ArmyAnt *Build Thred*

[xface]

hey everyone, I I am new to the fourms. I have been wheeling my x for around 3 years, I love it! I have been modifying it sence the first day I got it home. I am planning a SAS in the next 2 months. I am going with the calmini kit for the front. the rear will be custom, I have not decided to go SOA or just a custom set of leaves. the axle is a Dana44 drivers side drop, low pinion, non vac disconnect. stuffed with 4:88's and a lockrite locker, and coverd with a rockcrusher diff cover. but anyway here is a short history of the X , what it looked like, what it is now and what I hope it will look like in a few months. please excuse the crappy paint skills. so tell me what you guys think. all comments are awesome

The X when I first got it. "I had the wheels. but everything else is Stock."

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/DSC00647.jpg

and how she sits now. http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/bumper009.jpg

and a VERY bad "CHOP" of what it will look like when it is done.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/SASDAN.jpg

"I know you guys are jelouse of my Paint skills!"



Dan

[LaOutbackTrail]

and how she sits now. http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/bumper009.jpg

Dan

What is done to it in this picture (suspension wise)?

Looking at it from that angle. Im thinking twice about the snorkel. I have been wanting one for a while... but it looks kind of out of place.

Why are you wanting to paint it that shade (or close to since you used Paint) of green? That color is more military looking as it is. Think of the other mods you could do for the price of the paint job, especially if you go wheeling as much as would you should if you invest in the SAS. Unless you can paint it yourself of course.

Looks good, none the less. I like it as it is now, actually.

Scott

[jingram]

LOL, I got the picture that he didn't want to paint his vehicle that color, rather he took a picture of a rig that had already had the SAS done and the lift he wanted and was trying to show what his X would look like with those mods done, hence the comment on the bad CHOP, meaning bad photoshop job.

[xface]

LOL, I got the picture that he didn't want to paint his vehicle that color, rather he took a picture of a rig that had already had the SAS done and the lift he wanted and was trying to show what his X would look like with those mods done, hence the comment on the bad CHOP, meaning bad photoshop job.

Ha ha yeah, I am planning on keeping the same paint job I have. that was just a cheep way of showing what the SAS will look like. I have 3"UCA's in the front with a .5" balljoint spacer, then I have a 2.5"add a leaf, and 1.5" calmini shackels. nothing will change on the outside except the SAS. I love my snork and it got me better gas mielage!

[Scott Brady]

The X looks great. I have been on the trail with several of them, and have always been impressed with their performance.

I like the green too :rappel:

[xface]

thansk guys, I am also working on a way to turn my tire carrier into a camping table.... I am making a leg to attach to the end where the rack normaly is attached to the rack, so it will stand level, then I am welding some tabs on inside of the rack so I can set a section of MDF or other board on it to make a nice table, after the SAS it will be about normal height for a dinner table.

also I would love a EZ-Awn. but I doubt that will happen, it is to easy to sleep in the truck:)

[The BN Guy]

Welcome to ExPo! Would love to see the pix but school firewall blocks 'em. Just have to wait till the house.

Calmini SAS? Sweet! Have you talked with anyone that's done one? There have been some problems that can be corrected pretty easily.

BTW, what was your donor vehicle?

[Andrew Walcker]

Welcome xface! Great looking vehicle! I have never seen a rear tire carrier like that in the past, can you post some pics of "open"? Went wheeling this weekend with DesertBound on this site and was very impressed with the Xs!

[xface]

thanks for the warm welcome guys, Yeah I have a few friends that have done the Calmini SAS, I am using the front kit with coilovers only, it is so easy why not use it. if I break parts I will go custom. but we have an active member of my other club VAXC that has done some pretty hardcore wheeling with his kit and had no issues.

The donor axle was a Waggy Dana 44 drivers side drop non vac disconnect, low pinion.

I will get some pics of the carrier oen. it was a custom job for another member of the club, he decided he wanted a BL and could not use it anymore. he paid about 1000 bucks for it to be custom fabed, he sold the rack and all to me for..........$300!!!!!!:wings:

it is kind of a pain to get to the rear hatch in close confines, but i deal with it. I love the look of the carrier so thats why I am not changing it. plus it is amazingly stout! and it will doubble as my folding table after i get all that fabed up! Like I said I will grab you some pics today or tomorrow! thanks again guys, keep the questions coming, and I will try and dig some wheeling pics up too!


