Skid Plates

[Peter Weber]

I just got the skid plates for the transfer case and the gas tank from my Ford dealer. Stupid me, I thought they would come as a kit, like the bolts that are required to install them would be included. Wrong!!! Dead Link Removed
It looks to me that there are 4 bolts each. Anybody know the size? It would save me from crawling under the truck and trying to line everything up.
Gerald, I might be wrong but I thought there was a discussion about skid plates a while back in which you were involved. Search didn't find anything.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

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Peter
'99 Sport 4wd SOHC

 

[A91EBexplorer4x4]

hey Peter,
how much was the transfer case skid plate?

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1991 Eddie Bauer 4x4
K&N drop in filter, Modified air box.
3" lift 31x10.50's
Dunlop R/V's.
Sway bar quick disconects disc.http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/91fordexplorer/index.html

 

[Peter Weber]

Transfer case skid plate is $45.

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Peter
'99 Sport 4wd SOHC

 

[A91EBexplorer4x4]

thanks PETER,
do you know where to get like the ones that go in the front of the truck to protect the steering i think it is for and maybe the ones to cover the diff's?

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1991 Eddie Bauer 4x4
K&N drop in filter, Modified air box.
3" lift 31x10.50's
Dunlop R/V's.
Sway bar quick disconects disc.http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/91fordexplorer/index.html

 

[Peter Weber]

Sorry, the 2 that I got are, as far as I know, the only ones offered by Ford.


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Peter
'99 Sport 4wd SOHC

 

[cmnavajo]

While we're on the subject of skidplates and other protection pieces, you may want to check out www.fourxdoctor.com and see their front differential guards. I don't know if they would have one for an IFS Dana 35, but if they don't at least the pictures will give us some ideas on how to fabricate one.

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Charlie May
1992 Navajo LX 4x4

 

[RangerX]

Peter,
Sounds like you're planning to get a little adventurous in Moab! Alright!
Why didn't your truck already have skidplates? I didn't buy my truck new, so I assumed all 4x4's came equipped with the factory skids, no?

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Bill Collins
93 Ranger XLT 4X4
Modified

[This message has been edited by RangerX (edited 04-22-2000).]

 

[Peter Weber]

Bill,
You would think so, but no such luck. My truck has just about every option available. But all this stuff is more convenience and looks oriented. When I walked into the dealer, I was looking for a basic truck with 4wheel drive plus a few 'must have' options (must have as far as myself and/or my wife are concerned). Of course it was not available out of the dealers inventory (I bought my Sport at Galpin Ford and they had about 400 Explorers sitting there). After I priced out what I wanted, I found that for not that much more, I could get one fully equipped off the lot. But, skid plates were not part of any package.
Moab was enough of an impetus to finally get off my backside and add them.
Still no plans for a lift. Am considering a winch though. Would be good to have when I'm out in the mountains.
As far as getting adventurous in Moab, I'll ride shotgun with Matt. Easier to get pictures that way. But I'm leaving home on Tuesday and stay until I'll the following Tuesday or Wednesday do some other stuff in the parks. Planning on Capital Reef on the way there, Arches on Friday and Canyonlands Monday and Tuesday.
Looking forward to seeing you again.

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Peter
'99 Sport 4wd SOHC

 

[Rick]

Speaking of skid plates... I added a skid plate for my transmission. I used the stock transfer case plate and modified it. I have a custom plate for the new transfer case.

Here is a photo of the setup:

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com
Ricks Explorer

 

[Peter Weber]

All done, skid plates are installed.
Tom, thanks for the info. Unfortunately I got it to late. Drove the truck up on my portable ramps and checked things out. 3/8" for the gas tank and 5/16" for the diff with lock nuts is what I came up with too. The 3/8 required 1 1/4" length because of the lock nuts. Some of the holes were a little big, so I just used washers on both sides all around. But since I'm not really that much into being mechanic, I don't have to much of this kind of stuff laying around and had to go out to buy the right sizes.
I used to have a '97 XLT (it was leased and because I liked it I bought the Sport at the end of the lease) and it supposedly had skid plates. If I remember correctly, they didn't look nearly as sturdy as the ones that I just put on. I might be mistaken since I didn't install those.




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Peter
'99 Sport 4wd SOHC

[This message has been edited by Peter Weber (edited 04-22-2000).]

 

[S.Matsushige]

A91EBExplorer-Did you look under your Explorer? I checked my '91XLT. It seems to have a plate bolted to the frame that protects the transfer case. As for the tank, I recently removed it to replace my fuel pump and it has a fairly heavy plate already covering the sides and an extra heavy one covering the bottom. I've had this Explorer since August of '90 and I don't think there were any special options for those plates. Wow-believe it or not I just found my window sticker and it does list skid plates though it said that these were all part of features included at no extra charge in the standard vehicle price. I would look for the differential plates though. Especially since the rear cover is composite plastic. I replaced mine with a aluminum reinforced one from MAC products. I paid $134 plus shipping for the Ford 8.8 cover. It even has filler and drain holes and looks good too. www.macprod.com

 

[Tom Wilk]

Explorers used to come with skid plates as standard equipment, but not in the last year or two. I had to buy mine seperate for my 99 as well. Ford only makes two, one for the transfer case and one for the fuel tank. Anything else is aftermarket if available.

Peter, I used grade 8 bolts all around, with flat washers on each side as well as lock washers on the nut side. I beleive that I used 5/16 on the transfer case and 3/8 on the fuel tank plates. I'm not sure on the length, but I know that the ones for the fuel tank had to be longer, at least for the front two holes. I would think that 1-1/4" long ones would work fine for the transfer case, since they only go through holes in the plate and frame. I think that's what I used.

On the fuel tank, the front two bolts must be longer since there is some type of cast piece that it mounts to, and it's thicker.

I would have used 3/8" bolts on the transfer case as well, but the holes were a bit too small and I didn't feel like drilling.

You'll probably have to jack up the rear a bit to gain working clearance around the axle.

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Tom
99 Sport 4x4
SOHC
Auburn Rear & Gerald's old Shackles
265/75-R16 BFG AT's that weren't supposed to fit

 

[Jim F]

Tom is right about the skid plates for 99+. In July of 98 I had built my XLT on Ford's website many different ways and the skid plates were never an option. I assumed they were part of the standard vehicle. In mid 99, I was messing around at Ford's website and built a 99 and noticed the skid plates were an option, however, I did not see them in any of the package deals. At that point I was wondered if I had skid plates on my 98 and posted the question here. At that time I thought the skid plate was one for the front to protect the front steering and diff, but I was wrong. I luck out and 98 was the last year for skid plates to be standard. Now regarding the glovebox light and glovebox lock, 97 was the last year for those. Argh.

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Exploring CA
98 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC