WTB: Bash guard/underbody panel/skid plate

Any suggestions or does anyone have one FS? 3/16th or 1/8" would be okay.

I love the Primitive Racing guards, but kindy spendy right now.

 

I have the primitive 3/16 stuff all the way around and I love it. I tend to abuse my car a little more than other though. The guys down at primitive are great, and very helpful and willing to accommodate requests. I had them put a lip on the front of my plate, and they said no problem. It may be expensive but IMO its worth it.

 

Yeah, I'm looking at one of these as well. Let me know if you find anything special Dave.

 

I just picked up a primitive plate, 3/16ths up front, and the 1/8th mini rear.

Easy as easy can be to install, provided your hardware doesn't fall out of the box (mine did, had to run to loldepot, easy to find hardware tho)

Only quirk I've noticed (only happened once or twice, though) is that if the car is parked, it doesn't vent underhood heat much at all - I parked the car after going out for a spin on some gravel to ... well, you know. Came back a few hours later to go to work, and the outside air temp gauge was saying something like 118F. got out on the interstate and it dropped down to accurate.

Also, Primitive's customer service is top notch.

 

I'm not sure if they are still around, but I have a Fastline skidplate -- pretty much the same thing as the Primitive but a lot cheaper. IIRC, I got mine for under $100 shipped a few years back.

 

Fastline went out of business. I have fastline mudflaps with their sweet warranty but they closed up about a year ago I think.

If you are doing mostly street stuff you will be fine with 1/8th stuff.

Here are some pics of Kelly's 1/8th skid plate that he toasted on the first duluth trip. he caught the front edge on a big submerged rock going 40. This is why I had a lip put on the front of mine (and why I got 3/16th).

 

Just the raw material for a skidplate will be expensive these days.

I have a panel of 1/4" 5xxx series that weighs 25 lbs in the garage, and cost me $75 at scrap rates.

6061 would be a better skidplate material, but it's more or less impossible to bend (read harder for me to shape) and would have been a lot more money.

Skidplates are super simple for Imprezas. If you don't need the lip on the front, you don't need to bend them at all, and cutting aluminum is like cutting wood, just a hell of a lot louder. Get a big piece of cardboard, cut it to fit along the radiator support and back to the holes on the engine cradle, taper the rear corners, and voila! you have a skidplate template.

 

thank you for the information

 

Measure the width of the stock plastic splashguard, then measure from the front of the radiator support to a few inches behind the holes in the engine support (or farther if you want, but that should protect the engine, and the transmission is a lot less exposed). Call up Discount Steel & Aluminum in Minneapolis and see if they have a scrap in those dimensions in the thickness you want (1/8" for casual woods driving, 1/4" for serious racing). Look for Gridlocked's posting for his contact at Discount.

Then all you need is 5 bolts, M8x1.0mm IIRC, about 25mm long, use 8.8 hardness. You can reuse the three bolts that hold on the plastic splashguard, but they're probably rusted anyhow. Double check that bolt size before buying though, as I'm running off memory.

Make a template as described above, transfer it onto the sheet of aluminum and drill the holes (slotting the rear holes would be a good idea).

Cut the aluminum with a circular saw, just like you would cut a piece of plywood. Wear eye and ear protection as bits of Al will go flying and it will be lounder than hell.

You may wish to put a spacer between the plate and the rear mounting holes, or the plate may rub on the oil pan just a tiny bit.

Done.

 

I am in the market for the same thing. Dave, are you considering doing-it-yourself?

 

If someone were willing to bring a car by south minneapolis in the later evening some day (like after 9pm so my little boy is already in bed), so I could measure things up and make a template, I'd be willing to do the actual manufacture of a few of them for fairly cheap.

 

Count me in for one. I love this place.

 

Me too. How about you Dave?

 

I am willing to front some cash for supplies if required. The power slots discs can wait....

 

Only problem I can see is if the 06-07 measurements are different then the newer MY. Primitive seems to have different plates for the two:

http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/skidplate/skid_wrx_sti.htm

 

I would want something to fit a '04 sedan. I think Scuba Steve would too.

 

I want something to fit an 04 as well.

 

Like I said, "if" and "might"

It might be that the cost of the raw material would be high enough to make it not feasible for some people.

For instance, list price from Discount for a 4'x3' sheet of 1/4" 5052 Al is $166.51 :eek4: 1/8" is $70.76, 3/16" is $102.36.

For 6061, a better choice, it would be $97.85 for 1/8" or $143.50 for 3/16" or $185.69 for 1/4"

You start to see why skidplates are so expensive...

Those are list prices, I'm sure that we could get better, and they'd be even cheaper yet if you went there and located a drop (left over from another order) that would fit (like I did for my 1/4" sheet of 5052). But still, I'd need to make enough to justify the time (at least to my wife). And the measurements are pure guesses.

