there has been some discussions on this lately so i finally took a pic of mine. i just took my cover and started digging in some scrap metal that i had and this is what i came up with. this is what i added, the diamond plate covering the hump is 3/16, the bottom part of the dome on each side is 1/8, and if you look ar the bolt flange at about axle centerline you will see a welded seem. i added 1/8" to the bottom half of the bolt flange on the cover. also what is hard to see is i took 3 small sections of round steel (rebar actually) and added it between the bottom 4 bolts. i welded them in and then ground them so they look like a ramp from the edge of the cover to the dome. they prevent the lip from being pulled back. i also left out the bottom bolt. after grinding the lip off of the bottom of the housing the bolt hung below the housing/cover so i just left it out and added the ramp. since i have done this i have not bent the cover and it has not pulled the lip back and caused a leak. it might not look as flashy as the grill units but it works and all it cost me was alittle time. anyway here it is.

I usually don't like the looks of diamond plate.. But that looks cool on the center of the ring gear like that

Originally posted by Moab Austin
I usually don't like the looks of diamond plate.. But that looks cool on the center of the ring gear like that

thanks, like i said i just used it because it was in the scrap pile. it was already that width so it worked out perfectly:D

Nice. Hmmm, now I gotta go dig up some scrap for mine. :D Thanks for the pic.

Just wodering how do you get the steel to contour to the shape of the diff cover. I have a shit load of 1/4 inch that I would love to weld onto my diff covers.

Originally posted by LOS-YJ
Just wodering how do you get the steel to contour to the shape of the diff cover. I have a shit load of 1/4 inch that I would love to weld onto my diff covers.

start it on one end of where you want it and weld it down, then heat it with the torch, bend it, weld it, heat it, bend it, weld it, until you have got it welded all the way down and it's formed to the diff cover.

i wish i would have taken a pic after i finished it. with it clean and fresh paint, you could see the details alittle better. oh well the rock rash just shows that it works. :D

I just beefed up the cover of my 12 bolt.(Flame away) took 1/4" plate and made a half ring that pinches the cover to the diff.It is bolt with the bottom six bolts.Then I took 1&1/4"x1/8" and welded that over the ring gear.Worked out great and I shouldn't peel the cover anymore.:D

This is the one I built .Its .312 thick steel .Alot of heating and bending and I cut the bolt holes on a mill.

http://coloradok5.com/albums/albun21/aah.sized.jpg