New Xterra builder seeking advice

[beatfreak79]

I have a 2004 naturally aspirated XE 4x4. I have and idea of what I want to do with it, but I need advice on which parts to go with. My idea is to do a 2.5 to 3 inch lift, headers, dual exhaust, chip, cold air intake, electrical grounding kit, wheels and tires, front and rear bumpers and more.
My questions start with the lift kit. Which one is preferred? I've seen the Calmini kits and have read some scathing reviews. That leaves me to ask what kit seems to be preferred amongst the Xterra faithful? I'm not going to be rock crawling, but it would be nice to get over a fallen telphone pole if needed. Headers is the next one, why are they such a pain to find for the 2004 model? Next is the exhaust, is there a complete kit for a dual exhaust or is tha a custom fab job?
I think its obvious that I'm a noob to this but I really want to learn and build my Xterra into an urban assault vehicle that can take the off road abuse as well. Any advice will be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to building this machine up and showing the progress as things go.

 

[NismoFire]

Doug Thorley Headers are popular among the First Gen (2000-2004). They can be found at Off Road Performance Parts (one of our site sponsors).

You can piece together a 2" body lift for less than $80. http://www.xterranation.org/showthread.php?21-DIY-Body-lift-parts

Suspension lifts are pretty simple. Purchase some shackles from https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/ or Calmini, and crank the torsion bars (we refer to this as Poor Mans Lift, or PML). If you desire more lift up front, you can finish it up with a new Upper Control Arm, also found at Calmini or 4x4parts.com. If you desire more lift in the rear, you can purchase an Add A Leaf (AAL) pack.



Spend some time browsing the DIY threads http://www.xterranation.org/forumdisplay.php?41-Do-it-yourself-2000-2004 and the Gen 1 area in general http://www.xterranation.org/forumdisplay.php?3-Gen-1-2000-2004 and you'll find a wealth of information.





Welcome to the Nation!

 

[Muadeeb]

Welcome to the Nation!!

1st question is what is your end goal for the vehicle? Once you know where you want to go, it'll be easier to figure out how to get there. Take a while to get to know your vehicle in its stock form and that will help you know what need to be improved too.

Lifts: by no means an expert here, but the threads I've read show that people are happy with Caliminis kit. I'll have to let those who've lift answer this fully

Chips: the 1st Gen ECU is too stupid for these. Stay away.

Headers: Doug Thorley is about the only option and several sponsors here sell them.

Exhaust: Since you want headers, a complete exhaust overhaul is about the best option. Read through the Gen 1 "Under the Hood" sub-forum for some ideas

Feel free to start up a build thread in the Gen 1 forum too!

Sent via wild ferrets on crack

 

[lbishop]

calmini or ac components are good for a suspension lift. Befor I hauled off and purchased a full kit, i'd look into piecing one together. Chances are you'll come out cheaper that away

Plans for my 04 suspension wise are
1: revolver shackles-$285.00+ 87.50 (extended brake lines)- $372.50
2: Calmini UCA's-$389.95
3: Calmini aal- $179.95
Total: $942.40

Ac Articulator suspension kit- $1395 (includes h.d torsion bars, 3 leaf aal)
calmini kit- $1029.95

Just a little food for thought. Ive got a buddy that lifted his 4-runner and couldve come out way cheaper piecin the kit together.

Just do some lookin around here and see what set-ups everybody's running and then decided where you wanna go with your rig. I'll let somebody else the exhaust stuff, above my paygrade lol

welcome to xterra nation by the way

 

[beatfreak79]

I've had the X for almost 4 years now and I'm pretty familiar with its strengths and weaknesses. My end goal is to have the ability to get through roads that have been blocked off by hurricane debry. I need the X to be able to go into 3 to 4 feet of water and not drown or short out electrically. It needs to have enough power to mob through the mud, water and wreckage. On the flip side, I also need it to function as a daily driver. Sounds like I want the best of both worlds here, and I understand that might not be totally possible, but I would at least like to try.
Thanks for steering me away from the chips though. That could have caused major issues.

 

[Macland]

Welcome to the nation, you came to the right place for first gen info and advice. Sounds like you may also want to check into the snorkel threads.

 

[beatfreak79]

That sounds like a smarter way ot go with the suspension lift. How much of a lift do you plan on doing?

 

[lbishop]

well i'm settin on a 2in body lift w/ 1/2 a pml to level the truck with 32's right now

When i'm done ill have
2 inch body lift
3/4 inch roughly out the revolvers
1.5 inches out the aal
Full 3 inches up front
33's tire wise

Basically it'll be 5 inches or so (little less in the rear because i want my truck to have a leveled look)

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

i'm sitting at out 5inches including a body lift. i sit about even but i do have slight drag in the rear because my leafs are old and i have a ton of stuff in my hatch. i believe the AC AAL is a few bucks cheaper also. i roll on 32's now 33's. The HD tb's are awesome to level out the front.

