Re: RE: Skid Plate material advice......

From: Jon Smith (fast4x4@bellsouth.net)
Date: Sat Aug 14 1999 - 18:44:17 EDT


Definitely interested here.. and the point about the Al makes sense, it's
so soft I'd hate to catch a lil tip of a rock and get hung up...
_______________________________________
Jon Smith-------Raleigh,NC-------ICQ: 9720504
'95 318 auto CC 4x4 3.90 31" A/T's
JBA headers, dual glasspack, 14x3 FABM
F&B Stage I TB, MSD 8.5's, self-moded intake
MP SBEC, 180 degree thermo, ASP crank pulley,
16" Hayden elec. fan 0-60mph in 6.3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
----- Original Message -----
From: Jason Bleazard <jbleazard@home.com>
To: <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 1999 4:59 PM
Subject: DML: RE: Skid Plate material advice......

> Funny you should ask that... one of Norah's friends has access to design
and
> fabrication resources. I mentioned that I was planning on getting the
> factory skid plates for the '95, and he said that he could design and
build
> some that would be much thicker and stronger for quite a bit less money.
He
> hasn't yet decided on the material, he mentioned titanium, but I think he
> was leaning toward aircraft aluminum.
>
> I saved the other responses in this thread, and I'll mention the points
> already made there to him. I don't know a lot about materials myself, but
> the point about aluminum hanging up when being dragged over obstacles
sounds
> like a good thing to consider.
>
> I'll post an update when they're finished. Since the design is going in
to
> the computer, he says he can make up a bunch of them if anyone is
interested
> in aftermarket skid plates. I'm planning on doing all three (front axle,
> transfer case and fuel tank -- although that last one could be pretty
> interesting).
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Jason Bleazard http://www.bleazard.net Toronto, Ontario
> current: '95 Dakota Sport white 4x4 Reg. Cab 239 V6 5spd
> current: '98 Dakota Sport black 4x4 Club Cab 318 V8 Auto
> RIP: '95 Dakota Sport black 4x2 Club Cab 239 V6 Auto
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet4.buffnet.net
> > [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@buffnet4.buffnet.net]On Behalf Of
> > GrnDak4x4@aol.com
> > Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 9:21 PM
> > To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> > Subject: DML: Skid Plate material advice......
> >
> >
> > I looked under my Dak awhile ago and did a prelim. plan on a
> > transfer case
> > skid palte. Well, I want to make one shortly, due to deer
> > season(which equals
> > plenty of trail action) to help to protect my transfer case; something I
> > would have done along time ago. I noticed that on the frame crossmember
> > running behind the tcase, there are 2 holes punched into this
> > crossmember. On
> > the frame crossmember infront of the tcase, there is also 2 holes
> > in the the
> > crossmember. These holes line up with each other, denoting to me
> > that there
> > must have been some type of offroad(factory option?) skid plate
> > available.
> > Well I want to make my own and cannot decide on what material to
> > use for the
> > plate itself. I already know I will use Grade 8 hardware(nuts,
> > bolts, etc) to
> > mount the plate to each crossmember. I know that 6061-T6 Aluminum
> > is rather
> > popular to use for custom applications, but I cannot find it
> > anywhere around
> > here and I think if I was able to buy some, it would be rather
> > pricey. I do
> > work for a local public works department and have tons of free old
street
> > signs available, but these are only 1/8" thick. Of course, there
> > is always
> > the choice of the almight steel sheet/plate that I can buy
> > anywhere from 1/4"
> > thick all the way upto 1" thick. I have access to a powerful
> > drill press, so
> > drill the 4 holes wouldnt really be a problem; cutting it to size
> > might be.
> > Any advice on what to use?
> > Kyle
> > 93 Dakota 4x4 V6
> >
>
>



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