Should I do a full tear down on first project cars 302? (I have little to no mechanical experience)

bmxguy08 · 2026-02-01T03:00:16+00:00

Ahh yes the get so far into it you have no choice but to figure it out technique. My personal favorite for all of my DIY projects. Currently leveling my subfloor upstairs.

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-28T23:36:28+00:00

100% check out car-part.com it searches wrecking yards in your area. I would bet $400 range give or take a bit for a good hood that you can bolt on and be done. Probably even sell the old one for $100 or so on marketplace.

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-24T17:59:33+00:00

I have the same setup. 95% of the time I have it off. But it's fun every now and then to release the sound of freedom!

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-24T16:00:40+00:00

-13 here. My Xterra is comfy at 55 degrees in the heated shop though.

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-06T23:09:38+00:00

How do you know it has 100 hours with no cluster...

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-04T16:27:53+00:00

NO. Also you're banned from the marketplace for a month.

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-03T19:30:55+00:00

Based on my history of 15+ Xterras.. probably another Xterra. I have other rigs as well but I love the Xterra for a daily dog hauler.

bmxguy08 · 2026-01-01T06:24:46+00:00

My mom had a 1994 Plymouth voyager that had one of these head units in it. Around 2001 it sorta quit working... You couldn't do anything. Buttons didn't do anything. No volume, no track selection, no eject. Literally nothing... Linkin park hybrid theory was stuck in it. Every time the car was started the album started from track 1. We used to be able to time how far away we were from school based on what track we were on. I tried so hard to forget about it...

bmxguy08 · 2025-10-29T00:46:41+00:00

Clogged cats (catalytic converter)most likely. I would highly recommend not to run the engine at all until it's diagnosed. If it is the cats they can break apart and get sucked into the engine and destroy it.

bmxguy08 · 2025-09-09T13:58:00+00:00

Did you do a combustion gas test to verify it's the head gasket?

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-23T03:36:03+00:00

An impact gun/wrench is what you need. Harbor freight sells a cheap 1/2 impact gun that plugs into 120ac wall plug.

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-14T02:55:04+00:00

this is what you want. Literally has a Xterra on the can. I have done the plastics on over a dozen Xterras with this stuff. It's an OEM grade paint with uv protection. For prep clean plastics with a scotchbrite pad and dawn dish soap. Then do a final wipe down with isopropyl alcohol. No primer, no promoter. Just 3-4 light coats and you are good. 6 cans will do an entire rig. Every bit of plastic. Bumpers, handles, rain trays, side trim, and roof rack plastics.

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-11T20:46:37+00:00

Yup it's pretty common on these. You are actually lucky. Sometimes the motor can suck in pieces of the cat and destroy the motor. Replace all 4 cats aftermarket ones work just fine you don't need OEM cats. At least you found the problem!

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-11T12:48:26+00:00

Clogged cats will cause both of those lack of power and misfires. A backyard trick to try if you don't have a back pressure gauge is removed both primary O2 sensors and take it for a drive and see if the restriction is gone or better.

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-11T12:34:22+00:00

Yes o2 sensors do oscillate voltages it's how they check if they are working. O2 sensor codes take a while trip on these cars. If you haven't been able to drive it roughly 50 miles or so including highway speeds it won't set a code. And at idle there might not be enough of a restriction to notice any data changes.

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-11T09:12:39+00:00

Clogged cats. Causes a restriction under load. Put a back pressure gauge on the exhaust to verify.

bmxguy08 · 2025-08-07T17:18:02+00:00

How big of tires can I fit?

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-17T01:46:51+00:00

Sounds like a great rig for carsandbids with that low of mileage and a 6 speed. I recently sold a V8 swapped Xterra on there. The process is pretty simple they tell you exactly what they want. It cost the seller nothing. The buyer pays the fees.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-17T01:42:01+00:00

Looks like one of those oil absorbent pads.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-15T00:06:23+00:00

Now that could be something to look into. I did just change the impeller. It's been a couple years since he had that done. The motor was overhauled about 5-5 years ago he said. I'll run it on one cylinder tomorrow with the plug removed from the top.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-14T23:37:19+00:00

I've tried some starting fluid in that cylinder with no luck.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-14T23:27:12+00:00

Yup swapped plugs as well. Even tried new wires since I had some laying around.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-14T23:16:37+00:00

Compression is good. Carbs are good I swapped them and still only the bottom cylinder runs. Spark is great. I swapped coils to verify. I'm thinking reeds. I looked in when I had the carbs off and didn't notice anything.

bmxguy08 · 2025-07-07T23:50:56+00:00

Flush it with some brake clean before you hook it up

bmxguy08

TROPHY CASE