So estimate that a 1/8" 5052 plate, for the casual user would run about $120, or a serious 1/4" 6061 plate would run $235 (which is a lot but it's also stronger and thicker than what Primitive sells (their thicker one is 3/16" 5052).

I also couldn't do the bend that some of them have, so there would be less protection to the actual radiator core than the Primitive, for example.

Mark U used 1/4" 6061 on his Group N car IIRC, and I believe with out a bend (since you don't bend 6061).

 

I don't think they would be a big deal at all, at least as long as I was able to measure the different MY vehicles.

Unless Subaru did something that requires a plate that's bent.

 

I have a 3/16 plate that I could make a template of if someone was interested. It came off of a bugeye and bolted right up to my 06.

Saved my oil pan at Nemadji last weekend when I clipped a huge rock.

 

Good to know. I would be interested in a 1/8" plate, as it would only see the ice races and (possibly) some rallyx.

As long as the cost is below a primitive plate + shipping, I'm certainly interested. We would certainly want to make it worth your while, Mark.

 

i got the stock one if you want ;-)

 

1/8" for me too and $120 is just fine, would that include the bolts and washers?

 

I'm interested to learn more Vector. what type of time frame would you be on....I need this before Obj rally

 

The Fastline plate I had on my '04 fits on my '06 just fine.

 

It would depend entirely on when I could get someone here to measure up.

My wife works evenings, so I'm home every evening taking care of our little boy. So I could measure up pretty much any evening.

Actual manufacture of each plate should be pretty quick, so it's the delay in getting a template made and getting the material (which would be a lot more time/fuel efficient if several were being made at once).

The prices are just guesses until I can determine the actual amount of material needed.

So, who wants to swing by the Minnehaha creek/35W area some evening this week? Or Sat morning or eve.

I suppose I could do some measuring at the rallyX on Sunday, but I'm probably going to be doing tech inspections so I'll be busy the whole time before the event, so whoever would have to be willing to stick around afterwards.

 

Provided we trust that the 06 is the same as the 04, I can stop by one of the evenings this week. Mark, you want to shoot me a PM with your address?

 

Sent!

 

My belief is that the primary difference between the MY02-05 and MY06-07 is that the engine may sit fractionally lower in the cradle, such that the later models require a small spacer to prevent the plate contacting the oil pan.

I know that it's a very close thing on the 02-05, and it looks like the difference in the Primitive plate is an extra layer of the material welded around the rear holes. While that's a nice way to do it because it strengthens the mounting points at the same time, it's hardly a critical thing (see the other plates they make), and some glued or riveted (or welded even) stock near the holes would have the same effect as far as clearance goes.

 

Mark and Nate, thank you both very much, your leg work is appreciated!!!

Keep us posted.

 

Yes please do. Who is more than interested and what are people interested in so there can be some planning?

 

well, i'm buying something to put under the car soon.....so that's me for sure

 

What are you thinking?

Do we want a list? Just so Vector doesn't get stuck I think money should be up front.

 

This. Not something rally heavy, just something to get the job done. I'm meeting Mark on Thursday, so will bump then.

I should also note that I'm certainly willing to put money down for materials.

 

Oh yeah Vector - how are you feeling about "IF" and "Might". If we got a gauge of interest would it help sway that?

 

Well, the "IF" is happening, with Nate coming here on Thursday.

We'll do one for sure for him. Then we'll see.

I would certainly require money up-front to cover the cost of the material.

If I did several at once, the costs might be a bit lower (because I'd only have to drive once to Discount, might get a better discount on a larger order, etc). OTOH, if someone wanted to go to Discount on their own, find an appropriately sized drop and deliver it here, it might be even cheaper.

 

I wouldn't mind supplying money upfront, keep us updated.

Chet

 

hmmmm...I'm interested...keep us updated.

 

Well if you are going to Nate's and more is cheaper, count me in. How do I get the money to you?

 

I won't know how much money until at least after Nate comes over and I get measurements, and get pricing on the aluminum. I should have information by Fri afternoon.

 

I did not put a bend in it when I made it. It did get bent however. Mark H (Vector) has it all correct. They are easy to make once you have the raw material.

 

That all sounds cool. Do you do paypal was more to my question or do I have to directly hand you the money? I'm not rushing you as I have no deadline other than before winter.

 

I do have paypal, but it's a commercial account, so I'd have to charge the extra 3%.

 

Ok, Nate and I made a template tonight. The good news is the plates are smaller than I had guessed, so the material costs should be significantly lower.

There is no bad news.

I'll be getting a quote for material tomorrow, and I'll have more details then, and I'll start a new thread.

 

i might be kinda late but i work for a manufacturing company and i can get you guys material for pretty much cost. i know for a fact we have 5052 al all the time im not sure about 6K series let me know ill see what i can do. this also applies to any other metal needs the community has.