8"s up the hoop.


ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01199.jpg
 
Went to the local auto parts store and built a disk brake kit for the 9" rear axle, spent some time figuring out how that was going to work, used dodge rotors and chevy calipers, bent some hardline and got some stainless line made. I welded on a truss to try and stiffen up the housing a bit, cleaned the hell out of it and then reinstalled everything. I bolted back in the truck for now and once I finish the 3 link up front I'll make some new mounts for the rear and take out the overload spring.

Well onto the pictures....
Picture of the axle truss on there...
ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01200.jpg

Close up of the welds..
ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01201.jpg

ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01202.jpg


Axle all painted up with brake lines and disk brakes installed.
ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01205.jpg

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ai197.photobucket.com_albums_aa63_Frontier2k1_2003_20Xterra_DSC01208.jpg
 
Man, you really do nice work. Can't believe there's only one picture of her working though. :flipoff2:
Very cool, hope you get the appropriate extra loving.
 
She only loves you for your welds. Yet another nice project, Im very impressed already.
 
damnit boy, you never cease to amaze me
 
Those welds will never hold....you really should consider just mashing lots of wire around until you have big clumps. More wire = stronger, just like red paint = go faster...

:)
 
Needs more triangulation :)

Go Ellen! That's really what our sport needs is more wimmen involved. I think that would go a long way toward growth of the sport in general.

BTW, pretty work!
 
Richard, don't know much about you, or, if we have ever met, but dude, you do nice work!
One of these Fab shops ought to grab you up!
 
Sweet ride, I'm not a fan of Nissans but that is one sweet Xterra. Good job on getting your girl in one the modding of her rig.
 
Very sweet work and killer looking welds!
I also like the Newcastle that is sitting on the bumper :beer:
 
Man, This Xterra was honestly my inspiration to get into wheelin. Me and my buddies use to see nick up at kyoto's express in High point all the time and loved this thing ever since. Last time i saw it, it was coming out of my neighborhood with a ladder on top.
 
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