Has anyone installed an 05 skid plate on an 03 model KJ. Parts rep at Leo Muller in Brisbane said that it had been done by others in the past, but that it would require some minor modifications. Has anyone done these 'minor' mods? If so can the village idiot do them?? because that's what where dealing with when I start cutting things

Also I have ordered the full set of CRD Skids. Are they relatively easy to install?

I had no problems at all watching my mechanic install them
But really were relatively simply with the right bolts etc.

_________________
02KJ LTD
245x75Rx16 Hankook MTRT03
ARB Winch Bar,Tiger11 Winch,4xNarva spots,GME UHF,Navman GPS
Mopar Skid Plates,dual battery system,Tubular Jeep s/steps,
2.5" Lift OME Shocks & King Springs,AirFlow Snorkel
Long Range fuel Tank 115 Ltre,Drawer Unit
Rola:Roof Rails,Basket,Shovel Holders & Luggage Boot
Desert Edge Off Road Camper

Careful with ordering CRD skids, as the CRDs come with the Front Diff plate installed. I bought the set as well and then had an extra one I had to sell. They are not hard to install (say compared to a lift), but the transfer case and transmission plate rely on Zerts that have to be torqued correctly into the holes provided in the frame. It is easy to mess up a Zert, you think it is tight but then when you tighten a bolt into it it spins or pops out. I had to drill one out of a frame rail and replace it with a nyloc (I can write you an essay on how to tighten up a Nyloc placed on the inside of a frame rail). The fuel tank skid is the hardest one in my opinion, especially if you have a towbar. The standard Jeep and the tank skid are mounted together (use the same holes and mounting bolts). The tank skid goes on first against the rails and then the towbar goes on and is bolted in place. You'll need assistance or blocks to support the tank skid and the towbar while you bolt it up. One word of caution, extend your breathers BEFORE you mount these skids, otherwise you have to take them off to do it later - this is especially important for the tank skid as it has a breather right on top of the tank at the rear and you cannot access it when the towbar and tank skid is in place, this I know from personal experience.

Finally, I have heard that different years plates are slightly different but it is mainly the hole placement in the frame rails (so you may have to drill a hole or two).

Well I am about to find out the answer to the same question cause I only got my set last week (I have an 03). Same deal LMJ said thinks it can be done but once I start trying the skid is mine forever, so I guess I will make it fit. From everything I could find out the the Tank and transfer skid will fit straight on the CRD has the front engine skid already on it, but the transmission skid will line up with 3 of the holes but the 4th one will need a new hole shouldn't be too hard if you ask me.

Damo, on the Transmission plate the rear two holes are mounted to Zerts that you will need to put into the cross member holes. The front two holes, at least on mine, used the existing mounting for the CRD front engine/diff plate so you insert the transmission plate underneath the Front plate and then tighten it all up. I seem to recall from the Transmission Plate instruction sheet (which you should have received) that one hole maybe required in the engine rear cross member. The mounting holes already had threaded nuts internal to the member which the bolts supplied screw into. If you have to make a hole you will probably have to either use a Zert of find some other way of putting a nut behind the steel in the cross member (suggest a Zert as its easiest). You may need to get an extra one if you have to drill that hole (the tranny plate only comes with two).

Hi Glend thanks for the insight....sounds like I might have to get onto extending those breathers sooner than I thought.... Yeah my KJ does already have the front diff plate installed....I only ordered the fuel tank, transmission and transfer skids. Only the transmission plate skid is an 05 the others are all 03 I think.

Damo if you get to it before me let me know how you got on as well. Cheers

They are all fairly easy to fit, just easier with more arms.

From what I have seen the skid plate that is standard on the CRD is actually a thinner metal than the one you buy as a sep part. The transmissin skid, has two little mounting tabs at the front that are used for fitment on later models, on an 03 you will prolly have to just cut em off. ( thats what I did to put them on mine. )


If anyone needs a hand fitting them , just let us know.. Been there done that.

_________________
SOME SAY

I'm Toight... Toight lik a Toiger.

And

When I go to the Toilet, Chuck Norris is there to tear the squares off for me.

