Named her Tatanka, which is the Lakota Indian's word for Buffalo. It has many meanings. The most obvious is it is all black and gold, just like a buffalo. Also, I went to the University of Colorado, where our mascot is the Buffalo. I took care of our mascot Ralphie, and ran with her at all the football games for three years. I also find this as a good name because a buffalo was more than just meat to the Native Americans; it was their whole life, where they got everything from. Just like them, I get everything out of my Xterra. It is comfortable, does great on road trips, gets above average MPG when I am driving it around town and on highways, does a great job of towing what I need it to pull, and does great off road as well. Everything I need it to do!

Here is the most current pictures:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/Snowstorm2010.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/Snowstorm20101.jpg


Lift/ Suspension:
3" Suspension Lift
-Calmini Upper Control Arms (Painted Black with Zerks Installed)
-Calmini Rear Shackles (Painted Black)
-Calmini Torsion Bars (Painted Black)
-Calmini Add-a-leaf (Painted Black)
-Rancho RS5000 Shocks for a 3” Lift
-Rear Sway Bar Removed

Steering:
-Calmini Idler Arm Brace (Painted Black)
-AC - Rancho - Steering Stabilizer
-AC - Heavy Duty Tie Rod Adjusters
-Rock Humper - Centerlink
-New Tie Rod Ends
-New Ball Joints
-Warn Premium Manual Locking Hubs

Exterior:
-Nissan Grille Guard
-Wagg Tail Light Guards
-Nissan Trailer Hitch
-Bumpers Painted Black
-Roof Rack Painted Black
-Mud Flaps Removed

Interior:
-Xterra Seat Covers Front and Rea
-Xterra Rubber Mats
-Husky Liner Cargo Mat
-Nissan Cargo Cover
-Nissan Temperature and Compass Rear View Mirror
-ScanGauge 2
-Garmin GPSMAP 60CSX
-Cobra CXR900 Two-Way Radios

Performance:
-Custom 2” Cats
-Custom NISMO Exhaust
-Stock Cold Air Intake Mod with K&N
-Transmission Cooler
-All Fluids Switched to Mobile 1 Synthetic

Armor:
-Stock Skid Plates
-Removed Side Step Rails

Tires:
-Stock: 255/65R16 =29.05 in.
-Upgraded to: 265/75R16 = 31.7 in.
-Goodyear Wranger Silent Armor.

Miscellaneous:
-Cargo Box Full of all the Necessary Trail and Road Gear, Plus Much More
-Buffalo, Cowboy Hat, Horse, CU, and Club Stickers

Coming Soon:
-Quest Alternator
-Sliders
-Skid Plates
-CB Radio and Antenna

Wish List:
-ShrockWorks Front Bumper
-ShrockWorks Tire Carrier
-Gears



She is still my daily driver, but one day I hope to have her all built up. I have tried to do as much of the work myself, and have tried to learn as much as I can when I am watching someone else do it or helping them do the work. It has been a blast learning how to work on an Xterra, and knowing that it is “mine” because I worked on it and no one else has one like it, and it is built the exact way that I want it.

See you guys on the trails!

Nice man.

Chuck

Very nice!

Great looking X!

I am really bored, so here are a few pictures of what I have installed.

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSX:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0085.jpg

Transmission Cooler:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0087.jpg

ScanGauge2:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0029-1.jpg

Painted Bumpers and Grille Guard:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0835.jpg

Painted Bumpers and Tail Light Guards:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0838.jpg

Cargo Area:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0082.jpg

HD Tie Rod Adjusters:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0877.jpg

Calmini Upper Control Arms:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0873.jpg

New Roof Rack Paint and cool sticker look:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG0887.jpg

Nice X! So you have Calmini UCAs and only 1.5'' lift? Why not crank them T-bars to get a full 3'' lift in the front? You can easily do it with aftermarket control arms.

I like the Roof-Rack! Now paint those wheels Black to match.

Nice X! So you have Calmini UCAs and only 1.5'' lift? Why not crank them T-bars to get a full 3'' lift in the front? You can easily do it with aftermarket control arms.

I didn't have enough money to buy the add-a-leaf at the time to lift the rear up the rest of the 1.5". But I got a great deal on the UCAs so I wanted ot buy them before some one else did. I actually lifted the front like 2.5 inches, since it was saging in the front so now it sits perfectly level. I plan on doing the rest of the SL, but just need some money first.

I like the Roof-Rack! Now paint those wheels Black to match.

Yeah i wish it could have gotten a better picture for the roof rack. it looks so sweet in person.

