my attempt at a skid plate

[dzntzhellfire]

its not finished but may help some new guys

ok, so we all know the TJ TC (transfer case) skid hangs to low, and aftermarket skids cost alot, building your own is nice and cheap, but what to do about those bolts? get ride of em? but need to remove it still so cant weld it. here is the fix,

i went to the local metal shop and ordered a piece of steel was 54" by 24" of 1/4" plate (its a little wide cause i wanted the extra for gussets for new cage) i then took measurement in rear of frame (bout 2" behind rear bolt hole) then went 24" toward the front and took that measurement (since frame narrows) then i took these measurements and marked them on the plate and since i have access to a 112 ton press at work i had guy i work with bend it on my marks to 90 degrees, ending up with this




i then measured height of frame and location of the body mount and cut them out and trimmed skid down



then with skid in place i drilled 3 holes on each side, and added some grade 8 bolts and ended up with this





now i dont have this finished but i will added some steel tube in the holes of the frame to keep it from crushing (i will weld it but not needed, just easier to install) and for now i drilled holes in bottom of skid and trans bolts just hang below but i will end up building a cross member like this one, and i will weld some 1" angle on top edge of skid in a "^" pattern to help with bracing, hope this helps, as of now i have $110 in steel, $30 in drill bits (broke one so really only $20, and burnt one up due to no cutting oil so could be $10) and $15 in bolts/washers/nuts,

new muffler is needed since OEM hangs below skid


, and a SYE will be needed if you have ANY lift since this accounts for a 3" lift in your driveline, you will need BL as well, or a tub massage, i have 2" BL and it clears fine

[stjjames]

You wanna send me one ?
i need a blank canvas.
Looks real good

[The Black Sheep]

THats a nice beefy looking skid. The only problem that you are gonna run into (and you can easily change it) is once you start wheeling, if you don't get some tubing to re-inforce that skid its gonna get beat to shit and warped really bad. Maybe you said you were and I missed it, if so i appologize. They work really well, you just need to re-inforce it really well since at times you could be slamming the entire weight of the vehicle on it.

[dzntzhellfire]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

THats a nice beefy looking skid. The only problem that you are gonna run into (and you can easily change it) is once you start wheeling, if you don't get some tubing to re-inforce that skid its gonna get beat to shit and warped really bad. Maybe you said you were and I missed it, if so i appologize. They work really well, you just need to re-inforce it really well since at times you could be slamming the entire weight of the vehicle on it.

yup you missed it

and i will weld some 1" angle on top edge of skid in a "^" pattern to help with bracing

right now im trying to just get it on the road, its been down since may with motor swap (blew another 2.5 so i swapping in a 4.0) and its my DD, just glad co-worker lives close

[The Black Sheep]

You are gonna want more then angle iron. You should consider getting some DOM or square tube. I have 1-1/4" DOM tubing with 3/16" plate and mines all beat to shit. I can barely attach the skid plate any more. My rig gets used but I don't wail on it mindlessly either. Its your build, you can do what you want, but based on what my skid looks like, my guts telling me you are gonna be redoing it again after a few good wheeling trips if you don't put some serious re-inforcement in it.

Good Luck to you.

[Jeepman14wheel]

You need something to support that plate. I have a 1/4" flat skid and still manage to bend it first time out with backing! The last pic is how I bent it!

[dzntzhellfire]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

You are gonna want more then angle iron. You should consider getting some DOM or square tube. I have 1-1/4" DOM tubing with 3/16" plate and mines all beat to shit. I can barely attach the skid plate any more. My rig gets used but I don't wail on it mindlessly either. Its your build, you can do what you want, but based on what my skid looks like, my guts telling me you are gonna be redoing it again after a few good wheeling trips if you don't put some serious re-inforcement in it.

Good Luck to you.

thats good to know, do you have pics of how you braced it? i plan on running a few strips of the angle, along upper face

Originally Posted by Jeepman14wheel

You need something to support that plate. I have a 1/4" flat skid and still manage to bend it first time out with backing! The last pic is how I bent it!

reread there will be bracing, and lots of it

[jeepman775]

Bracing is bueno. Lot's like you say is muy betterer. That thing is sexy. I am interested in how you are bracing thing biotch.