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Extreme Budget Makeover Build
This truck is my daily commuter and general schlepping rig. The goal is to add a little fun and some attitude (altitude) to an otherwise unassuming truck. I rescued it from a life on the Washington coast at my father's place, and gave it a new home in San Antonio where the air is much less salty. I plan to combat the limited rust that has taken hold and upgrade the truck's stance and performance over time. But since this rig was super cheap to acquire, so too will be the build process. I'll use U-Pull-It as much as possible to help keep costs low and to take advantage of Nissan parts interchangeability. I'll also fab up my own components as necessary and where I think I can add value, like in suspension components and body armor. I'll keep a running tab on the costs so if anyone is thinking about doing similar things, they can see what it takes doing it the way I am doing it.
- The Rig -
Username: Joe Suzuki
Year: 2000
Make: Nissan
Model: Frontier
Trim: SE King Cab
Color: Silver
- Planned Mods -
Interior:
- Probably new speakers and a head unit with bluetooth and aux inputs.
- Window tint
- Fix driver's seat upholstery
- Add larger cup holder for water bottle
Planned Exterior Mods:
- Plasti-dipped grill or Xterra grill
- New headlights, either factory replacement or fabbed LED headlights (JW Speaker)
- Fix pealing clear coat and tiny rust spots, add vinyl or plastidip to protect paint in strategic areas
- Add fog lights, backup lights, maybe bed lights
- Replace factory manual mirrors with upgrade from Xterra - Done -
Drivetrain:
- Rear axle swap from CA43 C200 w/ 4.3:1 to HG49 H233B w/ 4.875:1 from an '03 Xterra
Suspension & Tires:
- 31x10.5x15 BFG AT KO2s on factory 4x4 rims (15x7) to replace 15x6 originals
- Torsion Bars replaced and cranked
- Low-Profile Bump Stops
- Rancho RS5000 shocks
- Possible modified upper control arms
- Replace all steering linkages and fabricate idler arm brace.
- Replace worn out rear leafs with new V6 leaf packs
- Fabricate new rear lift shackles
Armor:
- New rear bumper with integrated receiver hitch and backup lights
- New front bumper or modified factory bumper to integrate custom winch mount and winch
- Skid plates as necessary
Performance:
- Tune-up
- Fab air intake
- Transmission shift kit
Gear and Other:
- Nothing Yet
Here it is to start:
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Here's the new rear shackles that I fabbed. They are long enough where I can drill multiple holes to adjust as necessary.
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The suspension and rear axle swap are happening first. I already got the rear axle from a 2004 Xterra from U-pull-it for $152 and a lot of blood and sweat. I need to rework the backing plates if I can as the vehicle was set down on the dirt without rims bending them a little at the bottom. Otherwise I'll have to get new backing plates from Nissan. I'll be getting some used torsion bars off another truck at U-pull-it this weekend since mine are pretty rusty and worn. I don't know the costs yet, but shouldn't be more than $50. Low profile Datstar bumpstops arrived from Amazon for $13. New rear leafs arrived yesterday, and Rancho's should arrive today from Rock Auto.
Spent So Far
Rancho Shocks: $183 minus $50 rebate
Rear Leaf Springs: $203
Low Profile Bump Stops: $13
Xterra HG49 Axle from Upullit: $152
Xterra electric mirrors from Upullit: $60
Fabricated lift shackles: $0 (used scrap steel from workplace)
31X10.5R15 BFG A/T T/A KO2 x 4 with Factory 4x4 nissan 15 x 7 alloys from Craigslist with 3000 miles on them: $750
Total spent so far: $1311
So that's it for now. If the weather cooperates, I'll get to work on the axle and suspension this weekend and I'll post some updates. Thanks for checking it out!
This truck is my daily commuter and general schlepping rig. The goal is to add a little fun and some attitude (altitude) to an otherwise unassuming truck. I rescued it from a life on the Washington coast at my father's place, and gave it a new home in San Antonio where the air is much less salty. I plan to combat the limited rust that has taken hold and upgrade the truck's stance and performance over time. But since this rig was super cheap to acquire, so too will be the build process. I'll use U-Pull-It as much as possible to help keep costs low and to take advantage of Nissan parts interchangeability. I'll also fab up my own components as necessary and where I think I can add value, like in suspension components and body armor. I'll keep a running tab on the costs so if anyone is thinking about doing similar things, they can see what it takes doing it the way I am doing it.
- The Rig -
Username: Joe Suzuki
Year: 2000
Make: Nissan
Model: Frontier
Trim: SE King Cab
Color: Silver
- Planned Mods -
Interior:
- Probably new speakers and a head unit with bluetooth and aux inputs.
- Window tint
- Fix driver's seat upholstery
- Add larger cup holder for water bottle
Planned Exterior Mods:
- Plasti-dipped grill or Xterra grill
- New headlights, either factory replacement or fabbed LED headlights (JW Speaker)
- Fix pealing clear coat and tiny rust spots, add vinyl or plastidip to protect paint in strategic areas
- Add fog lights, backup lights, maybe bed lights
- Replace factory manual mirrors with upgrade from Xterra - Done -
Drivetrain:
- Rear axle swap from CA43 C200 w/ 4.3:1 to HG49 H233B w/ 4.875:1 from an '03 Xterra
Suspension & Tires:
- 31x10.5x15 BFG AT KO2s on factory 4x4 rims (15x7) to replace 15x6 originals
- Torsion Bars replaced and cranked
- Low-Profile Bump Stops
- Rancho RS5000 shocks
- Possible modified upper control arms
- Replace all steering linkages and fabricate idler arm brace.
- Replace worn out rear leafs with new V6 leaf packs
- Fabricate new rear lift shackles
Armor:
- New rear bumper with integrated receiver hitch and backup lights
- New front bumper or modified factory bumper to integrate custom winch mount and winch
- Skid plates as necessary
Performance:
- Tune-up
- Fab air intake
- Transmission shift kit
Gear and Other:
- Nothing Yet
Here it is to start:
Here's the new rear shackles that I fabbed. They are long enough where I can drill multiple holes to adjust as necessary.
The suspension and rear axle swap are happening first. I already got the rear axle from a 2004 Xterra from U-pull-it for $152 and a lot of blood and sweat. I need to rework the backing plates if I can as the vehicle was set down on the dirt without rims bending them a little at the bottom. Otherwise I'll have to get new backing plates from Nissan. I'll be getting some used torsion bars off another truck at U-pull-it this weekend since mine are pretty rusty and worn. I don't know the costs yet, but shouldn't be more than $50. Low profile Datstar bumpstops arrived from Amazon for $13. New rear leafs arrived yesterday, and Rancho's should arrive today from Rock Auto.
Spent So Far
Rancho Shocks: $183 minus $50 rebate
Rear Leaf Springs: $203
Low Profile Bump Stops: $13
Xterra HG49 Axle from Upullit: $152
Xterra electric mirrors from Upullit: $60
Fabricated lift shackles: $0 (used scrap steel from workplace)
31X10.5R15 BFG A/T T/A KO2 x 4 with Factory 4x4 nissan 15 x 7 alloys from Craigslist with 3000 miles on them: $750
Total spent so far: $1311
So that's it for now. If the weather cooperates, I'll get to work on the axle and suspension this weekend and I'll post some updates. Thanks for checking it out!
