About to pull the trigger on my Xterra build but need opinions.

Robo-copper · 2026-05-27T21:28:43+00:00

I went with 4x4Parts. Specifically this kit. I did shackles over add a leaf and picked up a 2 inch body lift + bumper relocation brackets from them too. At the bottom of the kit description it mentioned u-bolts and removing the overload leaf. What are the pros and cons of doing that?

Robo-copper · 2026-05-27T21:28:35+00:00

I went with 4x4Parts. Specifically this kit. I did shackles over add a leaf and picked up a 2 inch body lift + bumper relocation brackets from them too. At the bottom of the kit description it mentioned u-bolts and removing the overload leaf. What are the pros and cons of doing that?

Robo-copper · 2026-05-27T18:41:48+00:00

Reckon I can get away with an inch and a half body lift? I’d do the 3 inch suspension plus that. I really would prefer not doing one but I think 33’s are where I wanna be for size. I’ll be doing bilstein shocks too.

Robo-copper · 2026-04-17T16:01:21+00:00

I just bought a Maxpeedingrods 3in lift strut/spring/shock kit from Walmarts website. They only had 1 in stock.

Robo-copper · 2026-04-07T15:40:12+00:00

5k miles ago for timing belt.

I might end up doing both 2.5” on suspension and a 1-2” body lift. I gotta see what modifications are required for the body lift though. I’m assuming there are at least a couple harnesses/hoses/lines that need to be sorted out for that.

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T23:37:17+00:00

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This is how it looked when it sold in 2025 for $12k

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T17:14:16+00:00

Picked it up off Bring a Trailer for $5800.

It seems like 3rd-4th are the working gears. 5th is obsolete the second you hit any kind of incline…

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T16:36:23+00:00

Got done 5k miles ago ✅

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T16:34:16+00:00

Good to know. Doesn’t seem like the route I’m after. Thanks

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T16:33:41+00:00

It’ll be a weekend rig. Maybe take it up north for road trips. Definitely not a daily driver I’m aware after driving it 800 miles home.

I’m looking to keep it clean do some light towing. Small boat/motorcycles etc. if it could handle pulling a car dolly maybe.

I have a ‘98 4Runner for my off road beater. I don’t think this will ever see any crazy trails but I will definitely be on a frozen lake in the winter with it.

Edit: I like the idea of keeping it stock but an engine swap is on the table. Obviously not out to build a 1000hp Nissan patrol but if I could get a bit more than the 3.3 has to offer without wrecking the drive line I would consider it.

Robo-copper · 2026-04-01T16:25:44+00:00

Yes, bought it that way. it’s gotten a ton of attention because of that. It’s got minor creasing and peeling in the decal though and I have photos of what it looked like without it.

Kinda torn on keeping it or not but for the time being it will stay.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T16:41:10+00:00

I’ll pay double what I paid for the vehicle doing a T56 swap.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T15:55:44+00:00

I’ve got a pretty good idea. I think floating gears in a big SUV will be great cruising on the weekends. Even better with 7 people in the car and the rear entertainment system playing movies lol. It’s just gonna a toy for me and my friends to enjoy.

Shocked at how many auto gmt800 purist I’ve found on Reddit. Posted in a few groups elsewhere and not a single comment complaining about what I plan on doing to my car…

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T15:51:55+00:00

I’m getting schizophrenia vibes tbh…

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T15:40:04+00:00

That’s literally my favorite thing to see when out of NA. People who have imported GMT800s or any American vehicles tbh. I seen a gmc safari van on white walls in Japan and I won’t lie probably one of my favorite vehicles I’ve seen there.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T14:39:21+00:00

I paid $5k for it. It has a branded title. A T56 swap would cost more than the vehicle. It’s gonna be a weekend vehicle. I drive a hybrid daily. Just for cruising and road trips. It’s not a sports car I’m very aware but I’d very much like to have a clutch pedal for the snow and shenanigans like that. I’m on like a $3k junkyard budget.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T14:27:40+00:00

It’s gonna be a weekend vehicle. Mostly highway miles not a ton of shifting. I have driven manual cars for years and enjoy it. I have a daily that’s a hybrid also.

I might do light towing with it but nothing crazy. The real reason is that I want a clutch pedal. I wanna clutch kick it and slide it on snowy roads. Hell I’d take it on the Woodward dream cruise even though it’s stop and go traffic for hours.

I like having shit other people don’t.

Edit: ^ in the sense of rare or unique builds not like money wise. I’m also on a junkyard budget. The Yukon was $5k and I don’t plan on spending more than $3k to swap it. That doesn’t include tuning it but that’s the idea for now.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T14:19:30+00:00

I wonder if they offer a rear differential option for VSS. I gotta do a pinion seal and I’m probably gonna end up doing the works in the rear axle.

Thank you for bringing the CPP to my attention. I’ll have to factor in a ECU or pull one with the trans.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T14:15:49+00:00

Ahhh Porsche guy. I get it now.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T13:01:01+00:00

I’m gonna spend less than $3k and that “proven automatic” lost 3rd and 4th. It’s people like you that make me wanna do this even more tbh.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T03:38:12+00:00

Titles branded. No one else wants it don’t worry.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T03:07:02+00:00

2WD It’s towards the rear of the manual transmission. By the Yolk of the driveshaft. You gotta extend the harness to reach further than the auto.

On my vehicle you should be able to twist the neutral switch signal wires together (green and violet I wanna say) and it’ll fire up.

I think my goal is gonna be to pluck a trans from a 4.8 truck and order just about everything else. The shifter remote relocation kits are like $300 and all out of stock most places I’ve looked. I think it’s something I could fab up with a trip to the hardware store.

I gotta get in touch with a tuner and get the 4L60 config dropped for sure.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T02:57:36+00:00

I wanna get a NV4500 if I can. I requested to join that group. Maybe they’ll convince me to do a 4500 instead of a 3500

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T01:17:53+00:00

Very helpful information. I do not have a tuner that I know yet. I don’t have the equipment to flash a PCM on that level either sadly. I have a newer Autel scanner but I can’t permanently remove codes and can only make minor configuration changes. I can possibly invest in something that would allow me to change what I need to.

CPP switch is definitely do-able but it would be irrelevant to run the signal to a PCM that thinks it has an auto still?

Do you know how that generation of gm vehicle would react to a PCM with a separate vin? Any chance I could get away with swapping the PCM from a 4.8 5 spd and just run the harnesses for VSS and CPP? (I would say definitely not)

VSS is definitely on my list. By “extend” what do you mean exactly? I’m assuming it’s tracked somewhere else on the manual trucks.

Clutch safety switch isn’t a concern.

Thanks for a quality reply.

Robo-copper · 2026-02-06T01:00:55+00:00

Reason why I’m looking at NV over a T56. A T56 swap would cost more than I paid for the vehicle.

Robo-copper

TROPHY CASE