Am I missing a part?

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Wed May 02, 2018 11:51 am

I'm attempting to install a skid plate I purchased, but I cannot for the life of me figure out where it lines up. There's nothing for it to bolt to that I can figure out. I'm wondering if my Delica is missing some parts underneath the front end?

This is what it looks like with the "air guide" on. I have removed this in order to mount the skid plate. It attaches to the front bumper with 1-2 bolts and ad the back with two bolts.

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This appears to be the part.

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In addition, there's also another cover that I've removed that is in front of the radiator. It'd normally go in the circled area below.

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For reference, here's my skid plate that I'm attempting to install.

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Can anyone tell me if I'm missing any parts under the van? I've scoured megazip.net, and it doesn't appear I'm missing anything. Does my '89 GLX not have some brackets or something that perhaps an Exceed model might have that's preventing me from installing this? (I mean it's a skid plate, for goodness sake! It's not like rebuilding a nuclear reactor!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

north54 · Post by **north54** » Wed May 02, 2018 1:51 pm

The skid plate actually bolts to the air plate you have circled so leave it on. I'll snap some pics of my installed skid plate tonight. I think we have the same design.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Wed May 02, 2018 2:50 pm

north54 wrote:The skid plate actually bolts to the air plate you have circled so leave it on. I'll snap some pics of my installed skid plate tonight. I think we have the same design.

I would greatly appreciate that!

So it actually bolts to the thin metal "air guide" (62817 circled in the diagram)? Interesting. I look forward to your pics!

north54 · Post by **north54** » Wed May 02, 2018 3:15 pm

If you do have your air guide plate off leave it off for the moment. I recall I had to take mine off to put a bolt in one of the holes as the "receiver drier?" cylindrical thing hovers above the hole you need to put a bolt through.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Wed May 02, 2018 4:41 pm

north54 wrote:If you do have your air guide plate off leave it off for the moment. I recall I had to take mine off to put a bolt in one of the holes as the "receiver drier?" cylindrical thing hovers above the hole you need to put a bolt through.

Yes, it's still off. Looking forward to your pics.

north54 · Post by **north54** » Wed May 02, 2018 9:40 pm

Ok so how I have mine I've used these 2 holes in the top plate to bolt the top 2 holes of the skid plate.

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Hopefully you can install it! Let me know if you need any more pics.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:22 am

Very helpful! I'll take a look tonight if I can.

So it mounts to the thin air guide plate ... there's not a whole lot of structure there, so I probably won't want to hit it on anything! Maybe at some point I'll have something sturdier to support it like a true "bash plate."

But regardless, thank you for the photos.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Fri May 04, 2018 7:44 am

I mocked up the plate last night. I am sure I could get it to bolt to the air guide up front. However, the bolt holes on the back do not line up like yours. I figured they must attach below the center skid plate, since the tabs are different. See photos below.

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I wonder if it's bent differently or something.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Wed May 09, 2018 7:25 am

In case anyone is following this, apparently I'm not missing a part. I was told I have to bend the end tabs (probably with a press brake or a vice and a mallet) and drill into the existing plate at the back to make provision for attaching this. (Wish I had known that before I had the part powdercoated.) Eventually I'll get this thing on ...

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Wed May 09, 2018 8:10 am

I suggest you look again @ North 54's picture # 4685. I think you are trying to put it way to far towards the rear. It goes on top not under!
Good luck.

Crankshaft Culture · Post by **Crankshaft Culture** » Wed May 09, 2018 8:24 am

lrp374 wrote:I suggest you look again @ North 54's picture # 4685. I think you are trying to put it way to far towards the rear. It goes on top not under!
Good luck.

You're right; it goes above there. However, I believe the tabs will still need to be bent and holes drilled in the lower plate in order for this to line up properly. I also believe, and will have to double check, but I don't think the two front holes will align with the air guide if I need to install the bottom portion as pictured.

I'm about to leave an a multi-day trip to Overland Expo, so I won't have time to install it beforehand. I'll revisit this when I get back, however.