"Pass me another one Chuck, and keep em coming!! On sencond thoughts..Go get the hose"

and got the t shirt

_________________
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/742957
aussie KJ Lost No#150605
3" OME lift + Rancho RS9000xl's front and rear
prototype Airflow snorkel
Magnaflow cat back
265/70R16 Hankook MTRT03 on MOABS baby
4.10's and a truetrac up front
super skinks
coming soon
a myride wireless controller

Fouros they have T shirts available to you after you fit parts to your jeep that sounds great!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way I am pretty sure I saw you on Sunday down on the Goldie I had just finished round 2 of a Kayak fishing Tournament and was heading home Your Jeep stands out so I pointed it out to the father inlaw who was with me just crossing the bridge over the seaway heading towards brisbanea bit after 1:30 ish maybe. Brissie Jeeper I was thinking of looking at it this weekend so I will let you know,at least the transmission and transfercase ones.

Guys, we had a skid fitting day last year.
There's a thread on it somewhere with pics and stuff.


Here it is:

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/sho ... post823079

_________________
2003 3.7 KJ Atlantic Blue Povo Pack
OME Lift 2.5", 245/70/16 BFG A/T, Fully Skid
GLEND Storage Unit #1
Alloys, Receiver Hitch & Treg Hitch
TJM Prototype Nudge Bar,
30L Waeco Cooler, Uniden UHF, Garmin GPS
Optima Yellow Top, 6Stacker, Night Stalker Spotties
Airflow Snorkel, 3 LOST Stickers
The Lil' HEEP
Waltzing my Matilda all over...

yeah we took the kids down the beach for a swim on sunday


was a good day I even got to recover a rodeo stuck in the sand at the spit

_________________
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/742957
aussie KJ Lost No#150605
3" OME lift + Rancho RS9000xl's front and rear
prototype Airflow snorkel
Magnaflow cat back
265/70R16 Hankook MTRT03 on MOABS baby
4.10's and a truetrac up front
super skinks
coming soon
a myride wireless controller

Thanks for the offer Cmohr! might have to take you up on that...i'll have a crack first and see how I go. Probably won't be for a few weeks now though.

bugger my torque wrench is a 1/2 inch drive head and my other sockets are 1/4 inch so I need to go get an adaptor to down size then all should be sweet will keep you posted looks simple enough tho.

NO!!! DON'T DO IT!!!
1/4" drive sockets are for small work - try and torque them up to any reasonable setting and you are likely to either shear off the drive square or round off the socket. Ever wondered why 1/4" drive ratchets only have a 6" long handle?

Go to a decent tool store (Trade Tools Direct, Glenfords, etc) and buy the single socket you need in 1/2" drive. Then do the same next time and pretty soon you will have all the useful sizes.

_________________
November 2006 2.8 CRD manual, CRDSTU front springs, King HD rears, Polyairs, LT245/70R16 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs, DP chip, Airflow snorkel
TJM alloy front bar, Ox 9500lb winch, Hella Compact 4000 spots, Complete set Mopar skid plates, Mopar cargo barrier
GME TX3440 UHF, Codan NGT HF

Yeah, I was thinking what a great excuse for buying a 1/2" socket set.

A full socket set is a great thing to have, but a decent quality one (Sidchrome, Kingchrome, Snap-On etc) is expensive and will contain many sockets and drive items that you may never use. Buying individual sockets and items as you need them will eventually get you the set you need without the large expenditure up front.

I personally like the own brand tools sold by Trade Tools Direct as being reasonable quality and good value, but Sidchrome or Snap-On are probably the best available if you want unlimited tool life.

Damo4runner, there is a Trade Tools store at Ormeau.

_________________
November 2006 2.8 CRD manual, CRDSTU front springs, King HD rears, Polyairs, LT245/70R16 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs, DP chip, Airflow snorkel
TJM alloy front bar, Ox 9500lb winch, Hella Compact 4000 spots, Complete set Mopar skid plates, Mopar cargo barrier
GME TX3440 UHF, Codan NGT HF

Yeah I thought as much but my bad they are actually 3/8th I think so I bought the 1/2 to 3/8 adaptor from sidcrome and the 13 and 17mm 1/2 inch sockets bloody expensive thou $13.67 just for the adaptor. Now I just need to find time to fit them.