Help! I need a part for my EXPLORER!

[flocass1]

Hi All,

I am brand new to this forum, so I am hoping that someone can help me out. I have a 1994 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 that needs a gas tank skid plate, and I cannot find one. My plan is to get this vehicle back together so that I can sell it. Or, let me know if you think that anyone will buy it as is.

Many thanks!

-Mark

 

[RangerX]

Welcome to the forum!
I would bet that most would be buyers would not look underneath and notice a lack of skid plate, but the place to get one would be a junkyard.

 

[410Fortune]

yes junk yard or private seller, craigslist or facebook market place
One from 91-2001 should fit
Many of the later models did not even come with one from the factory....so its not a huge deal to have a missing gas tank skid unless this is an off road rig

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Have an HVAC tinsmith make one for you.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, many had no skid plate. I replaced my fuel pump of my last 99 in Winter, and left the skid plate off(one bolt(the captured nut) was hell to remove).

You can use a 95-01 skid plate, but it will have to be the Sport(2dr) models. The 1st gen's have a shorter gas tank, both versions, than the 2nd gen tanks. The later trucks have steel tanks, and they are slimmer and longer.

The 1st gen 4dr tank holds 22 gallons, and it's the same length as the 99-01 Sport tanks, 17 gallons or whatever they hold. I have my old 93 tank to try in my 98, with a 2000 Sport skid plate, it's a perfect match.

Below is one of my 98 4dr gas tanks, and my old 93 Limited(4dr) gas tank next to it.

 

[flocass1]

yes junk yard or private seller, craigslist or facebook market place
One from 91-2001 should fit
Many of the later models did not even come with one from the factory....so its not a huge deal to have a missing gas tank skid unless this is an off road rig

Thank you for your help! While I understand what you are saying, I am going to play Devil's Advocate for a minute. On the Explorer that I have, it looks like there are two gas tank straps, and the skid plate is part of the system to hold the tank in place. One gas tank strap goes over the top of the tank, and bolts to the skid plate, and the second tank strap goes under the tank to cradle it. So I think the problem is that I need this skid plate in order to hold the tank in.

I have been contacting junkyards with no success. That salvage company LKQ, said that they had zero of this part in their inventory.

 

[flocass1]

Ditto, many had no skid plate. I replaced my fuel pump of my last 99 in Winter, and left the skid plate off(one bolt(the captured nut) was hell to remove).

You can use a 95-01 skid plate, but it will have to be the Sport(2dr) models. The 1st gen's have a shorter gas tank, both versions, than the 2nd gen tanks. The later trucks have steel tanks, and they are slimmer and longer.

The 1st gen 4dr tank holds 22 gallons, and it's the same length as the 99-01 Sport tanks, 17 gallons or whatever they hold. I have my old 93 tank to try in my 98, with a 2000 Sport skid plate, it's a perfect match.

Below is one of my 98 4dr gas tanks, and my old 93 Limited(4dr) gas tank next to it.

View attachment 324105

View attachment 324108

Ditto, many had no skid plate. I replaced my fuel pump of my last 99 in Winter, and left the skid plate off(one bolt(the captured nut) was hell to remove).

You can use a 95-01 skid plate, but it will have to be the Sport(2dr) models. The 1st gen's have a shorter gas tank, both versions, than the 2nd gen tanks. The later trucks have steel tanks, and they are slimmer and longer.

The 1st gen 4dr tank holds 22 gallons, and it's the same length as the 99-01 Sport tanks, 17 gallons or whatever they hold. I have my old 93 tank to try in my 98, with a 2000 Sport skid plate, it's a perfect match.

Below is one of my 98 4dr gas tanks, and my old 93 Limited(4dr) gas tank next to it.

