Mopar engine skid doesn't fit 2003 Liberty

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:47 am

Just a warning that, although Mopar part 82209026 is advertised as fitting the 2002-2007 KJ, it does NOT fit a 2003 Liberty. Here's a picture of the part.

If you have an '03 Liberty, don't buy this part unless you're ready drill a new hole into your frame. Don't trust your dealer to tell you that it doesn't fit, and the installation instructions are dead wrong. I'm sure this isn't a problem for many on this forum, but it could be a deal breaker for others.
When I installed the part, I could only bolt in three of the four attachment points. The fourth included bolt does not have a corresponding hole on my KJ crossmember like it should, as illustrated in the instructions, in an inset with a caption 2002-2004. This left a 1/4" gap where that corner of the skid hangs down waiting to get snagged on something. I had my dealership inspect my KJ this morning and was told that I was given the wrong part, and the part that fits (I think it ened in 101) was discontinued. The guy asked me, "So what do you want to do?" I said, "Take it off and give me a refund for selling me the wrong part." They did, but now I'm skidless once again and don't want to spend $200+ on an engine skid. :evil:

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:03 pm

Have you thought about salvage yards?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:07 pm

Why not drill the hole and put a bolt through the crossmember? I drilled out the holes in the trasfer case crossmember for the Super Skid and transfer case skids and used carriage bolts. The rounded head of the carriage botls slides nicely on the rocks and it works great. Don't have to worry about stripped threads in the inserts now either.

Other than that, I would hunt for a used one on the forums or parts yards.

pinecone · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:48 pm

Just curious, how thick is the OEM part?

Myself, I am skidless but leaning towards etiher the Rusty's or the Super Skid. It may cost more but it looks cheaper than buying an oil pan + tow bill.

I am also curious as to how the Rusty's or Super Skid will hnder maintainence. :idea:

alljeep · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:49 am

Just drill a hole, you will thank yourself later. I installed all my skids and the transfer case and transmission skids used nutzerts. They are weak and will eventually break. I decided to drill all the way up through the crossmember for the transmission skid when one broke instead of replacing with a nutzert.

You don't need heavy equipment to do this. The steel is pretty soft. I just laid on my back under the jeep with my 3/8" Drill and a cobalt tipped bit and aimed as straight as I could and drilled away - only took a few seconds.

Another thing - is there a 4th hole for the old design skid to go into on the Jeep frame/cross member? If so, just drill a hole in the new skid so the bolt can go in and be lined up with the correct place.

Aw heck, just forget everything above and go to a slavage yard, it's easy and you may pick up some extra treasure! Here is one in town (Indy) that has 4 Liberties in stock - they don't list the smaller parts, but they are there. Just click on this link and enter "Liberty" in the Model search field:

http://www.brothersauto.com/asp/vehicles/default.asp

2372ighost · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:56 am

Were engine skids an option after 02? Both my 02's came with skids.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:18 am

Science_Guy wrote:

Have you thought about salvage yards?

I may have found one for $20 from a L.O.S.T. member.

Junkyards are my next move. Dealership told me a skid from a 2002 or 2003 would fit right in with the existing holes. When I asked the parts guy at Champion (dealer) why the part's discontinued when the vehicle's only three years old, and his reply was, "That happens all the time." Sometime I really wish I'd bought a Wrangler because of all the aftermarket parts and accessories available.

I could swipe one from a used car lot.

(Anybody else hear that Mission Impossible music?)

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:22 am

pinecone wrote:

Just curious, how thick is the OEM part?

Myself, I am skidless but leaning towards etiher the Rusty's or the Super Skid. It may cost more but it looks cheaper than buying an oil pan + tow bill.

I am also curious as to how the Rusty's or Super Skid will hnder maintainence. :idea:

3/16", I think. It's a heavy piece of steel that seems to meet many people's needs just fine. It's not like I'm going rock crawling in Moab any time soon. I'd trust it for the mild offroading I enjoy.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:35 am

alljeep wrote:

Just drill a hole, you will thank yourself later.

http://www.brothersauto.com/asp/vehicles/default.asp

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

I've got a nice Craftsman drill that I use for household stuff, but I've never drilled into a car or truck. I'm totally gun shy about it because I don't want to screw up my daily driver by putting a hole in the floor, or worse. Since you have experience, and are only a half-hour away, why don't you do it? I can come to your place. PM me if you want to set something up.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:16 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

Why not drill the hole and put a bolt through the crossmember? I drilled out the holes in the trasfer case crossmember for the Super Skid and transfer case skids and used carriage bolts. The rounded head of the carriage botls slides nicely on the rocks and it works great. Don't have to worry about stripped threads in the inserts now either.

Other than that, I would hunt for a used one on the forums or parts yards.