P.S. Andrew w. I LOVE the D90, I have dreamed of one my whole life, but it is so bleeding hard to find a decent one in a price I can afford. thats why i stuck with the X......uhhh but maybe one day I will own a willow green, soft top!

and BN Guy got any pics of your X? would love to see soem close up shots!!! and mods!!!

[The BN Guy]

Actually I have a Frontier.

http://www.nissanoffroad.net/image_gallery/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_1555.JPG

[BigAl]

I like the paint scheme:chowtime: , I just did mine in desert camo but no stars yet. I'm thinking about one for the hood. Yours looks great.

[xface]

OHHHH lol sorry man! looked like an X on the AVATAR. sorry!

Thanks! I love my paint as well. I get tons of looks and lots of Vets come up and ask me about it. I love it. I am in a military parade in june!

The desert camo will look awesome! and it never hurts to throw a Star on the hood!:arabia:

[vapathy]

Dan welcome got a couple of guys from VAXC on here now:wavey:

[xface]

Hey man! good to see you over here! LOL

[The BN Guy]

Aaaah, I recognize that X! I finally got to see it from home.

[vengeful]

Welcome aboard...Nice X!

Who built your rear-bumper?

[xface]

a guy named richard in our local club, he is starting his own Fab company. look for him soon at www.rockhumperfabworks.com.

[The BN Guy]

Ever seen Kingslayer's Frontier? He did the same thing with the stars. He's out of Florida and has a CC, green 2000 rig.

[vengeful]

Ahhh, ok, I know Richard. He does real good work.

[The BN Guy]

His old bumper is now on Houdini's truck. Heard it received some damage this last weekend and is gonna be remade. He's the one who turned his 2wd into 4wd.

[vengeful]

Yeah, Brian (houdini) took a lot of damage last weekend at URE. Shame cuz he has a REALLY nice truck.

And I think I was forcibly removed from NOR (thanks to Medhi) before the days of Kingslayer...:oops:

Edit: we should probably take this into another thread and not post-jack ArmyAnts thread anymore...LOL.

[xface]

Yeah, Brian (houdini) took a lot of damage last weekend at URE. Shame cuz he has a REALLY nice truck.

And I think I was forcibly removed from NOR (thanks to Medhi) before the days of Kingslayer...:oops:

Edit: we should probably take this into another thread and not post-jack ArmyAnts thread anymore...LOL.

LOL it is cool guys I come from VAXC where post jacking is the norm. lol no harm no foul. I did however just get off the phone with calmini, I orderd my new rear spring packs.......300 for the packs......and get this.....98 for shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEEZ!!!! the shipping alone is killing my budget! oh well I got to have them or no SAS.......soooo I bit the bullet. don;t tell my wife:oops:


uhh I can't wait till this thing is done!!!!!

[The BN Guy]

What steering system do you have?

I have the Calmini setup and have some issues with it.

[tdesanto]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/SASDAN.jpg

"I know you guys are jelouse of my Paint skills!"

Dan

I know the original Xterra, before the custom green paint job. I rode with this one this last weekend in East TX.

Here's a shot I took:

7989

Really sweet truck.

Here's another showing the axle:
7990

[hattrik21]

Yeah Glen has a nice setup now that he has his SAS completed.

[xface]

I don't have any sterring system right now. I have an AC IA brace, and was going to put a lot of money into a L&P kit, but I decided to SAS so I won't need it. I am just getting by right now on a new stock Centerlink, and old TRA's. it sucks! lol I have 33's so it is real tough on it. but only a few weeks and I will have my truck SASed.......and no more steering issues!!!!!

Yeah I love his X. I used it to chop what I want mine to look like. I know it won't be exactly that way, I think he has 35's too so mine will be smaller, but maybe I will go with 35's when the AT's run out. great truck!

[Kaiser]

Hey - that's me on the Arizona Run 7 this past March :)

I have lots of pics and info on my build if you need help with anything.

Short list of my mods:
ARB air lockers front and rear
3" AC body lift
Calmini SAS
Shrockworks sliders (non body lift version.... unfortunately)
Calmini front bumper
Skid Row gas tank skidplate
AC rear diff guard
purple cranium half spider D44 front diff guard
32" BFG MT street tires, 35" Super Swamper Bogger offroad tires :cool:
5.14 rear diff gears, 5.13 front
Custom heavy duty steering
other stuff: ham radio, CB radio, CO2 OBA etc.


Oh - one thing I would definitely do differently is the rear end suspension. The spring pack that Calmini sells with their kit sags like 2 inches in the first month.
I have my coilovers as low as they will go in the front to try to keep the truck something akin to level. The better way to go is to do a springover conversion with stock springs in the rear.

