Terry's Xterra

[TerryD]

Hard to see in this picture but the rear axle is on the stands with the weight on it and the front is completely unloaded. The rear hub is lower than the front. I'm looking forward to seeing how the front ends up!

2018-04-12-21-53-15 by TerryD, on Flickr

[TerryD]

Well it's done!!!!

Post lift by TerryD, on Flickr

It's taken a good bit to get it done, but with the help of my dear wife and a buddy who came over yesterday after I helped him hang his new HF antenna, it's finally done. I've been looking forward to seeing it on it's wheels again all week. I roughed in an alignment and it seems to drive ok. I think the tow is a bit high.

I wound up cranking the cam bolts all the way out and moving the ball joints out on the SPC's about a 1/4" from the fully inboard position. I've got to find a shop this week to get the alignment taken care of.

Parts tally comes in at:
SPCs
Fat Bob's coil over modified 5100s with 600lb/in Eibach springs and 1" Nisstec Spacer
New Moog Lower control arms
New brake pads
+500lb +2.5" Alcan springs
Rear Radflo shocks
PRG u-bolt flip kit
Timbren bumps (need to check length, may have to add spacer)

I still have a full set of stainless brake hoses to add, but it looks like the rear will be OK without them for the time being. I figured at this mileage they wouldn't be a bad addition either way.

I went ahead and ground the coil buckets till the UCAs would bottom out on the bucket with the ball joint all the way inboard. I shouldn't every have any issues with CBC or ball joint boot damage now...

Post lift by TerryD, on Flickr

Most of these parts were used and I want to thank everyone who sold me your junk cheap!!! I can't remember who I got everything from right now. I'd have to look it up.

Now to await my Shrockworks front bumper and try to find time to install my ARB compressor and finalize my radio install.

20180414_160920 by TerryD, on Flickr

Post lift by TerryD, on Flickr

[TerryD]

Nothing so exciting today. I resealed the passenger side timing chain tensioner inspection port on the timing cover. Its had a weep since I had the dealership do the secondary tensioners last year. Another reason I hate having others work on my stuff. I always have to go back and fix something.

[XJWayne]

Looks good, since it's a DD are there any plans to mod further?

[TerryD]

Oh yeah. Shrockworks front bumper is ordered and due in June, there's a 10k Warn winch on the shelves in the basement, weighing options for regearing right now and how far I want to take that, and a rear bumper with tire carrier and dual gas/water can carrier is also in its future.

Since selling the K5, I can focus on one project a little more. It probably won't get any more lift or tire though. The purpose of this thing is, overall, family travels. We're wanting to start traveling and exploring more. We are planning a trip to the Pisgah Nat'l forest in June to spend a few days camping and exploring the area. Then we'll head over to Gatlinburg for a few nights as well.

[XJWayne]

Oh yeah. Shrockworks front bumper is ordered and due in June, there's a 10k Warn winch on the shelves in the basement, weighing options for regearing right now and how far I want to take that, and a rear bumper with tire carrier and dual gas/water can carrier is also in its future.

Since selling the K5, I can focus on one project a little more. It probably won't get any more lift or tire though. The purpose of this thing is, overall, family travels. We're wanting to start traveling and exploring more. We are planning a trip to the Pisgah Nat'l forest in June to spend a few days camping and exploring the area. Then we'll head over to Gatlinburg for a few nights as well.

Sounds like about where I want to go with the XJ

[TerryD]

Made an appointment to get it aligned at the Firestone at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke. They have the lifetime alignment on sale right now. That's one free alignment every 6mo/6k mi. I figured with IFS that's probably a good idea.

[TerryD]

So after my alignment, I headed up to Craig County to meet up with Brett and see how our freshly lifted rigs would do.

I only aired down to about 25psi for the trip. I'm pretty pleased with how the Xterra worked out there. We only ran down to the Sand Notch at The Overlook and turned around, but Brett got to finally go across Kidney Rock and I good a pretty good idea of how the Xterra is going to work out.

The sliders took a couple light hits. I need to see if there's a way to get a little more down travel. Coming out of a few pot holes, I could feel the front top out and actually carry the front tires. I've only got a 1/2" thick spacer on top of the 5100s, I may need to go to a thicker one when I get the Shrockworks bumper on there and gain a touch more down travel.

This morning I retorqued the whole suspension. Found out that the clunk in the front end was a loose swaybar end link and I had to put about a 1/4 turn on each of the u-bolts to get back to the torque specs. Otherwise, everything was good.

20180421_182406 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180421_184239 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180421_182722 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180421_171938 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180421_182421 by TerryD, on Flickr

I took Elder Minion with me, she was taking the pictures. I think she did ok. The video she shot is pretty shaky though. I'm going to have to give her some lessons on shooting off-road video here soon.

20180421_181106 by TerryD, on Flickr

[zip ties]

I’m always so happy when Bret is wheeling and seeing both his front tires heading in the same direction.

[TerryD]

I’m always so happy when Bret is wheeling and seeing both his front tires heading in the same direction.

Funny you mention that! He's got one of those trick aluminum tie rods that will allow them to point at each other and still spring back to how they are supposed to be after you get it off the rock point.

[TerryD]

A couple Xterra buddies and I ran Flag Pole with the Mid Atlantic Overland group Saturday. Got the stretch the legs of the Xterra some and do some camping with my kids. It was a great day out on the trail:

FB_IMG_1525027398696 by TerryD, on Flickr

IMG_1810 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180428_153936 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180428_154105 by TerryD, on Flickr

20180430_092644 by TerryD, on Flickr

[CJMTaco]

Looks like ya'll had a blast up there! Flagpole has always been an enjoyable set of trails that aren't too far from my home.

[TerryD]

We had a great time up there. It was the first real experience off-road for the guy in the stock P4X. He was really impressed with how well it performed. I had a lot of fun in the more technical spots.

[BadAssEddie]

Nice, been wanting to get up to Flagpole.

Build is looking good so far, even if it's morfing into an overlander

[TerryD]

Nice, been wanting to get up to Flagpole.

Build is looking good so far, even if it's morfing into an overlander

Eh, it's MEANT to be an overlander!

I scored a set of the nice Radflo Extended travel coilovers for the front to do away with those Bilstein 5100s. The Bils aren't valved to deal with the 600lb/in springs I have on there and my current springs are too long to boot, so it's just not working out. I got these Rads for a good deal, new in the box.