wreckdiver1321
Overlander
As long as you're gentle with the throttle!
"Lola" - WreckDiver1321's 2005 Frontier CC/SB Nismo Build and Adventure Thread
- Thread starter wreckdiver1321
- Start date
As long as you're gentle with the throttle!
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Well, there goes $850...
mortonm
Expedition Leader
Winch?
sureshotian0723
Observer
Lift?
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Nope.
Winch isn't too far off though. I can get a screamin' deal on the awesome Superwinch X9. Yessir!
NissTec adjustable coilovers with 600lb springs and NissTec adjustable shackles. The NissTec coilovers are made with a Bilstein 5100 shock and an Eibach spring, so they are really well made. Totally adjustable, and will get me 2" of lift with a good ride. I'm pretty stoked for this setup.
After a few months, I'll upgrade the rear end to Bilstein 5125s and either OME MD springs or get a custom made set from Alcan or Deaver. Which way I go remains to be seen.
sureshotian0723
Observer
Post tons of pics when you throw them on! Contemplating selling my firebird and picking up a frontier similar to yours.
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
You can count on it!
Hard to go wrong with these trucks, super reliable and very capable. They're also extremely comfortable an quiet on the road, so they make a great highway vehicle. A couple little things to keep an eye out for, but nothing too major and those little things are easy to get around.
sureshotian0723
Observer
Yeah that's what I've heard. Them being quiet on the highway since I drive a half hour to college daily is a huge plus. Any pointers you can give for what to watch out for?
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Always pop open the radiator cap and check the coolant if the truck has an automatic transmission. If it looks like a strawberry milkshake - milky and pink - walk away. These trucks have an issue in the radiator where the transmission cooler line that runs through the radiator ruptures and the fluids mix. This will wipe out every seal in the transmission and land you with a large repair bill. This little issue can be bypassed though, take a look at the earlier parts of this thread. If you get a manual trans, this is not an issue.
If you can find one, try to get yourself a Nismo or Pro-4X truck. I know there has been a lot of debate about whether it is worthwhile to get one, but I would argue that it is totally worth the bump in cost and extra effort to find one, especially for a college student. The factory locker has saved my butt a few times and allowed me to be more careful in many situations off road. Simply put, you'll probably damage the body before you run out of traction. I know aftermarket lockers can be had, but having it already in the truck and wired up and all that is worth it to me. This package also gets you into the M226 rear axle, which is as strong as you can get from the factory. This package also comes with a nicer interior color, better looking seats (in my opinion), often comes with a sunroof (which I really like), and has a Rockford Fosgate sound system (which is really nice). This package also comes with heavier duty suspension. Now I know the odds are that it will be replaced, but until you can afford to do that, it does carry a load pretty well and stands up better than a lower spec truck to off road situations.
There are some limitations from a modification standpoint to think about, namely the front suspension. It takes an awful lot of money to lift, and even more money to lift past 2.5". 1.5"-2" is optimal if you don't plan on replacing the upper control arms, which will add (at least) another $420. I've spent $850 on my suspension parts, and I haven't even gotten the final parts bought for the rear yet. Being a college student like yourself, I can tell you this can be a strain at times.
Aftermarket support is rather limited. There just aren't that many companies making bolt-on parts for this platform. There aren't many options at all for bumper and sliders, and many will take months to get to you because they are from custom fabrication shops. Suspension options are much more broad, but pretty expensive if you want more load carrying capacity and an improved ride. ARB does make front and rear lockers though, so that is a plus.
Otherwise, there is very little to go wrong on these trucks. Everything is well engineered and well put together. The small shortcomings of this truck are more than completely outweighed by how good a vehicle it is. Extremely reliable (think Toyota reliable), tough as old boots, and very capable in off-road situations. Add to that they are very quiet and very comfortable to drive on a day-to-day basis. I'm also a huge fan of the VQ40 V6. Silky smooth and quite a lot of power for the weight of the truck. It really scoots. Plus, if you drive it nice, you can expect 19-21 mpg on the highway!
