Skid Plate

Just wondering if anyone is running an aluminium skid plate. I was planning on making one sooner than later, defiantly before winter. Any suggestions on metal thickness? I want something that can take a good bashing, but isn't ridiculous.

 

I had a 1/8" on my street car which was fine for most things but a 3/16 would be better. The skidplate on the rally car is 1/4"

 

I was thinking 3/16 would be about right without being to over kill. Is yours cut for doing oil changes?

 

no, putting holes in the plate underneath the oil pan sort of defeats the purpose

 

What did you do for a template? Are there any tough bends that have to be made?

 

Depends what you want to do. You can do a straight plate that covers from the front of the subframe to the pad on the engine cradle fairly easily. I made several like that for various people a few years ago.

If you want one that goes back or forwards further, then you need to add bends. To put a bend in even 3/16" 5052 Aluminum needs a pretty big brake. If a stiffer alloy is used (like 6061-T6) then it gets a lot harder to bend (not impossible, but perhaps cost-prohibitive for most uses).

 

That's pretty much my plan, I have access to a bender so going further forward isn't out of the question. But really all I want to do is prevent oil pan damage.

 

template? nothing, we took some measurements and then sketched it on the plate and cut it out

 

I have a primative skidplate 3/16 if you want to save the hassle of making one. Its just hanging on my wall