Customizing my 16 year old son's truck

Reggiefd · Dec 1st, 2004, 09:22 PM

I purchase a 1987 Nissan D21 King, pickup truck for my 16 year old son.

I want to dress the truck up to the style of the SUV Pathfinder
of the same year. The truck is currently white with 14in rims and tires.

I want to add the black rubber wheel flares, larger tires and rims, brush grill guard, large round fog lights, black bra, tinted windows, pop top sun roof and rear black snap on bed cover.

a) Do I need to add some type of lift kit to add the same tires and rims that are on the pathfinder. I hope to just add rims and tires and leave the suspension the same if possible.

b) What are the largest tires and rims and I can add without changing the suspension?

c) Where do I locate/purchase the wheel flares?

d) Where do I locate/purchase the snap on leather bed cover?

This truck has a plain jane look. I like the large tire/rim look with black wheel flares as shown on the pathfinder.

Can someone help me with this redesign?

**88pathoffroad** · Dec 2nd, 2004, 03:53 AM

Nissan pickups also came with fender flares like the Pathfinders. They're plastic, not rubber. The 2WD pickups had different front fenders than the 4WD pickups. They weren't as flared. You can fit a 235/75/15 or so on there if you want, but what does your SON really want? If he wants a lifted 4x4, find an actual 4x4 instead of trying to dress up a 2WD. It's not cost-effective to add shit to a 2WD when a 4WD comes with the same things already unless you have access to a junkyard with real cheap parts...

SPEEDO · Dec 2nd, 2004, 10:09 AM

I have a 87 2wd pu, I put a 2" body lift and the stock 15" 4x4 tires & wheels and the stock fender flares on (yes, on 2wd fenders) The truck itself came up a total of 4" (stock 4x4 height) which for my use keeps me out of trouble. People mistake it for a 4x4 all the time. Hint on the flares, when putting the fronts on, start at the back of the wheel well and work it forward, you will have to trim the flare in the front where it meets the valance. Or.. you can replace the 2wd fenders with the 4wd ones. No trouble with the rears. I even put in a map light out of a newer pu, comes in handy. I also added a pocket under the radio (also out of a newer truck) and a grille guard & tow hook (2wd off road,I thought it might be a good idea) and mounted the "off road" lights on the grille guard. (I used all factory stuff) I hope this gives you some ideas anyway... good luck!

Reggiefd · Dec 2nd, 2004, 06:32 PM

Speedo,

Thanks for your help. I like the fact that you actually answered my question. How much am I talking regarding a 2" body lift kit? If it is too much maybe I can go with chrome 15" rims with the stock flares and pick a tire which is small enough to not rub after trimming the front flares. Do you have a picture of your truck? I would love to show it to my son. I have major skills in custromizing vehicles as a father. This is my first time hooking up a PU truck. My 2000 expedition has a black brush gruard on front end and rear tail light brush guards with fogs lights. I want my son's truck to have the same style. I like working with cars as a hobby.

If you don't mind, I want my son truck to look like yours.
Good ideas.

currykid3 · Dec 2nd, 2004, 07:05 PM

Here is a pic of my old 93 2wd. It had a 3inch body lift, 15X8 rims with 30x9.5r15 tires. I would'nt recomend such a wide rim. A 7inch would be fine...like from a stock pathy

. The fender flares are from a 4x4 they fit with a little "help" and I did trim some off the front, partly because of some fender damage that made the fenders a bit shorter than stock.

www.4x4parts.com will have the body lift I believe and alot of other stuff to "dress" up the truck like light bars and such.

SPEEDO · Dec 3rd, 2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggiefd

Speedo,

Thanks for your help. I like the fact that you actually answered my question. How much am I talking regarding a 2" body lift kit? If it is too much maybe I can go with chrome 15" rims with the stock flares and pick a tire which is small enough to not rub after trimming the front flares. Do you have a picture of your truck? I would love to show it to my son. I have major skills in custromizing vehicles as a father. This is my first time hooking up a PU truck. My 2000 expedition has a black brush gruard on front end and rear tail light brush guards with fogs lights. I want my son's truck to have the same style. I like working with cars as a hobby.

If you don't mind, I want my son truck to look like yours.
Good ideas.

a 2" body lift ran me about $80, I dont like suspension lifts because "things" wear out faster! Idler arms, center links, tie rods etc. I figure with a body lift I am not altering the vehicles geometry so things should wear at a normal rate rather than a excellerated one! Well it made sense to me anyway. With the 15" rims and larger tires on a "stock" height truck, the first bump you hit, you will send those tires right into those fenders causing a demple effect! I have seen few trucks like that and chuckle because I know how they did it.
I have some part numbers for you (factory Nissan #'s)
rt frt,63812-S4325..$31 lt frt,63813-S4325..$31 rt rr, 93826-S4325..$24 lt rr,93827-S4325..$24 on the frt flares you will have to trim them where it meets the valance (black plastic piece that runs from side to side) also if the truck sits a little "nose heavy" you can crank up the torsion bars to level it out. Sorry I dont have any pic's of my truck, but it looks just like a stock 4x4 with a grill guard! Kind of like currykid's only not as high, by the way... nice truck!