I thought about doing the rims, but just seems like a lot of work and would probabaly get really scrached and come off.

I like the roof rack painted black... I want to do mine that way.

I thought about doing the rims, but just seems like a lot of work and would probabaly get really scrached and come off.

Bah! Everything else is Black. Extra paint is off-road protection for your rollers. And you look like a ninja in white bucks right now.

Sweet

nice

Lookin' good

A little update

Got some Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tires. 265/75R16 just about 32 inches. Biggest you can go without a body lift, which I don't really plan on doing.

Put on some Warn Premium Manual Hubs.

Put a Rock Humper Centerlink on.

Bought a new locking Plano "sportsman's tub" to hold tools, emergency stuff, and parts, and finally got a fire extinguisher in the truck.

Little things here and there.

I will be doin a full tune up with some fluids the end of the year. And I plan on doin my TREs and upper and lower ball joints in the near future when I get the calmini AAL and the Calmini T-bars.

So stay tuned!!

Word....

I agree, black rims would complete the look. Great x, none the less! Its just the roof rack, and the black trim that would look great with black wheels.

Yeah i thought about black rims, but to much other stuff to do before hand.

New Tires:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG1394.jpg

New tires with new hub:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG1436.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/CIMG1437.jpg

yup they do. not to much thought maybe an inch.

Finished the suspension lift. so its now the full 3inches. I will get some pictures soon, have been having fun playing out in all the snow we just got. 13 inches!

Lets see! Lets see! lol

Finished the suspension lift. so its now the full 3inches. I will get some pictures soon, have been having fun playing out in all the snow we just got. 13 inches!

Hell yes!!!

the snow has been awesome... I've been bashing around all day...

So i finally got some pictures and finishing up the suspension lift, nothing good and it was after all the snowbashing this past week, juts a cell phone picture when i was in a parking lot...

I had done the PML with upper control arms before, but a few weeks ago andrew helped me install the t-bars and add-a-leaf. also instaled new upper ball joints and tie rod ends.

drives amazing and handles like a dream!

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/Snowstorm2010.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk402/johngraves2/Snowstorm20101.jpg

I have a few good build pictures, but you all know what those look like. it is always scary to see your axel only connected to the car by brake lines and only supported by jacks. it was a fun time installing everything and i thank andrew a lot of his help!

nice x

Lookin real good!

update:

finally fixed the steering, added a new HooHaa CL, SOOOOOO good and strong, had to put on a new pitman arm as well cause the old CL messed it all up.

I have new t-bar adjuster bolts that i will put in on saturday and lift the front some mroe, it had droped since i put the new bars in. then it is off to the new firestone shop for an alignment

Got some shrock sliders mounted today (thanks jeff c.)

decided today that i will infact add the 2in BL (those of you that know me know that i always disliked them), so i have started to save for that and for a shrock front bumper. hopefully that will be ordered in the next few months but probably wont be on for this wheeling season.

plan on doing some major detailing this weekend with an engine degreaser and brush, i got some leaks and squeaks i want to track down and fix before i get to carried away with more mods. and i figured good time for some wax as well never hurts even though it is alwasy dirty!

so it is getting there, can;t wait to get out on the trails once all that snow melts!

Looks good dude! i like the roof rack color change

on and i just wanted to add that my girlfriends dad and i were able to do all the CL and front steering ourselves! i know most of you takle SAS's and other crazy stuff everyday but i have been teaching myself and learning from freinds so i was damn happy we were able to do this with no outside help.

it is amazing how easy working on a car is when you have the right tools (impact set, pullers, correct wrenches, creepers, and dogs that are always trying to help hold tools for you)

Congrats on the learning experience man. You must be ecstatic right now putting on all these new parts haha

Nice!
How much did all the steering stuff run you, if you don't mind?

Nice John...

Get some pics up when you can

Nice!
How much did all the steering stuff run you, if you don't mind?

well i forget but i think the hoohaa CL runs like 300$ then you get a 100$ refund for shipping him your old CL. I had bought t.he "other guys" CL at first and it broke after like 2 months and i have been fighting other problems because of it since then

I get the pitman arm from napa for like $20.

over the past 5 months i have replaced the ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends on both sides, replaced the idler arm pushings and added the AC steering enhancement pakage with the shock that goes accrose the CL.

all those parts, plus labor a few times, plus allignments to try and fix issues along the way.....thousands!

so i can only hope i am done working on the steering issues now!

Congrats! The X looks great...

she certainly does !