Car Question - Is It Possible....

[Dune]

Originally posted by capt. apathy
diesels aren't very good off-road.  great for mileage and power on the hwy, but poor acceleration & not much 'off the line' power that you need for off-road.

Depends on what you're doing with it.  My dad has a '78 Toyota Landcruiser with a diesel in it.  It will go anywhere, gets great milage and you can run the a/c in it all day long.  It's not the fastest thing, but it's low-end torque and 31 inch tires means it will rock crawl with the best of them.  Especially in 4 low.

And XTerra's are SUV's.  As has been mentioned above, they are one of the few SUV's still built on truck frames.  Most SUV's are unibodies or built on car frames so they "ride better"  :rolleyes

I've got a bone-stock 2002 with the v6, limited slip rear end and a stick shift.  I've been through some pretty hairy stuff in the Arizona desert and haven't needed anything more yet.  

But, since I sold my CJ 5 w/ the 340hp V8 in it, I don't bomb through the desert like I used to  

[Dune]

Jeep is supposed to be bringing out a diesel Liberty for 2005.

[Gixer]

Originally posted by Dune
Jeep is supposed to be bringing out a diesel Liberty for 2005.

Hope they never get rid of the straight 6 4.0 for the "real" Jeep but unfortunetly rumours are that they are making big changes for the 05 model. 3.8 V6 and 6 speed. :-(

If that's so no matter what it costs I might buy a new 04 just so I can have the last of the straight 6's. Personally I think it's the best engine in the world for a 4x4 but of course im biased as hell. There only one, and everything else is a copy. :-)



...-Gixer

[FUNKED1]

Heavy, stinky, smoky, underpowered, why would anybody want a diesel?

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Heavy, stinky, smoky, underpowered, why would anybody want a diesel?

Hey Funked, the 1970s called, they want their diesel stereotypes back.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by lazs2
those stupid xterra things only get 16 mpg?   What is the point of that?

lazs

I've gotten as high as 19. More often then not, I get 18 MPG after each fill up.

[XtrmeJ]

Originally posted by Gixer
XJ,

I'm sure the terrain in Hawaii isn't any worse for off roading then here in NZ. I just finished a OME 2 inch lift on my Jeep and with 31inch mud tyres, airlockers, and some armour underneath find more then enough for bush trails here. Which are usually steep,muddy,rutted,narrow,rocky and unforgiving. We have some guys in our club with 3-4 inch lifts and 33" tyres but I've yet to get stuck where they don't.

Over 2 inches your really starting to alter the vehicles centre of gravity and design spec. More then likely require regearing and other changes like a transcase drop,gearbox packing, Panhard rod extensions what ever is required. Otherwise you'll experience varying degrees of vibration.

Of course sure you've already looked into all of this.  

Which makes of lift kit's have you looked into? Can highly recommend Old Man Emu from Australia not sure what they do for your wagon but for Jeeps it's the best available. Improves the handling off and on road. Totally different vehicle now from stock.



...-Gixer

Yah I'm thinking 3-4 max lift. Only a few companies make lifts for Xterras so its hard to tell who has the best one, as they are fairly new. Maybe I should just keep spair containers of gas. The switch thing just sounded so cool hehe. Will look into it more. Im lookin for 32-35 tire wise. I about a 1/1/2 inch lift at one point for a small show. Drove it with huge tires. Friend did all the work. It was massive, gears did have to be tweaked and other things. To drive it to the show and back soaked up a lil more than half the tank with full gas. We took it off weeks later as it was for show anyway. I just want something that wont scrape the rugged paths down to the beaches, and an extra tank of gas. Or a bright idea to install another neat tank.

[Sandman]

This one is very popular... 3" Lift from Calmini:

http://www.purenissan.com/3_lift.htm

[XtrmeJ]

Ya ive looked at the one as well. It is the most popular right now IMO, and most companies dont make over 3 inch body/suspension lifts. If I did get a 3 inch body and 3 inch suspension lift thatd be nice. I'd wrather have 4 tho:D

[Sandman]

Originally posted by capt. apathy
yep, and in off-roading weight is a concern.  I not an exert at 4wd's, I've owned a couple but don't do any more than the most basic work on them.  and the only mods I make are custom bumpers, hitch's, and winch-mounts that I make.

but I don't know of anyone who uses a diesel for off-roading.  I don't think jeep or most of the other 4x4 makers even offer diesels.

Not in this country anyway. There's a diesel option for Xterras sold in Brazil.

[XtrmeJ]

Diesel powered Xterra would be reasonably underpowered IMO.

[XtrmeJ]

Guess I am just going to carry a few more gas containers in my car until a solution is found. Went out and got 2 - 5 gallon ones today. Temporary fix:p

[Sandman]

I intend to do the same.

[beet1e]

hey XT - nice flying with you just now at the rook CVs.  

[Gixer]

Originally posted by XtrmeJ
Ya ive looked at the one as well. It is the most popular right now IMO, and most companies dont make over 3 inch body/suspension lifts. If I did get a 3 inch body and 3 inch suspension lift thatd be nice. I'd wrather have 4 tho:D

3inch body and 3 inch suspension lift? I'd never go more then 1inch body at maximum anything else just looks ugly as it leaves to much of a gap between the body frame and chassis. Body lifts don't do anything to increase your flex just increase space for bigger tyres but they look terrible.

Maximum I'd ever put on my jeep would be 33inch tyres and 3 to 3.5 inch suspension lift possibly with a 1 inch body lift.

Sounds as if your doing it more for looks then serious offroad ability. Again massive lifts are going to turn it into a terrible road vehicle, gas miliage will take a dive,gearing need adjusting and handling will be terrible.

Does the Xterra have low ratio?

If it was my wagon most I'd look at is a quality 2inch suspension lift and possibly fit 31inch A/T's  BFG do a nice A/T tyre.  Though depending on your backspacing on the stock wheels you might then need to get new wheels as well to fit 31's or use spacers but those are illegal in allot of places.

Speaking of bigger tyres where are you planning to keep the full size spare?



...-Gixer