Short and sweet get away
CK5
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2007 Xterra:Terry's Bolt On Wheeler
- Thread starter TerryD
- Start date
Yep! But it was needed. I wish I had the time to do more of that kind of thing and now that Julie is working, we can get caught up on some stuff around home and then have the time to spend more time out wandering.
Stopped for a hand dipped corn dog at DipDog near Marion, Va on the way down. If you don't like the red hot dogs, try a burger! But I'm mountain folk from way back so I like the slightly pickled taste!
Enjoying the views
Blondie enjoying her hammock.
S'mores made with the fudge coated shortbread cookies
The views off the mountain are incredible
Some shots from Mortimer, NC
Enjoying the views
Blondie enjoying her hammock.
S'mores made with the fudge coated shortbread cookies
The views off the mountain are incredible
Some shots from Mortimer, NC
I'm really pleased with how the X is doing. A set of drawers with a fridge/cooler slide in the back to help accessibility to my tools and recover gear, some 3.69 diffs with a rear locker and a Maxgear rear bumper with tire carrier and jerry can mounts will just about do me I think.
It works great for what I do with it and I just can't think of any mod that will improve how it does enough to justify it. Possibly a FrontRunner roof rack sometime down the road, but I'm not sure about that yet. These will all be $$ so I'm in no hurry. As I've been saying for 2 years now, gearing will be the next thing.
It works great for what I do with it and I just can't think of any mod that will improve how it does enough to justify it. Possibly a FrontRunner roof rack sometime down the road, but I'm not sure about that yet. These will all be $$ so I'm in no hurry. As I've been saying for 2 years now, gearing will be the next thing.
Nice to see this thing still getting out and about! 
And let me guess, your next upgrade will probably be gearing? 
And let me guess, your next upgrade will probably be gearing?
I'd love it!
Right now there's so much going on with the house and kids I'm monetarily stretched thin.
I need to put some money into the truck too. And I need about 3 more days in a week so I have time to do those things...
I need to put some money into the truck too. And I need about 3 more days in a week so I have time to do those things...
There were thoughts of SASing this weekend.
Had to run parts out on the Jeep trail to a group from the club with a broke truck.
Articulation would be nice...
Got it dirty...
Had to run parts out on the Jeep trail to a group from the club with a broke truck.
Articulation would be nice...
Got it dirty...
Went to change the valve cover gaskets today to stop the oil leaking down the back of the block. As it turns out, you can't change the spark plug tube seals in the OE covers. I didn't learn this until I had completely wasted one of the seals trying!!
Just ordered two new covers and I'm doing research into what other covers with fit the VQ40 that will have replaceable seals but I've so far come up empty handed. It's really aggravating that a piece like this isn't reusable. But I guess it is what it is. I had planned on replacing the covers, seals and spark plugs every 50k to prevent problems because it's such a pain to pull the upper intake every time you have to work on it but I may just push that out to 100k (or as needed) and just put new covers on each time to prevent tube seal failure from wasting my ignition coils.
I really like my Xterra but there's some things like this that really get under my skin.
Just ordered two new covers and I'm doing research into what other covers with fit the VQ40 that will have replaceable seals but I've so far come up empty handed. It's really aggravating that a piece like this isn't reusable. But I guess it is what it is. I had planned on replacing the covers, seals and spark plugs every 50k to prevent problems because it's such a pain to pull the upper intake every time you have to work on it but I may just push that out to 100k (or as needed) and just put new covers on each time to prevent tube seal failure from wasting my ignition coils.
I really like my Xterra but there's some things like this that really get under my skin.
That's true of any car, no?
I suppose so.
But it highlights how much simpler the 4.0L I6 in my Cherokee was to work on. But it was 100hp less so there's that too...
Given the headache of changing out cover gaskets every 50k miles...are the 100 ponies worth it?
I'm a patient driver, and I have a soft spot for inlines. So my answer may be different than yours.
Given the headache of changing out cover gaskets every 50k miles...are the 100 ponies worth it?
I'm a patient driver, and I have a soft spot for inlines. So my answer may be different than yours.
Well, the 50k thing was preemptive. I was going to try to stay on top of the whole thing but 100k isn't unreasonable I guess. The hope was that changing the gaskets, tube seals, spark plugs and PCV valve would help minimize the chance of leaks and keep everything in good working order for long term dependability.
