Mortonm's 2001 Xterra Build

[mortonm]

I went to metal supermarkets today and picked up the stainless steel that I am going to use to replace my revision fog mounts.

The old stuff was crap quality and about 3/32nds thick. The new is much better quality and is 1/4. A little overkill? maybe but it shouldn't move around now...

I will have to heat it up to bend it, but that's a problem for another day. It was scraps they had laying around, so I got both pieces for $5, pretty good.

Full dimensions are 12" x 1.5" x 1/4". I believe that I need to reach about 9" from the mounting location to the middle of the opening, should work well

 

[mortonm]

Left my lights on during the day yesterday at work, killed my battery (remote wouldn't work, even erased my radio presets and trip counters)

It boosted up alright, but its a pretty low end battery to begin with, so I figured it was time to upgrade.

My father in law can some pretty good price in Interstate batteries so I upgraded to a Mega-Tron Plus.

1000 CA
800 CCA
85 Reserve Capacity

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/...d:MTP-24|Nissan_Xterra|2001_HD+&+Can_V6/3.3L)

I decided to stick the the stock group size, it will provide me lots of juice, I only have the two extra LED lights anyways. If i need more down the line for a winch etc I can upgrade to go to a dual battery setup, this will do for now!

I also ordered up a new accessory belt (fan/power steering etc) and a new alternator belt. Something is squealing like a pig, so i figured for the price I might as well change both while I am in there.

Will be doing both next weekend as well as getting the fogs mounted up. I am going to leave the skid plates for sometime in February, I wont be needing them before that, and I do have to drill a couple of holes in the one cross-member.

 

[stioc]

Good call on the battery, is it an AGM battery?

A single larger battery is usually good enough for even accessories like a fridge or occasional winch use if you're not careless about it. The dual battery setup adds a peace of mind but at a higher complexity and cost.

 

[mortonm]

Good call on the battery, is it an AGM battery?

A single larger battery is usually good enough for even accessories like a fridge or occasional winch use if you're not careless about it. The dual battery setup adds a peace of mind but at a higher complexity and cost.

It is not an AGM battery, Interstate does have an AGM but at twice the price, it wasn't justifiable to me.

Like you said, good enough for my lights, my fridge and the odd winching. If its not, then I can address the issue then.

Since it looks like my brothers XJ will be along for most trips I take this year, the need for a winch has been reduced for me.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Nice call on the battery. I'm looking at maybe doing a similar upgrade.

 

[mortonm]

Couple pictures from my brothers build thread showing his new tires in the fall. Shows the difference between 215/85R16 and 235/85R16

2000 XJ with 2" OME lift with 215/85R16 motomaster at2 tires (made by cooper)
2001 Xterra with 1" lift and 235/85R16 BFG AT tires

 

[mortonm]

 

[Allof75]

Motor Trend 2000 Xterra vs. 2000 Cherokee

 

[mortonm]

Motor Trend 2000 Xterra vs. 2000 Cherokee

Thank you! Good read

Interesting they list the front suspension of the Xterra incorrectly, says upper/lower control arms, coil springs

 

[stioc]

Man, those 215s, talk about pizza cutters!

 

[mortonm]

Man, those 215s, talk about pizza cutters!

Yup! There is some mud on the shoulder lugs making them appear a little skinnier

 

[richard310]

pizza cutters they are! But less rolling resistance on the road!

Overly skinny tires always looked funny to me. Always reminds me of those solar powered cars or salt flat racers, depending on the vehicle of course.

 

[mortonm]

pizza cutters they are! But less rolling resistance on the road!

Overly skinny tires always looked funny to me. Always reminds me of those solar powered cars or salt flat racers, depending on the vehicle of course.

215/85s look good on the XJ because it's so skinny and boxy, anything newer and they look too skinny on.

Some of the earlier land rovers look good with them as well

 

[wreckdiver1321]

And I thought my 235s were skinny!

It always makes me chuckle when I see how diminutive the XJ is. If you see a picture of just an XJ, it looks fairly decently sized. Then put it next to anything else, and it looks pretty small.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Some of the earlier land rovers look good with them as well

They look good on pretty much every Rover up until 2005. The DIs and DIIs look amazing with them. The Defenders still do.