JWT POP-CHARGER on a 2002 Xterra

Just wanted to let you 2002 owners know I successfully installed a pop charger on my Xterra 2002 XE. No problems what so ever, fit like a glove. Although the instructions are so bad, I just tossed it in the garbage and used common sense. If you install this, be sure to use the bracket that came with it as it keeps the popper stable, and the plastic arm from bending. And also of the 4 screws, 3 are the same, the 4th is longer just for the bracket. The JWT will fit in different ways, however make sure its aligned with the polished steel as it was designed to, it will only look good and fit best one way. Let me know if any of you have any questions, it was a fun mod. I was worried about the extra tubes or cables that would be floating around but it seems my model didn't have any. I dont know if this is just a 2002 thing, although mine is an automatic. Also, I dont know if its just the 2002's but I really dont see a place where water can get to it because its so high up. I do however worry about the hot air on idle getting sucked into the engine. Does hot air make a difference from cold air going into the engine performance wise? I can say I do feel more power and a larger sound. Thanks guys for sharing your experience.

-Oliver

Hot air is definitely worse than cold air, it's less dense.

That "power" you feel is actually just a $100 placebo effect.

The pop charger might ad 3-5 HP at 5500 RPM, which is downright impossible to feel in a 170HP, 4000 lb vehicle.

Do you have any photo's? Where did you buy pop charger at and how much?

xterraparts.com carries it (and sponsors XOC, so give them a shout).

XOC-
Your probably right. I don't notice the power difference till around the time I want to get on the freeway, or gunning a green light. I DO feel the difference during those times however, cause I do it 5 days a week, same route. I think of it this way, I never have to clean the popper for 50,000 miles, it makes the sound of my truck more full, its fun to install, and it looks good with the engine.

xterraparts.com is where I got it from, I'm getting a front grill from them this week and some body moldings.

I'll get some pics up once I have time to upload them.

-Oliver

Ian, have you ever had the pop charger installed in your truck? I'm guess I'm asking you to qualify your statement that the pop charger merely gives a placebo effect.

I definitely noticed a seat-of-the-pants difference in power on my truck when I installed the pop charger, especially from a standing start. Granted, the Flowmaster exhaust I've added helps, too, so perhaps there is no "real" benefit of sucking in more air if the engine can't push it out.

The only time the hot temperature of the intake air seems to negatively affect performance is on very warm days (90+ degrees).

For experimentation's sake, try removing your stock airbox (entirely) from the truck and take a short test drive (a mile or two won't hurt the engine... to see if you feel any performance difference. I bet you will...

[ 10-18-2001: Message edited by: XPLORx4 ]

Yes, I had one installed for 3 months, shortly after I bought my Xterra in August 1999.

I also did an impromptu drag race with a friend in an identical Xterra (4X4 XE 3 pak, 5SP, 31" tires). There was no difference (0-50mph), and he had 2 people in his.

The Xterra was also prone to stalling when pulling away from a stop, due to loss of low end torque. This may be due to living at 5000 feet.

SLR has a cold air box in development, and I'm interested in intakes again now that I have an aftermarket exhaust fitted.

Ok ,so I decided to not send my pop charger back. I ended up making a heat shield/splash gaurd for it and left the ambient air sensor in its stock position. Looks great!Sounds cool too. I made the shield out of 26ga. sheet metal,and with the use of a dremel tool, snips,and drill made it work. I went ahead and painted it with high temperature paint also. To secure it I used the stock airbox mounting points along with the JWT bracket. I hope to post some pics tommorow.

Evansxterr-

Thats an awesome project! I can't wait to see the pics.

To All:
I noticed a mesh sort of shield in the inner arm before I installed the popper, anyone know if this is new to the 2002? I was thinking of removing it for more air flow. Its obviously used to keep things from entering the engine, but I dont see the popper falling off anytime soon and it does have its own sort of "K&N" mesh. Any tips or ideas on if this is a good or bad thing to do?

-Oliver

My 2001 has that screen in front of the MAF sensor and I was tempted to remove it also. Anyone don this?

Why remove it? Does it hurt performance?

I'm on vacation now but I will post pics of the shield in a week or so. I promise.

oh so if thats the case why is my engine all covered in mud ???

Why is it then the rest of us didn't get this same "seat-of-the-pants" effect and promptly removed it? Don't be fooled by the hype, man. I'm sure if you feel anything it's your exhaust, it's defintely not the pop-charger.

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: Cygnus-X1 ]

That's BS Oleg. You didn't hit enough mud to get any in the engine! I, on the other hand, am going to be using the power-waher to clean the entire truck- underside, and engine...

i was taking it easy this weekend
i almoust did not go into any mud

but still even with that, my engine is muddy fom the past trips

Here are the Pop-Charger Pics on a 2002 Xterra.

JWT Popper Pics