Valve covers should be here Thursday. Then the weather is going to pot so I may be putting the new covers on under a canopy this weekend. I'm thinking about putting in spark plugs while I'm in this far. It's a lot easier to do with the intake off and with the new covers and seals, I'll easily be good for 100k miles without having to go back in (baring some other failure). Probably worth my effort even though the plugs in it only have about 20k on them.
Got the driver's side cover back on today and pulled the plenum to hopefully do the passenger side tomorrow.
Got an interesting surprise pulling the wheel well liner to get at some brackets holding the plenum and wiring harness in place on the passenger side.
It looks like my UCA hit the liner and bent one of the bolts holding the relay block in place. It jammed the liner up on the bolt and bent it so I had to pry the liner loose from the bent bolt to get it out.
I guess I'll be looking into a set of the Timbren bump stops for the front as well.
Got an interesting surprise pulling the wheel well liner to get at some brackets holding the plenum and wiring harness in place on the passenger side.
It looks like my UCA hit the liner and bent one of the bolts holding the relay block in place. It jammed the liner up on the bolt and bent it so I had to pry the liner loose from the bent bolt to get it out.
I guess I'll be looking into a set of the Timbren bump stops for the front as well.
Finally got this thing back together. Had to order a bunch of hoses that split on reassembly and one of the power steering hoses was leaking so I replaced it too. Seems to be good to go now though!
This thing...
It randomly spit about 1/2 cup of antifreeze on the driveway the other day for some reason. I can't find a leak anywhere and there wasn't any tracking I could see under the hood to account for it. I burped the cooling system again and wound up adding about a pint of coolant to it. I'm going to keep an eye on that...
I found a 1/2 barrier net for the cargo area for a good deal and picked it up a few weeks ago. I swapped out the full barrier I had in there and a buddy bought it. That's prep work for the drawer system I'm hoping to build this spring.
My transmission output is apparently beginning to leak again. There was a drop of ATF at the weep hole when I was under it looking for the coolant leak. The t-case skid was dry so it's not leaking very badly yet. I'm hoping I can let that ride for a while and get some other stuff done. That t-case is such a pain to pull. It wouldn't be too bad if the cross member wasn't a press fit into the frame brackets but there's still like 21 bolts holding the dang thing to the transmission.
It randomly spit about 1/2 cup of antifreeze on the driveway the other day for some reason. I can't find a leak anywhere and there wasn't any tracking I could see under the hood to account for it. I burped the cooling system again and wound up adding about a pint of coolant to it. I'm going to keep an eye on that...
I found a 1/2 barrier net for the cargo area for a good deal and picked it up a few weeks ago. I swapped out the full barrier I had in there and a buddy bought it. That's prep work for the drawer system I'm hoping to build this spring.
My transmission output is apparently beginning to leak again. There was a drop of ATF at the weep hole when I was under it looking for the coolant leak. The t-case skid was dry so it's not leaking very badly yet. I'm hoping I can let that ride for a while and get some other stuff done. That t-case is such a pain to pull. It wouldn't be too bad if the cross member wasn't a press fit into the frame brackets but there's still like 21 bolts holding the dang thing to the transmission.
Replaced the thermostat today. That was a bit of a chore with it mounted low on the front of the engine.
I have the money saved up for a rear axle finally and a buddy messaged me today to offer me the rear bumper off his X. He's looking at a Frontier. So now I'm torn. Good price on swing out tire carrier bumper or locking rear diff. Ugh!
Why can't I be rich?!?
Oh yeah, my hobby is working on vehicles...
I have the money saved up for a rear axle finally and a buddy messaged me today to offer me the rear bumper off his X. He's looking at a Frontier. So now I'm torn. Good price on swing out tire carrier bumper or locking rear diff. Ugh!
Why can't I be rich?!?
Oh yeah, my hobby is working on vehicles...
Finally found my mystery coolant leak. One of the clamps on my heater tee replacement was a little loose. I snugged up all the clamps on the tee and that seems to have taken care of it. I just happened to walk by when it was actively leaking and was able to kinda trace where it was coming from.
@campfire I finally have the $$ to get my rear axle.... and a buddy just priced me a tire carrier bumper for an all too reasonable price so that's probably delayed yet again!!! Why can't we hit the lottery?!?
@campfire I finally have the $$ to get my rear axle.... and a buddy just priced me a tire carrier bumper for an all too reasonable price so that's probably delayed yet again!!!
Why can't we hit the lottery?!?