X2 on the drilling you'll be fine ,I was gunshy to but ya gotta do what ya gotta do,it won't hurt a thing

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:32 pm

If drilling's such an easy fix, I'm really annoyed that the dealership didn't offer that as a free solution to MAKE IT RIGHT and get me out the door a happy customer. They don't see the forest (customer satisfaction) through the trees (by-the-book protocol). Knowing that there's a no-drill part out there somewhere that does fit, I chose not to force the issue and deal with those idiots. I think it comes down to the rep. that handles your particular incident, because they installed my front tow hooks for free when I had problems doing it myself. I thought I could expect consistency.

Anyway, if I grow the balls to try this myself using the current engine skid plate, what kind and size drill bit do I need?

Thanks for listening to my rants.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:26 pm

I just looked at mine & that skid covers the front diff area,I' don't think you need to drill at all

there should be 2 tabs sticking up in the front where you would put 2 bolts there should be 2 pre drilled threaded holes,now that skid is supposed to slide between another skid not sure on which one I have ALL J's skid in that spot but where it bolts there should also be 2 pre drilled threaded holes on a cross member in that area I believe all KJ's have those holes,mine did & my wifes sport does but thier 04's,are you sure you put it up in the correct area,I'm not trying to be an ___ just trying to help you out making sure you'll install it in the correct area

Video Guy · **Posted:** Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:20 am

raceinfan wrote:

I'm not trying to be an ___ just trying to help you out making sure you'll install it in the correct area

I appreciate it, but your '04 KJ has a different frame or engine skid (or both) from my '03. The skid fit perfectly in three of the four points. I tried the 2005 approach, but the skid lined up with the larger, unthreaded hole instead of the smaller, threaded hole. See picture below. I wonder if there's some kind of nutzert that fits in that larger hole. ???

I'd have left well enough alone if that driver side corner wasn't hanging down a quarter of an inch.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:10 pm

I just called a different dealership, and they recommended a completely different part that looks like this. The parts guy said it requires a special bracket (shown) which uses bolts that aren't supported through DC parts network. :roll:

This looks way different from what all the parts places are selling as the "2002-2007 skid plate, front suspension." This is the discontinued part. I'd like to see an actual photo of this part on an '02-'03 KJ. It doesn't look like it provides as much cover, which is probably why it was replaced by the 82209026.

One dealer's site says this about 82209026:

Quote:

The redesigned Front Suspension plate obsoletes the older Engine Skid plate by bridging the area between the front axle and the transfer case, also protecting part of the engine. Simply bolts on, no drilling required.

Yeah, right!

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:11 am

The front skid on my '03 KJ looks just like the one they sent you, and I had the threaded hole on the angled part of the crossmember too. Think you could tke a pic of your crossmember for us? I'm quite curious to see it.

What is the build date on your '03?

I've never seen a front skid that looks like the one in that instructions scan you posted.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:32 am

FreedomKJ wrote:

The front skid on my '03 KJ looks just like the one they sent you, and I had the threaded hole on the angled part of the crossmember too. Think you could tke a pic of your crossmember for us? I'm quite curious to see it.

What is the build date on your '03?

I've never seen a front skid that looks like the one in that instructions scan you posted.

Pics will come over the weekend after I get my lift kit on.

I just realized a big error in my original post. I DO have the hole in the driver side end of my front crossmember. The problem is that particular corner of skid #82209026 ends at the crossmember so there's no part of it to bolt up to the angled crossmember area like the instructions show -- it's as if I have some weird combination of the two Mopar skids I show here. Weird, huh? Who knows? Maybe I just received a defective part, in spite of what the dealership told me. I'm about ready to throw in the towel, repurchase a 82209026 skid, and drill my own hole on the crossmember to attach it. I've put more time into this than it deserves. My only worry is that doing so might mess things up for installing the other Mopar skids. (I don't go wheeling enough to justify the expense of of Super Skid. I'd rather use that money toward some rock rails in the spring.)

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:35 am

You may think you do not go wheeling enough like i did. Then all of a sudden I REALLY got into it and the skids have taken some hits. A guy with us even bent his mopar tranny skid purty good. They are strong, but cannot take the weight of the libby when you land on a rock. :lol:

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:11 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

You may think you do not go wheeling enough like i did. Then all of a sudden I REALLY got into it and the skids have taken some hits. A guy with us even bent his mopar tranny skid purty good. They are strong, but cannot take the weight of the libby when you land on a rock. :lol:

We'll see. I know there's a fine line between hobby and obsession.

At lunch, I went back and repurchased the front skid that I returned on Monday. Yeah, I'm a dork. My brother's gonna help me drill that missing hole in the crossmember and be done with it.

Upward and onward.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:25 pm

WTG! Hope it works out. (sure it will) :wink:

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:43 pm

thats almost a little fishy, i just bought that exact same engine skid yesterday and it installed like a champ today.

All the holes lined up just fine...weird.

Mopar engine skid doesn't fit 2003 Liberty

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