I am in love with mine. It's just a great truck to live with. Looks great, feels good to drive, and doesn't fail me when I need it.
sureshotian0723
Observer
Thanks for all the advice! When it comes to fabbing I may have the upper hand on people considering I'm going to college for a associates degree in high performance auto mechanics and I get free rain of the shop on Fridays. I just recently started though so I don't really know all to much about fabbing. Only done minor fab work on my firebird (custom turbo set up). But I look forward to watching your truck progress and seeing your adventures. If there's anything fab wise I can help with I'd be more than happy to help out.
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wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Ah, very cool! Always good to see when someone goes that route. It's a greatly underappreciated profession. If there's anything I can think of that I need, I'll certainly let you know. Thanks!
I have a friend in town that is an amazing fabricator. I'll be redesigning my RTT mounting solution with something cool that he came up with, and he might be the one making my sliders. Thanks for watching, I try to pack in the adventuring as much as possible.
Where are you located, by the way?
Dmski
Adventurer
Always pop open the radiator cap and check the coolant if the truck has an automatic transmission. If it looks like a strawberry milkshake - milky and pink - walk away. These trucks have an issue in the radiator where the transmission cooler line that runs through the radiator ruptures and the fluids mix. This will wipe out every seal in the transmission and land you with a large repair bill. This little issue can be bypassed though, take a look at the earlier parts of this thread. If you get a manual trans, this is not an issue.
If you can find one, try to get yourself a Nismo or Pro-4X truck. I know there has been a lot of debate about whether it is worthwhile to get one, but I would argue that it is totally worth the bump in cost and extra effort to find one, especially for a college student. The factory locker has saved my butt a few times and allowed me to be more careful in many situations off road. Simply put, you'll probably damage the body before you run out of traction. I know aftermarket lockers can be had, but having it already in the truck and wired up and all that is worth it to me. This package also gets you into the M226 rear axle, which is as strong as you can get from the factory. This package also comes with a nicer interior color, better looking seats (in my opinion), often comes with a sunroof (which I really like), and has a Rockford Fosgate sound system (which is really nice). This package also comes with heavier duty suspension. Now I know the odds are that it will be replaced, but until you can afford to do that, it does carry a load pretty well and stands up better than a lower spec truck to off road situations.
There are some limitations from a modification standpoint to think about, namely the front suspension. It takes an awful lot of money to lift, and even more money to lift past 2.5". 1.5"-2" is optimal if you don't plan on replacing the upper control arms, which will add (at least) another $420. I've spent $850 on my suspension parts, and I haven't even gotten the final parts bought for the rear yet. Being a college student like yourself, I can tell you this can be a strain at times.
Aftermarket support is rather limited. There just aren't that many companies making bolt-on parts for this platform. There aren't many options at all for bumper and sliders, and many will take months to get to you because they are from custom fabrication shops. Suspension options are much more broad, but pretty expensive if you want more load carrying capacity and an improved ride. ARB does make front and rear lockers though, so that is a plus.
Otherwise, there is very little to go wrong on these trucks. Everything is well engineered and well put together. The small shortcomings of this truck are more than completely outweighed by how good a vehicle it is. Extremely reliable (think Toyota reliable), tough as old boots, and very capable in off-road situations. Add to that they are very quiet and very comfortable to drive on a day-to-day basis. I'm also a huge fan of the VQ40 V6. Silky smooth and quite a lot of power for the weight of the truck. It really scoots. Plus, if you drive it nice, you can expect 19-21 mpg on the highway!
I am in love with mine. It's just a great truck to live with. Looks great, feels good to drive, and doesn't fail me when I need it.
Probably one of the best descriptions of these 2nd gen trucks. All around they are very stout rigs and aside from the transmission issue, they are very well put together.
sureshotian0723
Observer
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Thanks! Stay tuned, there's always more to come!
Ah, very cool. I have a friend out here who calls Ohio home.