Good luck!
Glen

[The BN Guy]

Welcome to ExPo Glen!:wavey:

Yeah, you guys make me ill. Nice looking rigs.

We had a BiBe 2007 run back in Feb. Maybe when we setup BiBe 2008 you guys can come down. It was really nice. Truly I'd love to find a good place in eastern/southeastern NM to run expedition on.

[tdesanto]

Hey - that's me on the Arizona Run 7 this past March :)

I have lots of pics and info on my build if you need help with anything.

Short list of my mods:
ARB air lockers front and rear
3" AC body lift
Calmini SAS
Shrockworks sliders (non body lift version.... unfortunately)
Calmini front bumper
Skid Row gas tank skidplate
AC rear diff guard
purple cranium half spider D44 front diff guard
32" BFG MT street tires, 35" Super Swamper Bogger offroad tires :cool:
5.14 rear diff gears, 5.13 front
Custom heavy duty steering
other stuff: ham radio, CB radio, CO2 OBA etc.


Oh - one thing I would definitely do differently is the rear end suspension. The spring pack that Calmini sells with their kit sags like 2 inches in the first month.
I have my coilovers as low as they will go in the front to try to keep the truck something akin to level. The better way to go is to do a springover conversion with stock springs in the rear.

Good luck!
Glen

Welcome, Glen, to ExPo.

You're gonna make a lot of guys jealous if we keep showing photos of that rig.

[Kaiser]

Now that I'm in Austin I might actually be able to meet ya, Pat :friday:

Maybe we can get Keith over here, too. He's all about overland stuff (thus the name of his board) moreso than hardcore rock crawling... or rather - I guess we're into rockcrawling with a purpose and a destination in mind.

[xface]

Hey - that's me on the Arizona Run 7 this past March :)

I have lots of pics and info on my build if you need help with anything.

Short list of my mods:
ARB air lockers front and rear
3" AC body lift
Calmini SAS
Shrockworks sliders (non body lift version.... unfortunately)
Calmini front bumper
Skid Row gas tank skidplate
AC rear diff guard
purple cranium half spider D44 front diff guard
32" BFG MT street tires, 35" Super Swamper Bogger offroad tires :cool:
5.14 rear diff gears, 5.13 front
Custom heavy duty steering
other stuff: ham radio, CB radio, CO2 OBA etc.


Oh - one thing I would definitely do differently is the rear end suspension. The spring pack that Calmini sells with their kit sags like 2 inches in the first month.
I have my coilovers as low as they will go in the front to try to keep the truck something akin to level. The better way to go is to do a springover conversion with stock springs in the rear.

Good luck!
Glen
AHHHHH don't tell me that! LOL I just ordered 400 bucks worth of calmini springs.....maybe I will just cancel the order. and get my money back and to the spring over like I really want.....uhhh atleast I got some info from someone that has the packs. and thats exactly what i wanted. hey Glen would you recomend extended rear break lines? that is the only other question I need an anwser to. your rig is awesome looking! when I saw your pics of barnwall last year that put my decision to SAS in stone! I might be e-mailing you for info if I hit any snags if thats cool with you? thanks man!

[Kaiser]

AHHHHH don't tell me that! LOL I just ordered 400 bucks worth of calmini springs.....maybe I will just cancel the order. and get my money back and to the spring over like I really want.....uhhh atleast I got some info from someone that has the packs. and thats exactly what i wanted. hey Glen would you recomend extended rear break lines? that is the only other question I need an anwser to. your rig is awesome looking! when I saw your pics of barnwall last year that put my decision to SAS in stone! I might be e-mailing you for info if I hit any snags if thats cool with you? thanks man!


The kit didn't come with an extended rear line (there's only 1 in the back that feeds both sides). On mine we just unbolted some of the metal lines to give them extra room to move - but that's not the right way to do it. It's probably worth it to get a new line. 4x4parts.com sells one - but a friend of mine told me it's still a bit too short and you can get a custom one made cheaper.

[The BN Guy]

Yeah, we need to find another place to go. BiBe is great but...does anyone know of any good places in our area of Mexico? I know Roger goes down for delivery of Christmas gifts. Maybe we could make a similar trip during the summer maybe?

[articulate]

This thing is wild. Nice work:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/bumper009.jpg

Did I miss a photo of how that rear carrier opens? It looks serious. What's the benefit of it swinging downward to open? If I see correctly . . .


