Well this little goofball darted out across the eastbound two lanes from a QT assumedly to turn left and head west. The truck to my right blocked my view of him and somehow missed him but I had time to say "shi," and that was all until I was driving through or launching off the front of his car.



He was way shook up but okay. And he had insurance.
My vehicle just about looked ok, save for the front end being dropped. It didn't even puncture the radiator. The only body damage is in one spot hidden by the slider.

But, he hit my tire which pushed the force into my frame. It's only a few suspension parts lost, but the frame is what the insurance people shook their head at.

I am working on a buyback, hitting Showboat up for frame work, and then figuring out the suspension build with LOR from there.

I am admittedly in love with my vehicle. I've pretty much got it to where I want it. I have always lusted after a better ride up front since I have like .5" of travel which causes a lot of wear and tear on my bones and the bushings, shock mounts, and brackets.

Status updates:
Buyback ✓
Purchase frame ($300) ✓

glad you're ok!

solid axle swap. I still have a high pinion dana 30 with 4.56s and a locker in my garage, not being used. just saying.

Long travel... Just sayin.

Buyback ✓
Purchase frame ($300) ✓

I'll let you know when everyone can come down and write "balls" on my frame.

It's looking like a long travel IFS may benefit my rig more. Since I'm obviously invested in this vehicle, taking the restore/salvage title, and running another 120K miles in it, it would make sense to put some money in the parts that have cost the most in maintenance already. The beating I put on my suspension has already had me ripping out the LCA shock mounts twice, and I've rewelded much of the radiator area brackets metal. To drive it home after the frame swap, I would have to replace LCA's, shocks, and t-bars anyway (not sure about the Calmini UCA's status).

*My X currently has the 3" Calmini Suspension Lift and 2" Body Lift.

So shop will do the frame work and then will it be a roller to get to the next shop? Will it need to be loaded on a trailer? Tow truck?

fatbob309 wrote:So shop will do the frame work and then will it be a roller to get to the next shop? Will it need to be loaded on a trailer? Tow truck?

The hopeful plan is that after the swap, we can either get the wheels back on however janky they look. If not then yeah a tow will be required.

Geoff is working out times for us to wrench.

Let us know, and we can come grab It on a trailer if need be.

If you are planning on a wrenching party, I can show up for a Saturday evening or all day Sunday.

Glad to hear you are ok

I googled images of xterra frames and found this:


apparently this is an option too:

Here you go Matt :)

Looks roomy and spacious.

alanzona wrote:Looks roomy and spacious.

We should have had the lift driver put it in the truck across the rails like he wanted to.

so we can stop by Geoff's shop and write dirty words and hide things in the frame?

The help offer is appreciated but this will be a too many chefs in the kitchen thing if it's more than just him plus me helper monkeying.

You could probably stop by with a paint marker to sign if you drop Geoff off a drink too :p

Skatchkins wrote:

You could probably stop by with a paint marker to sign if you drop Geoff off a drink too :p

:))

Helping Showboat, we got the frame swap complete in one day.

Disconnected everything and lifted the body off.
5023

Step 2, remove everything from one frame and install it all on the new one.
5024

Moving the engine over. Nissan doesn't leave any hoist points on their engine so we used as many chains as humanly possible.
The driver side engine mount was in two pieces so we replaced it while it was easy to get to.
5025

Everything back on except the damaged front suspension.
5026

Next step, figure out a tow to Lost Offroad's (Lost Industries) place.

Being that I'm not much of a wrench head, this really blows my mind. How the heck did you guys get all that done in one day?!? Just the thought of removing the body off the frame would confuse the crap out of me.

I'm impressed.

And I told mike to start it and it blew his Mind that everything was reconnected and other than the dead battery it worked. I tried to get him to drive it but he was scared. I had jack under the front end what could go wrong?