A.J.
11-21-2009, 08:17 PM
When I go prairie dog hunting, the roads we use are dirt trails with some growth in the center of the road. My cross member would catch a lot of it and hang onto it. So a skid plate was in order. I was going to do this last year when things slowed down but half a sheet of sheet metal was going to cost me $50. I did a gas tank in a '94 Jeep Wrangler last week. I got a used one so I had a tank and skid plate left over. I tossed the tank and kept the skid plate just in case. I measured it up and turns out it'd work fine. I love free.
The Jeep Wrangler gas tank skid plate. A little beat up but free.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0814.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0815.jpg
After some jumping and whomping on with a 32 oz BFH. I also had to remove the side cover. It was only spot welded on. My air chisel made quick work of it.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0817.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0818.jpg
I use to have a Honda power steering cooler on my cross member. You can see why it would grab a lot of brush. I relocated it first. That write-up is here: http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36916
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0248.jpg
I used threaded nutserts for the front bracket because I had to remove the bumper cover to fab this up. I didn't want self tapers to vibrate out. Removing the bumper cover sucks.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0820.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0821.jpg
I drilled holes in the lip on the cross member for the rear bolts. I used the threaded body nuts in case I strip or cross thread one they're easily replaceable.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0816.jpg
And done.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0822.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0823.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0824.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0826.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0827.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0828.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0829.jpg
Surprisingly, I didn't have to modify the skid plate other than straightening it and drilling a couple of holes. Also it's easily removable for oil changes. Three 6mm bolts in the front and four 8mm bolts in the rear.
A.J.
The Jeep Wrangler gas tank skid plate. A little beat up but free.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0814.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0815.jpg
After some jumping and whomping on with a 32 oz BFH. I also had to remove the side cover. It was only spot welded on. My air chisel made quick work of it.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0817.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0818.jpg
I use to have a Honda power steering cooler on my cross member. You can see why it would grab a lot of brush. I relocated it first. That write-up is here: http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36916
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0248.jpg
I used threaded nutserts for the front bracket because I had to remove the bumper cover to fab this up. I didn't want self tapers to vibrate out. Removing the bumper cover sucks.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0820.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0821.jpg
I drilled holes in the lip on the cross member for the rear bolts. I used the threaded body nuts in case I strip or cross thread one they're easily replaceable.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0816.jpg
And done.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0822.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0823.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0824.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0826.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0827.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0828.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0829.jpg
Surprisingly, I didn't have to modify the skid plate other than straightening it and drilling a couple of holes. Also it's easily removable for oil changes. Three 6mm bolts in the front and four 8mm bolts in the rear.
A.J.