...does anyone know of any good places in our area of Mexico?
Portrero Chico maybe? Near Monterrey. Gorgeous mountains there. Monterrey is fantastic city to visit as well.

[The BN Guy]

I'll do a lil research. I know of about four guys I could get together.

[xface]

Yeah sorry again guys I totaly droped the Ball on getting the Tire carrier pics up..... I will do it tomorrow.

other news is

plans have changed again. I am not getting the calmini pack now, I have had to many people tell me Horror storys of them sagging very badly even after 2 months. so here is the new plan. I called Roanoke Auto Spring Works, I talked to a great lady named Ashley, she said she can make me a custom 2.5" spring to go in my pack that will give me around 2.5 inches of lift, along with the other AAL I have and the shackel thats 6.5 inches. she said that this is a USA steel spring that will increse the load rating and flex like it is made of rubber! she also told me that it will only sag around half an inch because of the type of hardend steel they use. anyway this is the buest part, the 2 springs, 2 center pins and new military wraps are only.........65bucks!!!!!! and it will take.....get this.....about an hour!!!! wow great service, calling tuesday to order them! anyway also on the way are new longer Braided stainless steel lines from AC. can't wait!

[xface]

Some more pics for your viewing pleasure!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/bumper2007.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/G8QQ0181.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/G8QQ0191.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/IMG_2230.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/Snorkel011.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/IMG_2857.jpg


hope you like! these were taken different time during the past 2 years. most of the wheeling shots are of GWNF in Harrisonburg VA

[Andrew Walcker]

Great Pics! Really like your X and looking forward to the rear tire carrier pics!

[The BN Guy]

Great pix. Look forward to going bush someday with a rig like that with us!

[xface]

Here is what everyone has been waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok this is what it looks like up
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/carrierdown001.jpg


thecrosspin to keep it in place, the orange rope is acually a VAXC lanyard that a club member had made. I thought it would keep my cotter pin from getting lost!
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/carrierdown002.jpg

this is the carrier down
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/carrierdown003.jpg


and this is the Idea I have for it. I want to make a leg that will use the crosspin and cotter pin to make it into a table. I will then weld some tabs onto the back side of the carrier, (the side up in this pic) and use some Alum diamond plate to make a table top for preping food, holding beers or whathave you.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/carrierdown004.jpg

[Kaiser]

I wonder if you could make some kind of detachable wheel that could go back there - to make it into an as-needed mini trailer... :safari-rig:

[xface]

Well got the apt to have the springs re built and arched, have a custom shackel set coming, new longer break lines, and the sas kit and axel are preped and redy for me to pick up. now all I got to do is make time to do it all and get the damn parts in!:wings:

[p1michaud]

and this is the Idea I have for it. I want to make a leg that will use the crosspin and cotter pin to make it into a table. I will then weld some tabs onto the back side of the carrier, (the side up in this pic) and use some Alum diamond plate to make a table top for preping food, holding beers or whathave you.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/carrierdown004.jpg

I spend most of my time in the Toyota section since I drive one, but today I tried somethign different and here I am...

That is a really nead idea. If you make your table solid and close enough to your rear bumper, you could also use it as a step to better access your roof rack.

Cool rig by the way.

Cheers :beer:,
P

[xface]

well I put a new mod on the X today, it is in no way related to the SAS....


IT"S THE BEER OPENER MOD!!!!!!!!

I orderd the plane jane model for 5 bucks from homebrewoutpost.com
it came in the mail in about a week,http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/026.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/027.jpg

today I got it out and used my duplicolor to paint it to mathc the bumper, it would not look right silver on my truck, so I made it blend in better
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/029.jpg
next i decided where i wanted it. I could not mount it up close to the top like i wanted because of the rectangular tub richard used the screws would go right through the walls and would not work. so I opted to mount it lower, i thought it looked fine, and who cares you are going to open a beer with it!
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/030-1.jpg
drilled the holes, threw some better bolts and nuts on it and called it a day

here i am about to enjoy a Newcastle Brown Ale but.......
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/031-1.jpg
If you don't like Newcastle the SamAdams Cherry Wheat is Very tasty and goes well with chinese food :wink:http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/032-1.jpg



What you guys think???

[LaOutbackTrail]

I dont drink alcohol, but would be cool for some vintage coke bottles or somethin...:) ... but that's extra weight.:(

[DBS311]

You got a back-up just in case you smash that one on a rock?

[xface]

it is high enough I hope i don't smash it onto many rocks, but if I do it was like 5 bucks, so i will just get another one.