 

[drbandkgb]

I have a 2004 naturally aspirated XE 4x4. I have and idea of what I want to do with it, but I need advice on which parts to go with. My idea is to do a 2.5 to 3 inch lift, headers, dual exhaust, chip, cold air intake, electrical grounding kit, wheels and tires, front and rear bumpers and more.
My questions start with the lift kit. Which one is preferred? I've seen the Calmini kits and have read some scathing reviews. That leaves me to ask what kit seems to be preferred amongst the Xterra faithful? I'm not going to be rock crawling, but it would be nice to get over a fallen telphone pole if needed. Headers is the next one, why are they such a pain to find for the 2004 model? Next is the exhaust, is there a complete kit for a dual exhaust or is tha a custom fab job?
I think its obvious that I'm a noob to this but I really want to learn and build my Xterra into an urban assault vehicle that can take the off road abuse as well. Any advice will be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to building this machine up and showing the progress as things go.

You have a ton going on here...

Sadly The Gen 1 3.3 has no chip for added HPs.. 4x4parts.com will monkey with your computer if you do not mind shipping it to them and waiting a few weeks on it..
I have not read of any doing this..

Calmini is a good kit... The only issue I have ever read is powder coating.. And thats been years ago.. On the Gen 2 they released some parts that had fitting issues but once again..
That was a long time ago..

Rear shackles will add 1.5" of lift in the rear and the T-bars can gain you about 1" or so in the front.. After that you will need Upper control arms to get another 1.5"s in the front..
AAL or add a leaf for the rear can gain you 1.5 to 3" of lift in the rear too.. The body lift is pretty easy to part together and do.. If you have any members in your area.. Hit one up to see if they are having a MOD day or know of any.. Many members will help for Pizza

Shackles are shackles.. I have run the AC on 2 Xterras and im about to install the Calmini on my 2009.. Really the UCA are about the same too.. I will say that the calmini do look beefier.

I think I touched on the Header issue with yo in a different thread...


Welcome into XN.. This is a great group of people that truly love these silly SUVs

 

[yellowbug]

Welcome to the nation. It seems like everyone has pretty much covered everything. What tire size do you want to end with?

 

[NMTerras]

The only thing I would add is if you want to be able to handle 3-4 feet of water, do NOT do a cold air intake, it will be vulnerable. There is a cheap stock airbox mod that will improve your performance. You probably would benefit from a snorkel, and they've recently become available on eBay relatively inexpensive

 

[beatfreak79]

I think 32" tires will give me enough meat to work with. I had my eye on some 17 inch fuel wheels to mount the tires on.

 

[lbishop]

whats the backspace on those fuels?

4.5 backspace with 32's gives it a really nice stance... Mostly plastic trimming and I did have to hammer the pinch welds back. I later put a body lift on and solved all the issues. Let me know if you want pictures of what was trimmed?

 

[beatfreak79]

I thnk the back space is 4.5 inches on the fuel wheels. I will probably go with the 18x9 wheels on 32's. They should look real good and I should have enough side wall strength in the tires inspite of the rim size. If you could send pics of you trimmed I would appreciate that.

 

[drbandkgb]

Just some things to think about...

16,17,18 all equal big money for tires... About 30 to 60 more per tire...
15" rim is the best value

Back spacing on the Xterra means everything.. I do not recommend going over -4.75
Even then your going to be trimming on the fenders.

This is a 33" tire with no Body lift at a 4 bs.. 8" wide rim... As you can see a 32" tire with that back spacing isnt going to be much better there.

If your going to run an aggressive rim and tire your going to need to do the BL..

 

[beatfreak79]

I'm confused a little on the back spacing thing. Is it that I have to stay under 4.75 or is that the lowest I can go. As in don't have an less than 4.75.

 

[lbishop]

the less backspace you have the further out the fenderwell the tires stick. Which causes more problems cause the tire is swinging in a wider arc.... If you think theres any chance you wanna run 33's, then I would I try to find something with a 4.75 or greater backspacing. UNless you don't mind cutting metal.... Check out Nigthanks build thread, 18 inch kmc rockstars (5 inch backspace) with 33s

A good comprise for the xterra's seem to be wheels with a 4.75 or higher backspace. (stock wheels have a 5.5 inch backspace)

I ran 265/75/16s on wheels w/ a 4.5 inch backspace (torsion bars raised to level the truck)

trimmin done on the plastics and hammering the pinch welds back

After the body lift