New Skidplate On!

[shealy]

Finally got around to putting the new skid plate on my L300! Also, pulled off the side steps protecting the A/C and transmission rads.

(Side note: who's moved these further up into the body for extra protection and how/where can I get this done???)




Here's what it looks like:

IMG_0493.JPG (142.71 KiB) Viewed 7055 times

[mararmeisto]

(Side note: who's moved these further up into the body for extra protection and how/where can I get this done???)

Modify the mounting brackets they are attached to, making them a bit shorter. Other than relocating the rads altogether, this would be the simplest way.

[pham]

I LIKE it!

[rezdiver]

is there anything holding the bottom of the skidplate to anything, i cant see any mounting bolts or support on the bottom?

[nxski]

is there anything holding the bottom of the skidplate to anything, i cant see any mounting bolts or support on the bottom?

There are two holes at the bottom that bolt in where the original plate was bolted. Looks good, and familiar . What did you make yours out of?

[shealy]

Yeah, I think ultimately I have you to thank nxski! It's the modified version of your plans Tojo (Bruce) got from you and we had made. They're made out of 5/16 (I think?) aluminum. And yes, they attach at the bottom right above the scoop thing below, although the hardware is out of view in the picture. Looks cool, and will hopefully keep stuff out of my rad when 4x4ing.

[Tojo]

Looks sweet Shealy!!! Still gotta get around to mounting mine. Kudos to Nxski.

5051 Aluminum plate, 3/16" thick, hard anodized (more durable than standard anodizing) from Flexyshop in Richmond. http://flexyshop.ca/

$160 including material, bending and anodizing in quantities of two, cheaper in quantities of 10.

[shealy]

So, I've been reading up on the forums about moving the tranny cooler and a/c radiators. It sounds like the only option for the A/C is to just get rid of it. I really don't almost ever use my A/C, so I'm considering this option. Anyone know of any posts showing how to rip this system out? I know dealing with R22 (or whatever they're filled with), you need to be careful. Also, the tranny cooler can be raised, as mararmeisto mentioned. Can't really find any posts out there of how exactly this was done (I dont have a welding torch or other necessary tools to do this mod myself.....).

Basically, if there's info on these forums that I can't find then please point me in the right direction. Someone hinted about delicat having a post regarding this, but I can't find it?

Or any advice from people who've done this mod?

Thanks!

[nxski]

I tried to raise my tranny cooler because apparently the metal can easily be bent back to fit a whole that's further up. I tried this and ended up with bent fins and it still wouldn't fit. If you find a way of doing this the other problem is that air won't be directed at it and although the transmission may not need that extra cooling it could be a concern if it gets hot out or you're working that tranny hard.

[Morganizer]

Say, what would you guys think of creating a repository of downloads for accessories like Shealey's skid plate? I mean, once one of us has done the work for our own enjoyment, make the dimensions/SolidWorks file, etc. available for others who want to follow suit?

In this case, it looks like it was laser cut, and presumably FlexyShop has the file. But maybe Delica.ca should be cataloging this digital info.

[psilosin]

Say, what would you guys think of creating a repository of downloads for accessories like Shealey's skid plate? I mean, once one of us has done the work for our own enjoyment, make the dimensions/SolidWorks file, etc. available for others who want to follow suit?

In this case, it looks like it was laser cut, and presumably FlexyShop has the file. But maybe Delica.ca should be cataloging this digital info.

You should be able to find the skidplate dimensions etc in prior posts. If you look back a few years you will see that member Fishslapper came up with the current skidplate design and made drawings etc available. Then last year Nxski interestingly came up with the identical design but with a different logo and made more drawings etc available. So they are on the delica.ca site if you hunt for them.

A nice easy to locate repository like you suggested would be cool.

[shealy]

The plans and lead-up to the plates are here:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/metal-fabric ... abrication
I agree that it would be nice to get plans, especially for fabrication projects all in one place on the site. Good idea! If you're just looking for these plans, contact Tojo on these forums - he took nxski's plans and modified them a bit. They could use some more tweaking to be honest. I had to still do some bending and grinding to make it all fit in.

...the other problem is that air won't be directed at it and although the transmission may not need that extra cooling it could be a concern if it gets hot out or you're working that tranny hard.

Couldn't this be solved by having a rubber (or plastic?) fin/scoop to draw the air up into the tranny cooler? The A/C rad has a rubber fin thing on the bottom of it to direct air in. I'm wondering if that would solve the problem. Then it wouldn't matter if you hit the rubber, it would just bend. Thoughts?

[nxski]

Say, what would you guys think of creating a repository of downloads for accessories like Shealey's skid plate? I mean, once one of us has done the work for our own enjoyment, make the dimensions/SolidWorks file, etc. available for others who want to follow suit?

In this case, it looks like it was laser cut, and presumably FlexyShop has the file. But maybe Delica.ca should be cataloging this digital info.

You should be able to find the skidplate dimensions etc in prior posts. If you look back a few years you will see that member Fishslapper came up with the current skidplate design and made drawings etc available. Then last year Nxski interestingly came up with the identical design but with a different logo and made more drawings etc available. So they are on the delica.ca site if you hunt for them.

A nice easy to locate repository like you suggested would be cool.

The dimensions are in an older post of mine, Fishslapper was not willing to send me his drawings so I made my own by copying a JAOS design for a manual skid plate and modifying the look, the bolt hole positions, and to a small degree the bends so as to make it work with my auto. The insinuation that I've copied Fishslappers design is getting old and has been disproved. Tojo has the most current working drawings I believe as the AutoCAD drawing I posted PDFs of needed tweeking in one area (of which I made note of at the time).

[nxski]

The plans and lead-up to the plates are here:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/metal-fabric ... abrication
I agree that it would be nice to get plans, especially for fabrication projects all in one place on the site. Good idea! If you're just looking for these plans, contact Tojo on these forums - he took nxski's plans and modified them a bit. They could use some more tweaking to be honest. I had to still do some bending and grinding to make it all fit in.

...the other problem is that air won't be directed at it and although the transmission may not need that extra cooling it could be a concern if it gets hot out or you're working that tranny hard.

Couldn't this be solved by having a rubber (or plastic?) fin/scoop to draw the air up into the tranny cooler? The A/C rad has a rubber fin thing on the bottom of it to direct air in. I'm wondering if that would solve the problem. Then it wouldn't matter if you hit the rubber, it would just bend. Thoughts?

Sorry, I didn't see this post before replying. The indent on the right did need to me moved towards the front by about 1/2-1" I ended up grinding it a bit so it would fit. I was under the impression this had been solved in the newer drawings. Also, the tabs that attach at the top of the scoop needed to be bent a bit as well which was easy to do.

The transmission cooler already has a scoop on it for the air which is also what it is mounted to. When rotated up this scoop would not point in the appropriate direction. I think a rubber scoop would work but you'd have to redesign the mounting system to get it to push the air in properly as well.

[Tojo]

*UPDATED FILES FOR DOWNLOAD*

Go here: http://www.delica.ca/forum/metal-fabric ... 97-30.html
and find the post on Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:22 pm

FREE!!! No strings attached, no royalties or kickbacks, constructed with legal software and volunteer time in the spirit of Delica.ca