Skid Plate for Gen 2

[MrPaco]

I came across this on an '87 sales brochure, according to this all Power Rams came with a skid plate

IMG_8060.jpg

My truck doesn't have one, I'm guessing it was lost in the front end collision, or it was taken out for whatever reason by a PO.
I'd like to find one, but so far I've had no luck anywhere on line, and car-part.com doesnt even list skid plates as a searchable part. The only things that come up are some dead end aftermarket part sites, and some places that might have it, in Europe.

I'm guessing it shouldn't be too hard to have one made, at the end of the day is just a piece of bended metal. Any ideas on how to go about this? I haven't been able to find a good photo or diagram of one to figure out the shape, size, or the attachment points.

Has anyone done this already? Or, any ideas where I can find an existing one?

[tortron]

The original ones are very thin. More of a cover than a plate tbh

[FMS88]

The 4x trucks have three (manual) or four (auto) skid plates and covers.

Skid Plates.jpg

The under covers (#1 in the illustration) are thin sheet metal, but the other two pieces (#2 and #3) are much thicker at more than 1/10".

[MrPaco]

Ok, good to know. I can only see that the front one is missing, I'll have to get under it to see if the others are there.

[MrPaco]

Looks like I'm missing #1 and #2. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out of I ever run into a donor truck...

[FMS88]

Something to add to your wanted (wish) list.

Here's and ebay listing by a salvage yard in Michigan for an '89 engine. Maybe they have other parts from the truck?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ONLY-93K-MI...item3b28e72ff5

[WarStryker13]

I've got #1 and #2 pulled off right now, after I clean them up I can take measurements and get a template put together for you... I'm missing #3, so if you have #3 and are willing to do the same for me, we can do some trading. lol

[Chargerx3]

You want #2 for sure. Its thick and will protect the front of your truck. Also helps with airflow on the highway. #1 isnt as important. Its cumbersome when you try to service your truck. Ive left mine off for now and hung it on the wall. Its pretty thin too.

[MrPaco]

Sounds good, Stryker. I'll have to wait until a) I get some ramps or jacks so that I can get under there, and b) it warms up a bit and this icy snow melts away, but I'm up for it.
If you have any advice on the best way to make a template, let's hear it. Thanks

[WarStryker13]

Cardboard and tape. And some drawing. Lol

If you place the skid plate concave side down, then lay the cardboard on top, you should be able to cut and tape to fit the curves and angles.

Then you just use the cardboard as a pattern for how much plate you'll need, take measurements of everything and write out a simple blueprint to actually build the skid plate.

I can make some really detailed drawings with all of the dimensions, angles, and top/side profiles if you would like me to.

[geezer101]

DIY CAD design (cardboard aided design as per project Binky lol) You can tweak it to suit your style. Wish I had access to metal fab gear and a lathe, I'd be making all sorts of stuff

[MrPaco]

Thanks to an amazing assist from FSM88 I now have plate #2.
Very impressive, I posed the question here less than a week ago, and with his help I have this hard to find piece already mounted on the truck (and another small piece I was looking for as well). Crazy cool stuff.

Glad to have it on. As you all said, it's nice and thick, and as you can see form the scrapes on the picture here, it does it's job at protecting the front end.
IMG_8086.jpgIMG_8088.jpg

[Chargerx3]

Looks great, and yes it is a must for 4x4 trucks.

[MrPaco]

By the way, are these round openings at the front, on either side of the skid plate, for towing?
InkedIMG_8085_LI.jpg

[Chargerx3]

Yup..

[tortron]

More useful as ferry tie down points. I've torn them off cars before

[WarStryker13]

Actual tow hooks would serve you much better than those holes, Amazon has decent ones for pretty cheap.