Eeeewwww, yucky filter!

[ChuckH]

I finally took my K&N filter out to clean. It was put in not long before Moab and has been to Moab, Mt. Hood, and Naches...all dusty places. Well, as you'll see it was pretty nasty. I didn't take a picture, but the dirt pile it made when I shook it and ran the brush through it was quite amazing. Anyway, I was shocked that even in the dust, I could get that much dirt in 10K miles. I think my Xterra is cleaning the air more than polluting it!

[rrdstarr]

ChuckH, I just pulled out my stock filter and it was not that grungy at 20k!!! Glad I bought the K&N! I seem to have a little bit more power now from 2000rpm on up.

[ChuckH]

Yeah, my paper filters were never very dirty when I'd check them. I guess the oil in the K&N really holds the dirt. When you have your street tires on (or do you?) you'll probably notice that your engine sounds a lot better with the K&N in there...more open and less wheezy sounding.

The filter is drying now. I think I'll let it dry overnight and oil and install it in the morning. That way I know it will be dry. It's still kind of dark, but all the real nastiness ran out under the faucet with the cleaning.

I got the disc today...thanks a bunch! I'm going to look at it tonight and tomorrow night. If I see a few pictures I really like, can I post them on my website for this years Naches section?

[Philosopher]

I have cleaned my K&N 3 or 3 times in 40K miles and it's usually dirty, but not that dirty!

You ran a brush through the filter ... ?

[rrdstarr]

Chuck, you can use them anyway you want! I Imagine that the oil would grab more particulates from the air. But I have noticed that the engine does perform better. My week day commute there are there are three big guys in my truck over 200lbs, including myself, and i still accellerate pretty fast!

[ChuckH]

Originally posted by Philosopher
I have cleaned my K&N 3 or 3 times in 40K miles and it's usually dirty, but not that dirty!

You ran a brush through the filter ... ?

K&N says it's OK to use a soft brush so I only used it where the crud was really thick. I have to say I weas very shocked at how dirty it was, but now it's clean again. K&N also says that dirt is good and actually helps it filter better, but I think mine was well beyond that point!

So which is it "3" or "3?"

[ChuckH]

Originally posted by rrdstarr
Chuck, you can use them anyway you want! I Imagine that the oil would grab more particulates from the air. But I have noticed that the engine does perform better. My week day commute there are there are three big guys in my truck over 200lbs, including myself, and i still accellerate pretty fast!

I was thinking the K&N also pulls more air thorugh, so more junk comes with it.

You know, I weigh as much as two people (unfortunately!), and find my X moves me just fine. Actually, loading it up seems to have little effect on performance, which is nice.

Thanks for letting me use pictures! You have some really good ones in there.

Finally: What do you think of mid '80's Honda Prelude seats? I was working in the storage shed at work today and found some. They are totally impregnated with masonry dust and one's a little squished, but I was thinking maybe they could be cleaned up and modified to fit in the Xterra. I have to find out who they belong to and see if they want to get rid of them first, but I'm seriously thinking of trying. I could have them repadded and have new upholstery of some sort put on to make them match the X better. They are really nice seats with the really nice side bolstering, although I haven't actually sat in one yet tos ee if my ass fits. I'll have to put plastic over it first. (um, the seat!). What do you think?

[rrdstarr]

I heard that people really like the prelude seats from the mid 80's! Maybe i should come and visit you this weekend or next to check them out? i am going to look at some Corbeau seats this weekend also for "big" people in Fed Way!

[ChuckH]

I have to work in the storage shed tomorrow too, so I will try and find out who they belong to and what they plan on doing with them. If I bring them home I'll let you know and you are more than welcome to check them out. You know, back in the '80's people use to steal the Prelude seats...they are quite nice. Of course back in the '80's I had less padding too! I'm sure these are not stolen but the only person I can think of who they may belong to has never owned a Prelude AFAIK. Anyway, I'll try and find out what's up with them. I also found wheels and tires and such (nearly new Blizzak snows, TSW alloys etc.), but nothing that we can use unless you own a Mercur XR4Ti.

