2005 & up Xterra & Frontier Atlas Install

*Navigate Xterra Installtion by using the Xterra Installation navigation payne on the left.

Drivetrain starts off looking like this:

And ends up looking like this:

Start by placing the vehicle on jackstands or a hoist. Drain the transfer case of fluid. This will help prevent spilling it later when removing it. Transmission should be left full. Remove front and rear drive shafts Remove skidplate if present

Disconnect the 4 electrical connections on the transfer case. Do not damage the big connector on the shift motor, it will need to be reused later. See the electrical section for further details.

Remove the shift motor vent hose and the 2 bolts holding the shift motor to the transfer case, set aside for later use.

Check that all electrical connectors and harness clips are free of the transfer case. Don’t forget the vent for the transfer case, it is separate from the shift motor. It is recommended that the exhaust be separated from the secondary catalytic converters for more room.

Remove the bolts holding the transfer case to the transmission. The top 3 bolts (top center 2 and one to the left of the top dowel) are installed from the back. There are 14 bolts in total.

Tip: there are 3 bolts on the bottom that cannot be removed or even completely loosened with the transfer case still mated. To avoid extra labor of removing the transmission cross member and transmission mount, cut off the bolt heads after they have been loosened as far as possible. Use studs later for reassembly. This will save a lot of time and work. If the adapter is threaded with M10x1.25 threads, do NOT cut the bolt heads. You will reuse the bolts.

This is the back of the transmission after the transfer case has been removed

The transfer case will slide off after it is freed from the 2 dowels. Once the transfer case comes off a small amount of transmission fluid will run out between the transmission and transfer case, do not be alarmed. It is just the little bit of oil coming from the splines as the 2 separate.A little finessing will allow the transfer case to clear the exhaust and the vehicle.

Inspect the adapter and make sure that it fits over both dowels of the back of the transmission. You may need to remove the dowel from the old transfer case if it got stuck in there. Both dowels must be in the transmission for proper alignment of the Atlas II.