I figure I'll start a build thread here to keep track of my progress over the next few months. This spring I'm building my '04 into a decent little overlanding rig before I head off on an ambitious road trip this summer. I'm starting in Key West Florida, out to Ozette Washington, with a lot of time spent in Colorado/Montana/Wyoming/Idaho camping and just generally getting lost in the mountains. After that leg I'm heading up to Deadhorse Alaska before booking it over to Lubec Maine and finally home to Atlanta. I'm going to be living out of my X for the duration of the trip, but I'm not doing any serious interior mods. I'm just planning on keeping my stuff in plastic bins and sleeping in a bag on a mat in the backseat. Most of the work here is on the exterior.
I'm starting with a stock 2004 with 164k miles on it. I got it back in 2012 as my first car with 115k miles. It's got the VG33E, 5 speed manual, 4x4, and the LSD rear. It's been very capable stock, getting me through some decent fun trails in North GA and getting me around when metro Atlanta gets shut down with snow. I'm the second owner, and despite me buying it on Georgia, it's still a Colorado car. Sometimes I think all Xterras spawn in Colorado, and some manage to make it out of that state lol. It's still got a Colorado parks pass sticker in the windshield from 2009 and that is something that will never come off. It's got good service records from the previous owner, and I've kept up with the maintenance as well. Oil changes every 3.5k, rear main seal replaced to stop an oil leak, timing belt, water pump, and drive belts replaced at 120k miles, and I had the differentials, transfer case, and transmission oils replaced last spring.
Anyway, on to the mods.
Completed
Anyways, on to some pics!
Me and my ugly mug the day I picked it up.
First time going off road up at Charlie's creek trail in North GA.
Seat covers
LED interior
AUX in + Satellite radio + Junction box
Custom built light rack inspired by Xoskel's lopro light rack. Powder coated, mounted and installed with lights. Waiting for a warm dry weekend to wire them up.
How she sits today
Super excited for everything to come together. Just waiting on Shrockworks to build my armor before I throw everything on there. I opted to pick them up myself so I'm really looking forward to the road trip out to Houston to pick it all up. I ordered in October and will probably get in contact early next month to get an idea when they'll be ready so I can take the time off work to drive out there.
I'm starting with a stock 2004 with 164k miles on it. I got it back in 2012 as my first car with 115k miles. It's got the VG33E, 5 speed manual, 4x4, and the LSD rear. It's been very capable stock, getting me through some decent fun trails in North GA and getting me around when metro Atlanta gets shut down with snow. I'm the second owner, and despite me buying it on Georgia, it's still a Colorado car. Sometimes I think all Xterras spawn in Colorado, and some manage to make it out of that state lol. It's still got a Colorado parks pass sticker in the windshield from 2009 and that is something that will never come off. It's got good service records from the previous owner, and I've kept up with the maintenance as well. Oil changes every 3.5k, rear main seal replaced to stop an oil leak, timing belt, water pump, and drive belts replaced at 120k miles, and I had the differentials, transfer case, and transmission oils replaced last spring.
Anyway, on to the mods.
Completed
Rear diff breather extension (still want to find some small filter or something to put on the end)
Dome/Map lights replaced with LEDs
Auxiliary input added to factory radio. How to here
Satellite radio added w/ input selector switch for AUX input. Write up here
100% integrated dashcam
Front trim pieces painted matte gray
Coverking front seat covers, received for free from friend who was tossing them
4x Dayligthers mounted on the roof. Rack finished, lights mounted, still need to wire them up
3" Suspension lift from AC. Upper control arms, torsion bars, shackles, and Bilstein 4600s
Shrockworks front winch mount bumper
Shrockworks rear bumper
Shrockworks sliders
Shrockworks engine/trans + front + transfer case skid plates
Set of 5 265/75 R16 BFG KO2s
Rough Country Pro series 9,500s winch
Still to comeDome/Map lights replaced with LEDs
Auxiliary input added to factory radio. How to here
Satellite radio added w/ input selector switch for AUX input. Write up here
100% integrated dashcam
Front trim pieces painted matte gray
Coverking front seat covers, received for free from friend who was tossing them
4x Dayligthers mounted on the roof. Rack finished, lights mounted, still need to wire them up
3" Suspension lift from AC. Upper control arms, torsion bars, shackles, and Bilstein 4600s
Shrockworks front winch mount bumper
Shrockworks rear bumper
Shrockworks sliders
Shrockworks engine/trans + front + transfer case skid plates
Set of 5 265/75 R16 BFG KO2s
Rough Country Pro series 9,500s winch
Mounting for 20 gallons extra fuel
That's all I can think of right now, probably will end up doing some more. I'm playing with the idea of adding the 125 amp alternator off the quest to replace the factory 90 amp, but I don't think I'll ever put such a high electrical demand that I'll really need it. If the 90 amp serves me well, I'll run it till 200k miles at which point I'll throw the 125 amp on there anyways since that's my next big planned front end service. I don't want to go too crazy with this yet since it's still my daily driver. Probably going to buy myself a beater econobox later this year so I can start tearing into it.
Anyways, on to some pics!
Me and my ugly mug the day I picked it up.
First time going off road up at Charlie's creek trail in North GA.
Seat covers
LED interior
AUX in + Satellite radio + Junction box
Custom built light rack inspired by Xoskel's lopro light rack. Powder coated, mounted and installed with lights. Waiting for a warm dry weekend to wire them up.
How she sits today
Super excited for everything to come together. Just waiting on Shrockworks to build my armor before I throw everything on there. I opted to pick them up myself so I'm really looking forward to the road trip out to Houston to pick it all up. I ordered in October and will probably get in contact early next month to get an idea when they'll be ready so I can take the time off work to drive out there.
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