View attachment 324105

View attachment 324108

Yes! The black plastic tank that you have looks nearly identical to the one in my 1994 Explorer. I believe you when you say that I do not need the skid plate, but what I am struggling with is how to make secure the tank without the skid plate (?).

yes junk yard or private seller, craigslist or facebook market place
One from 91-2001 should fit
Many of the later models did not even come with one from the factory....so its not a huge deal to have a missing gas tank skid unless this is an off road rig

That is great news to not need the skid plate! I will take another look at it in the morning and see if I am overlooking how to hold the tank up in there without the skid plate.

 

[CDW6212R]

The one tank strap is the primary mounting, do watch those carefully to see any corrosion. If that strap rusted and broke, the tank will drop at the back. The skid plate is extra security, it's definitely desirable to help hold it in place and protect it. So it depends on your location and the condition of the main strap etc. If the strap is fine, the skid plate is not a big deal.

 

[410Fortune]

correct, there is one strap and the front hanger that hold the tank
Then the skid plate bolts on over that
Ford costs engineered the skid plate out in like 99-01 because lets face it 99.5% of the explorers on the road by then never even saw dirt.........

 

[ChildIdenticant]

That salvage company LKQ, said that they had zero of this part in their inventory.

In my experience (at least in Southern California) , lkq has very little "itemized" stock. Even if they have this part, they would likely not be able to tell you. The majority of their inventory is entire vehicles from which you can pull the part yourself, or use an onsite pull service which is available in some locations. There is no tracking information at the point of sale for them to know which vehicles have what parts left.
Also, their parts pricing doesn't have all the parts and variations of parts that exist. The best way to know what is available is to actually look. Use the email notifier that is offered on the lkq website that allows for notices of vehicle by make, model, & year as they arrive. Multiple photos are normally available of each acquired vehicle.

 

[Pete Deering]

In my experience (at least in Southern California) , lkq has very little "itemized" stock. Even if they have this part, they would likely not be able to tell you. The majority of their inventory is entire vehicles from which you can pull the part yourself, or use an onsite pull service which is available in some locations. There is no tracking information at the point of sale for them to know which vehicles have what parts left.
Also, their parts pricing doesn't have all the parts and variations of parts that exist. The best way to know what is available is to actually look. Use the email notifier that is offered on the lkq website that allows for notices of vehicle by make, model, & year as they arrive. Multiple photos are normally available of each acquired vehicle.

I replaced my 95 4 door explorer gas tank. No problem getting the tank. My tank strap was broken I don't know how it stay in place. My skip plate I removed after six times so far. And is rusted out. I called all around too JY on the east coast can not source. I was thinking about just fabricating a new plate.

 

[flocass1]

I replaced my 95 4 door explorer gas tank. No problem getting the tank. My tank strap was broken I don't know how it stay in place. My skip plate I removed after six times so far. And is rusted out. I called all around too JY on the east coast can not source. I was thinking about just fabricating a new plate.

Since starting this thread, I have been calling around like a Banshee. During my search, I found a resource: car-part.com which is a list of salvage yards. One of the yards that I called had 20 of these skidplates in stock. Considering that they are located in New Mexico, the part had zero rust, which is never something that I see here in Michigan.

 

[Kesp4.0]

I see these skidplates all the time at the LKQs in southern California so it's likely any place here with explorers in stock will have them. They will also be rust free. The expensive part would be shipping. That thing is heavy and bulky as hell

 

[Pete Deering]

I see these skidplates all the time at the LKQs in southern California so it's likely any place here with explorers in stock will have them. They will also be rust free. The expensive part would be shipping. That thing is heavy and bulky as hell. I would know what they want for the plate?

 

[Kesp4.0]

According to the LKQ website a large skid plate is $25

 

[CDW6212R]

That sounds very fair for the part, ... but the weight is very high, shipping would be crazy.

 

[ChildIdenticant]

That sounds very fair for the part, ... but the weight is very high, shipping would be crazy.

agreed. I just looked at my plate. judging by size, and estimating weight, acquiring the plate by post will add to your end cost by 6%-5%, if its a >120k mile xlt , by southern california average of 2020+2019