[ChuckH]

I was wrong about the seats but everything makes sense now. One of the guys I work for use to race Mazda Rally cars, so the seats are actually out of a Mazda 323 GTX (I think that's the one), not a Prelude like I thought. I never knew Mazda offered seats like that in the 323! Anyway, he apparently bought the car brand new back in '88 or something like that and stripped the seats out right away since the car was transformed for racing. Unfortunately, the seats are no longer in new condition. They are moldy, dirty, kind of squiched (things stacked on them), and probably have rat pee on them. However, I would want to put new coverings and such on anyway, so that's not my big worry.

Since I was already plenty dirty, I went ahead and sat in one briefly while it was on the floor. It felt really good to me, but it was only a quickie.

Here's the issue I'm wondering about. I haven't talked to Greg yet, but his Brother was there today and said the seats would probably not hold up well for serious offroad use. Apparently the seatbacks can break if enough force is put on them and that's why Greg put true racing seats in the car. I don't really do serious offroading or racing, so I think they would probably be OK unless I went off a cliff backwards. Maybe they can even be reinforced somehow.

Anyway, I'm going to see how much he wants for them. Apparently he's planning on putting them on eBay, but maybe I can save him the trouble. If the price is right, I may be willing to play with them a little and if they don't work in the X, they could still be turned into really nice office chairs!

[Synchro]

no offense chuck, but it sounds like a lot of hassle over some old rat piss smelling seats.

sounds like you'd be better off just buying one new seat for the driver (you) that is intended for the use you want and save yourself some headache and get exactly what you want. then when you have the money you replace the passenger seat if you feel the need to have the seats match. just my unsolicited thoughts.

[ChuckH]

Originally posted by Synchro
no offense chuck, but it sounds like a lot of hassle over some old rat piss smelling seats.

sounds like you'd be better off just buying one new seat for the driver (you) that is intended for the use you want and save yourself some headache and get exactly what you want. then when you have the money you replace the passenger seat if you feel the need to have the seats match. just my unsolicited thoughts.

Good thing I'm not an engineer I guess!

I have to agree with you for the most part. Cost of the seats will be the deciding factor vs. the cost of buying new seats. I have to do some more research on other options. I mean, if he only wants $50 for them or so I'll probably do it. Just depends on what new seats cost and what it's going to cost to have these restuffed and such.

It would drive me nuts to have seats that don't match, so I will want to do them together if possible. If cost is prohibitive either way, I'll just have my driver's seat restuffed with heavier foam that will support me better.

[Synchro]

definitely let me know what you find out, cause it sounds like you and i are in the same boat on this problem.

[rrdstarr]

ChuckH...LOL I used to have an '88 323 GTX! It had great seats, four wheel drive and turbo...It was a great rally car for the money. I eventually traded it in for a Miata w/custom seats. I had a race Recaro seat with fixed back and modify the sub floor and space behind the seat where the gast tank sat to fit the seat so I could drive it, being 6'4" and all! iam thinking if I go buy Corbreau I will get fixed backs, since i am the only who drives the Xterra. There is aplace in Lynnwood that has Recaros I may check them out tomorrow? All I know is I need about 6" more leg support and more side bolster support to keep me from sliding sideways!

[ChuckH]

That is pretty funny you use to have the same car! I might add that it sounds like a pretty fun ride. I don't think I ever knew Mazda built a car like that but I bet they are quite rare. Greg was very involved in racing, so I'm not surprised. He doesn't race anymore though...just drives an Audi S4 to make up for it! Hmmm, maybe I can get THOSE seats?!?!

Well, now that you know what seats I'm talking about, do you think they would be worth it if the price is right? Do you think they are atleast as sturdy as the seats that are in the Xterra now?

I will look into other seats too, but I want some with an adjustable back. I tend to like to change the angle sometimes and even recline to take quick naps when on long drives. I do really like the looks of the Mazda seat and don't think it would look too out of place in the Xterra and it did feel comfortable when I sat in it briefly.