Custom Skid PLate

[soupbone]

diamond plate looks good.. nice contrast with the black paint. how are those swampers rollin? Ive been looking at the SSRs & trXus.

 

[2001ExpSport]

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Took me about 2hrs to complete.

Parts consist of:

2x2 sheet of 1/8" Diamond Plate
1x2 sheet of 1/8" Diamond Plate
1" Steel angle
Misc. SS bolts and nuts.

The entire project cost about $80. If you have any metal work experiance, this diamond plate is great for skid plate applications and is esay to fab for 95+ Explorers.

Tried it out at our last offroading trip and it worked really well.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Did u have to bend the plate? Also, what are the measurements?

-Ray

 

[2001ExpSport]

Ya I did have to bend the edges at a 90 deg angle for rigidity and it is a ***** if you don't have a break.

Not sure on the measurements, I'll get back to you on that. I will also get some more close-ups later.

 

[leenjen]

--

very nice. looks really cool. you should try painting it the same color as your explorer.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Actually, I like the way it looks now. Stands out more and it would just get scraped off anyway.

 

[shabbadoobie]

Hey bub, I like the addition of the skid plate, It'd look real good on my Sport Trac --- So I have a couple questions for you
1. What size bolts are holdin' it on?
2. How long does it take to remove?
3. Where/ When will your Sport be sittin' & unattended?
4.Do you have a security system on premises (camera etc.)

 

[shabbadoobie]

Or if you'r ever bored, You could kinda give me some hints on how to fab one of those cool lookin skid plates.Our vehicles have the same front (Sport & Sport Trac)----any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[soupbone]

wow this board is screwed up. How did I become the author of the thread.. hehe oh well it looks good!

 

[Trckmagik]

Looks great 2001! I need something like that. I think I will wait for my solid axle swap.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Thanks guys

Ya, that is wierd Soup, never seen that happen before. The diamond plate is strong enough to take the blunt of any hard object before it damages the cooling system which is the reason I made it. Already cracked the radiator. I love the TSL's and hear the SSR's are very road friendly.

Magik, we have talked about that before and haven't come to a conclusion of where the best place to mount the bottom of the plate on 90-94's. The axle moves, that does cause a minor mounting problem. Dead Link Removed

Shabba, I used 1/4" SS bolts for everything except mounting it to the push bar. I used the 90deg steel angle to mount it to the bottom cross member on the IFS. Tomorrow I'll shoot a few more close ups with the digi and post them. Oh and it takes about 5 minutes to remove with a rachet. Don't have much of a security system, but i have really good insurance. On second thought, you wanna trade? Dead Link Removed

As for mounting it on yours....lets see. You have the stock bumper frame so it will be a little different and a little smaller. You can mount it the same way on the crossmember and then make some braces up front to hold the front of the plate. I supposed you could come off of the frame rails. I'd have to stare at it for a while to get an idea of what would be best....LOL

 

[shabbadoobie]

He**, I'll just cut the bottom half of the front facia (ala your car) & replace it with the skid plate--- Then we could be "twins"
I'm already indebted to you for the 3 inch body lift idea! (thanks for the help)
My bro says "You'd be crazy cuttin up a new car like that" Hmmmmm, If I remember right it's MY new car, I'm stuck with 555 a month payments for another 4 years----So na na na na boo boo, Stick your head in doo doo & let me live my life (sniff, sniff) J/k
Now wheres my sawz-all??

 

[soupbone]

hrmmmm! would those TLS radials fit with just the PA 3" ? or is the TT/warriors needed too. $137 PA 3" & 8 hours of work is looking better than $1200 superlift 4" & 8 hours of work. Id want to keep my front bumper and maybe the grill guard too geez. i have the mod itch again... I just put on the 4dr leafs.. dang.. hrmmmm... what do you think..

 

[SplashMan]

MR FIXIT DOES IT AGAIN!!!

Man... first he does shackles... then he moves on to body lifts(what is it like 8 of them now)... now he is making skidplates... whats next, grill guards and tube bumpers?! Is there anything this guy can't do?? (He even fixed his radiator with Elmer's glue!)

Just open a shop Matt... you would make a mint on Explorers alone.

Oh by the way... when are we going to make my skidplate?! Like you didn't know THAT question was coming.

By the way Matt the skid plate does look great!

 

[2001ExpSport]

Shabba, I get the same story. I'm crazy for doing this to a new car, how could I do it?....blah blah blah. I just tell them I used a jigsaw, it was easy...LOL...too easy.

Soup, I was running my 33 TSL's without TT/shackles for about a month just to see what happened. Never rubbed, even when flexing. I did trim before hand and my wells are a bit larger than the 95-00 body style. I say try it, then if you are not happy get the shackls and do the TT.

Thanks Brian, we can make one for you old buddy.

Here are more photos.
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[jasonb]

hey matt...
that looks awesome! would there be any difference in that for a 99 model? i like it so much, i think i'll try one myself. did you use a brake for the 90 degree angles? i'd love to get measurements from you sometime if you wouldn't mind.
also, would the tow hooks from the 01 sport/sport trac fit on a 99? they look really dang beefy!
thanks!

 

[BoatsRcool]

matt does it ever bother you having the rear shock mounts so low?

 

[2001ExpSport]

No because they are the same height as the bottom of the pumkin. Bumped 'em a few times, but never caused any major problems.

 

[espnfreak]

matt i got a '99-01 sport bumper on its looks great i was thinking about adding a aux tranny cooler and one of those, how would it look? and how much work? 2hrs? materials are like 80 bucks?

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Originally posted by jas84
matt i got a '99-01 sport bumper on its looks great i was thinking about adding a aux tranny cooler and one of those, how would it look? and how much work? 2hrs? materials are like 80 bucks?

Other than the edges? Did u have to bend the plate or is diamond plate workable?

-Ray