Can I have my cake and run over it fast, too?

7645 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by mustard23, Mar 11, 2010

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · Jan 30, 2010 (Edited)

So, I bought this '04 Dessert Runner (V6 2WD 5spd manual) just because I needed a truck. Now that I've been lurking around this forum for a couple of months, I have a new interest... modding my already awesome fronty!!!

First off though, I have a slight leak in my rear sliding glass. Also, is that Royal Purple stuff the best oil for my truck? Seeing that it's synthetic, does that mean I should still oil change after 3k, or should I wait till 5k? I've heard 5k, but you all have more experience with this particular line of vehicles.

It's my only vehicle for now, but I'll probably be getting an older Honda Accord as a main travel vehicle soon.

I'm leaning toward a kindof pre-runner look. I'm loving the glass fender wells and bedsides that I'm seeing out there. I'd like a bit more lift, bigger tires, more power, etc. However, I still want the basic creature comforts. You know, the A/C, heater, radio....

So that's where the title comes from. I want to be able to drive this thing as a normal-ish truck (read street-legal), but I'd like to be able to have some good fun in it as well. Oh, and I want it to look TOUGH!!!

I attached two pictures I grabbed offa here as examples of the kinda look I'm liking.

How realistic is it for me to be able to do mods throughout the year and still drive this thing around?

Thanks for any and all help!

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PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 31, 2010

btw

I have no idea what I'm doing, where to start, how much I should/shouldn't do....

Oh, and I hardly know what you guys are talking about sometimes. The technical jargon regarding vehicles isn't necessarily my strong point.

Ledfoot

· #3 · Jan 31, 2010 (Edited)

Pre-Runner Bumper
Nissan, ShrockWorks

You can go over 3k with sythetic, some people go 5 or more, depending on where they live.

5speed_Frontier

· #4 · Jan 31, 2010

welcome to the club man. glad your interested. anything is really possible if you have the money. $$$$ hahahaha. im not as educated on the first gen, but for starters are you planning to do everything custom or are you just looking to bolt some stuff on and have some fun. Cause of the two truck pics that you posted, both of those trucks have a lot of work put into them and a lot of time and money. Your obviously looking to pre-run though right? Not crawl?

mustard23

· #5 · Jan 31, 2010

you can totally ignore ledfoots post PRG doesn't make anything for the 1st gen. Calmini stuff is over priced and crappy and your not going to need armor on prerunner..

you options are find used SLR kit (He is out business)

but total chaos still makes a kit Total Chaos 1999-2004 Nissan Frontier/Xterra 4x2 Long Travel Suspension System

fiberglass is here
FiberwerX Offroad Fiberglass Products: Fenders, Bed Sides, Dashs, and Complete Body Kits
Hannemann Fiberglass Inc.

and inspiration is here
Lets See Some Frontier Prerunners - DezertRangers.com

were are you located?

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Ledfoot

· #6 · Jan 31, 2010

My bad mustard, I was unaware. My brain is set on 2nd gen mode lol.

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 1, 2010

correct... ish...

5speed_Frontier said:
welcome to the club man. glad your interested. anything is really possible if you have the money. $$$$ hahahaha. im not as educated on the first gen, but for starters are you planning to do everything custom or are you just looking to bolt some stuff on and have some fun. Cause of the two truck pics that you posted, both of those trucks have a lot of work put into them and a lot of time and money. Your obviously looking to pre-run though right? Not crawl?

I guess I would say that I'm looking for Bolt-On stuff. Especially at first. I mean, I could get real crazy in the next few years. For now though, I guess I'm looking for some relatively instant gratification.

I'm not interested in crawling at all. I'm interested in the ability to move through medium terrain at a pretty good clip. That terrain could be anything from loose dirt, to gravel, to rough country/mountain roads, to open fields. I might even want to take a road trip to the dessert every now and again.

Am I dreaming, or is this possible?

What's the deal with headers? Easy? Not easy? Worth it? Not worth it? That's a pretty expensive proposition, no?

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 2, 2010

mustard23 said:
were are you located?

NW Georgia. In the mountains.

mustard23

· #9 · Feb 2, 2010

so mostly logging and fire roads.

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 2, 2010

mustard23 said:
so mostly logging and fire roads.

There is alot of that, yes. I'm just not as interested in that kind of driving though. I'm way more interested in taking those crazy curvy, poorly kept mountain roads fairly quickly. (Certainly more comfortably) And, if I get a hair and want to yank it into a field, I would like to be able to do that without much fear of getting stuck or blowing out my suspension, ripping out my oil pan or gas tank, etc.

There are lots of gravel roads and some fun dirt roads as well.

I'm kinda thinking RallyCross for a truck. (Do they do this? If not, they should! Maybe I should start a new class of race-truck!)

I don't want to turn it into a 4x4. I want to keep in 4x2. Just a mean, nasty 4x2... with a tiny bit of class.

mustard23

· #11 · Feb 2, 2010

I think there is a thread on frontier rally trucks so they do, I think it's the frontiers in Dakar. I would put a Total chaos kit on replace your torsion bars with coil overs. This would make it more tunable. and run some long travel leaf springs in the back put in a nice adjustable sway bar. but if you really want to race I would check the rally rules.

mustard23

· #12 · Feb 2, 2010

watch this

there is very little wheel movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezjoIcDwMkw

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 3, 2010

That's an interesting video. Just off of that one, I sat through about an hours worth of dirt, mud, and sand on YouTube!

Thanks alot, Mustard!! Geez!! lol....

PutMeInTheSky

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 3, 2010

I'm wondering if I can merge my two threads... They're all about the same thing, the hows and whys of building my truck to be a mean S.O.B. And for a learning experience for me.

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/yeah-55680/

DUBBYA

· #15 · Mar 10, 2010

mustard23 said:
you can totally ignore ledfoots post PRG doesn't make anything for the 1st gen. Calmini stuff is over priced and crappy and your not going to need armor on prerunner..

you options are find used SLR kit (He is out business)

but total chaos still makes a kit Total Chaos 1999-2004 Nissan Frontier/Xterra 4x2 Long Travel Suspension System

fiberglass is here
FiberwerX Offroad Fiberglass Products: Fenders, Bed Sides, Dashs, and Complete Body Kits
Hannemann Fiberglass Inc.

and inspiration is here
Lets See Some Frontier Prerunners - DezertRangers.com

were are you located?

Sorry for the off topic, but in the last pic on the first page, how do you take off the bar that runs in the front grill? And once its off, is it possible to mount 2 (or 1), lets say 4in HID lights, to that metal plate right there? Thanks for your time/

mustard23

· #16 · Mar 11, 2010

not sure I don't have a 1st gen.. maybe start a thread over in the 1st gen section would get more response.

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