Skid Plate Install Problems

RaddKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:33 am

Has anyone had any problems installing Mopar skid plates on a 2002 KJ? I am trying right now to install both tranny and transfer case plates, and holes don't match between the body and the plates. The instructions are of no help because they were written in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Has Mopar changed the design of the plates, but are still saying they fit the 2002? Or is JustForJeeps.com wrong? Here's a link: http://www.justforjeeps.com/fueltank.html.

Also, I can't seem to the the bolts on the gas tank skid tight. They still need to go in another 1/2". How can I get them to go in?

Thanks, Steve

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:51 pm

The tranny skid is only made for the 05+ libbys. You will have contact between your tranny skid and exhaust unless you either beat a flat spot out in the skid and/or make a spacer for the rear of the skid so that it clears the exhaust.

You should have 3 holes that line up on the tcase skid.. You can drill another hole or leave it be..

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:01 pm

Gas tank skid is the same pts as the hitch reciever. Clean them out with some rust remover/wd-40 and a toothbrush (old one

) and they should zip right in. You just have some build up in there. Can't tell you for your skids because my mopar engine and tranny and skid row tcase all went in just fine. But I have an 05.

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:30 pm

on the tranny i had to reposition the 2 rear holes and cut away a portion of the skid to stop contact w/the exhaust (I previously had a 2.5" shim but got tired of that... i'll take some pics of what I cut out). I drilled through both cross members (the rear of engine/front of tranny, back of tranny and 2 of the trans ) and have the skids bolted down instead of using the nurzerts

RaddKJ wrote:

Also, I can't seem to the the bolts on the gas tank skid tight. They still need to go in another 1/2". How can I get them to go in?

My liberty is an 03 and I put the rear hitch on last winter so the car had a few years of Chicago water/grime getting into those threaded holes for the hitch bolts. The threads were corroded/rusted and the bolts wouldn't cooperate and go in. I went and bought a tap (size 7/16-14) and re-tapped the the threaded holes. I put the gas skid on a few months ago and had no issues taking the bolts out or putting them back in.

RaddKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:23 pm

Quote:

You should have 3 holes that line up on the tcase skid.. You can drill another hole or leave it be..

Only the 2 holes on the side line up. I guess I have only 2 options, drill or walk away. For as often as I am able to go wheelin' (nearest place is 2.5 hours away) walking away is probably the better option (it certainly is the cheaper of the 2). :cry:

Thanks.

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:46 pm

this is how my tranny skid used to be shimmed... (you can see the bolts through the cross member circled in yellow)

in the front I have 3" 3/8 bolts and in the back i have 5" 3/8 bolts...

this morning I cut a chunk to allow for the skid to be mounted w/out the shim. I'll take pics of it on the jeep later in the week after its painted...

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:15 pm

Good thing you put all that steel on the bottom callaway.. That skid would be pointless after cutting that metal out..

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:18 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Good thing you put all that steel on the bottom callaway.. That skid would be pointless after cutting that metal out..

i realized that after i made my final cuts

i'm going to run a strip of angle on the inside of the large tube to give a little bit more support.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:26 pm

I did not have to shim mine in the rear so it would not contact the exhaust...... are 04s different? Seems to have plenty of room on mine, or did I mount it upside down and backwards

And as far as the threads in the gas tank skid just clean out the threads really good and it should work OK as others have pointed out!

Tom

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:50 pm

tommudd wrote:

I did not have to shim mine in the rear so it would not contact the exhaust...... are 04s different? Seems to have plenty of room on mine, or did I mount it upside down and backwards

And as far as the threads in the gas tank skid just clean out the threads really good and it should work OK as others have pointed out!

Tom

Yup, the exhaust is routed different on the 04's.. I didnt need to shim mine either..

That will help alot callaway.. it will probably be stronger after putting that extra steel inside of the tube than it was before you cut it..

RaddKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:27 pm

Thanks for the pics, callaway. That helps a lot!

I T/W my friend who got me into off roading and he has made some mods to his frame and supports on his X-Terra to fit some of his skid plates. He is going to take a look at my Libby next weekend. Things are looking up to keep me wheelin'!! I am interrested in seeing the tranny plate once you have it painted and/or mounted.

As far as the gas skid, I think I have used half a can of WD-40 on it. I found out my neighbor has an impact wrench at his house and he said I could bring the Jeep over and use that to install the skid!

Thanks for everyone's help so far. I appreciate it.

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:31 pm

Quote:

I found out my neighbor has an impact wrench at his house and he said I could bring the Jeep over and use that to install the skid!

I did that installing my tow hook and broke a bolt in there. I dont recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:55 pm

myjeepwalks wrote:

Quote:

I found out my neighbor has an impact wrench at his house and he said I could bring the Jeep over and use that to install the skid!

I did that installing my tow hook and broke a bolt in there. I dont recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha, just gotta be careful when torquing it down. Usually its best to get the bolt snug with the impact then tighten it on down by hand to insure the proper torque is reached..

chetos · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:15 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

myjeepwalks wrote:

Quote:

I found out my neighbor has an impact wrench at his house and he said I could bring the Jeep over and use that to install the skid!

I did that installing my tow hook and broke a bolt in there. I dont recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha, just gotta be careful when torquing it down. Usually its best to get the bolt snug with the impact then tighten it on down by hand to insure the proper torque is reached..

x3. If you shear the head of that bolt, you've just made a lot more work. I was lucky in only having to clean the threads out. You might have quite a bit of build up in there. If you have tried to clean them out and no luck, you'll want to buy a tap and retap those threads. I can't remember what the thread size is but just take your bolt into a specialty tool store and someone can help you out. The tap can't be more than $15.00 and it would be worth it vs breaking a bolt.

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:19 pm

added some extra steel, painted and installed this morning. installs flush (like it should) without shims

Skid Plate Install Problems

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