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Category Archives: Nissan Titan
Titan Rear Bumper Repair
A momentary lapse in my normally focused driving resulted in slamming my otherwise perfect ’09 Titan backwards into a heavy-duty steel pole. The bumper was crumpled just to the left of the center step and the tailgate also got a nice big dent. Both of these issues were very easy, albeit expensive, to fix. I simply ordered a new bumper from Nissan, which came unpainted. I dropped it and the tailgate off at a local body-shop, who had them back to me in a couple days.
The real challenge was the damage done to the underlying steel step that is integral to the trailer hitch. This piece is welded solid to the hitch, and at about 3/16″ thick, impossible to straighten out. So my solution; find a near matching piece of steel to replace the damaged portion. Fortunately the piece was a fairly standard 4″ wide. I stopped at a local steel building supply, and they happened to have a 2×4″ piece of scrap steel for a couple dollars.
It took quite a bit of grinding, a cutoff wheel, and a pry bar to get the old piece off the hitch.
Then on to duplicating the step using the scrap steel. The piece I used was slightly thinner (~1/8″) but still plenty strong. It was still a challenge to cut, as I have no miter saw or plasma cutter. I used a pneumatic cutoff wheel and a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. Then I clamped the piece in place, measured it to make sure I had the same placement as the original. Tacked it into place with the MIG and test fit the plastic cover before burning it in.
I coated everything with semi-gloss black. I now had to duplicate the four odd-shaped holes that the plastic cover clips into. I used a 1″ hole-saw, then shaped them to fit using a carbide bit and the pneumatic die-grinder.
Before installing the plastic covers, I stuck a bead of butyl-tape down. This isn’t required, but it should keep the plastic cover from riding up and down. The original pieces had rubbed the paint from doing this. Everything clips into place, with no signs of any damage. Still need to install the tailgate, but I’m planning on installing a lock actuator on it first. See that in a future post.
Debadged ’09 Titan
I removed the pin-stripes and Pro-4x stickers the first week I had the truck. Last weekend I decided to remove the rest of the badges. I used fishing line to get them off, then lots of Goo-Gone and a heat gun. Then used some 3M rubbing compound followed by a wash and wax. I’m really liking the cleaner look. I also removed my wiper cowl and painted it with some Krylon Fusion semi-gloss black, as it was faded pretty badly after only a year outside.
Utilitrac modded tool box
Well I said I wasn’t going to mod my new Titan… I lied.
But this is a small one. I took my slimline toolbox off the ’04, and I always wanted to do this. I took the front Utilitrack rail off, cut it down to size, and bolted it to the tool box. Now I have the full utility back.
New Titan, ’09 CC Pro4x
Hey guys, some of you might remember me. I haven’t been on here much since I just got back from a year long deployment. I’ve also been spending most of my forum surfing time working on a new project car.
But I’m back now, with a new Titan! Picked up a brand new ’09 Pro-4X Crew Cab. Decided to go all out, so it has navigation, sun roof, leather, dvd player, and all the other associated options.
I won’t be modding this truck… much. As you can see I’ve already partially debadged it. The truck came with pin-striping which I also removed. Other than the window tint, it’s all stock.
BTW, I still have the ’04 LE. I’ll be selling it once I take some parts off. If there is anyone interested in either the truck or parts, let me know. It’s located in Lexington, SC. I’ll eventually have a post about it.