[The BN Guy]

Good onya! Been eyeing one to put on my rig as well.

[BajaTaco]

Excellent modification!

I brought a couple of the Starr openers back from Belize and we installed one on the ExWest Tacoma. My truck is next.

http://www.expeditionswest.com/arctic_ocean/equipment/images/IMG_7256.JPG

:beer:

[VafrontierVa]

DAN!!! haha....

i haven't been back over here is a longgggg time....glad to see you made it over, a great site really!

[xface]

whats up charlie! yeah this site is pretty cool, I been lurking for a while, Hopefully I can update this thred soon:wings:

[xface]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!


XFace"]OK the swap has begun!!!!!! and here are pics to prove it!!!

getting redy to start....
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07002.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07007.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07008.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07009.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07010.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07011.jpg

PARTS!!!!
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07013.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07014.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07015.jpg


this is a big job.....everything has been done myself so far...I hope I get some help tomorrow!!!

[xface]

Well I am done....sort of


I have everything on except the drive shaft, the skidplate, breaks and the wheels!

as I should have known I don;t have enough B.S. So Nick is going to send me the 1" wheel spacers that he has. "Thanks Nick!!!!!" that should solve all my issues. I can't wait to ave this thing on the ground. oh well. here are some more pics!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07019.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07018.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/July-07017.jpg

[LaOutbackTrail]

Lookin good boss. Can't wait to see it on the ground myself.

So what is the "Expedition" worthiness of the SAS? AKA, why would I want to do it?

[xface]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!


Done. well almost, all I need to do it put the Drive shaft in, put on the skidplate, get an alignment, put in the new leaf packs, and dial in the front shocks to make it sit level. so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!!

and......the pics :D

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/060.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/059.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/057.jpg

What do you guys think???? :D

[CoastalDefender]

It's beautiful!

How long did it take, any major snafu's?

You did it all on your own?

Was it easy, or how would you rate the difficulty of the job?

Damn fine job parter, damn fine. :gunt:

[xface]

It's beautiful!

How long did it take, any major snafu's?

You did it all on your own?

Was it easy, or how would you rate the difficulty of the job?

Damn fine job parter, damn fine. :gunt:

well it took 3 days to get the SAS kit on. the lastnight when I was finishing up I noticed that I needed wheel spacers to make it work. so I had to wait till they got to me. I also broke the bleeder valve on the old breaks, so I had to get new calipers. so in total with me working all week it took me 5 days. I did almost all the work myself. and I would recomend doing this to save yourself a lot of money.

it was not easy, but I think anyone with a moderate knolodge of axels and how they work can do this job. if I could rate the difficulty 1-10 I would give it a 7 because it was not THAT hard but it was a lot of work and a lot to remember. you have to have some mechanical skill to get it done. but it is all worth it when I gotit done.

thanks so much man:)

[Andrew Walcker]

WOW, I'm really impressed! Incredible upgrade and it's great you did the work yourself. How about some shots of the new improved flex:)

[kcowyo]

That is one sick X.... :bowdown:

[Willman]

I didn't see......what axle did you put under their???

Looks very sweet!

Congrads on the new setup!

:)

[xface]

the Axel is a D44 from a 80 to 85 jeep grand wagoneer. thanks for all the good words guys. and don;t worry the mandatory flex shots are coming.

[Willman]

:lurk:

[The BN Guy]

Drooling all over the keyboard! One of these days maybe Stormy will look that...good!

[system-f]

If you want to know what has to be done to do the welding portion of the calimini sas let me know. (the fixes that is)

GOSH GLENARD, holding out on me again...that's my Glenard.

[toyrunner95]

is that 5 days or 5 evenings. cuz the solid axel swap on a toyota by myself took me a weekend, but a while to get dialed in right.

[xface]

it acually took me 2 nights to put the SAS in. but it took me till friday, to figure out what was wrong with my breaks. I had to get the air out of the line. it was trapped in the caliper.



I already fixed the issues with the calmini system. it is almost bullit proof.:wings:

[xface]

well just thought I would throw some updated pics up. hope you guys like.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/033-1.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/L1feguard83/036.jpg

[teotwaki]

WOW.

All I can say is WOW....... so cool looking!

[westexasrepublic]

looks the same as your first post back in May, anything else new since then?

[teotwaki]

looks the same as your first post back in May, anything else new since then?

Look more closely at the front suspension in the May photos and then look again at the recent ones. Or read the whole thread......... :D

[98sr5]

i think truck was in a magazine wasnt it i forgot which one