WJ Front Skid Idea - Opinions Please

[doublejz]

Ok so I got a little bored and cut my front bumper in half and well I don't like the lower rad and support hanging out now. So I got out the cardboard and tried a couple ideas that I had. I ended up with the one shown below.








Looking at this shot, I'm thinking that I might add a piece at the bottom to well like underneath the sway bar.



I'm also debating if it should be vented for better airflow but then again I have the stock bumper which isn't blocking the grille.. so I dunno.

Any opinions/suggestions?

[mxracer513]

Looks good and i think extending to cover as much as possible is a good idea

[jeep-freak92]

looks really good id extend it down as far as possible i love the skid plates like that

[doublejz]

hrm I just tried extending it some and well the tires will hit it. I can only extend the center some but not the far sides. So I think I'm going to try to grab a sheet of metal this week and get done what I have shown above and go from there.

You guys think 3/8" is overkill for it?

[tjblair]

Yah, I would use 5/16 or 3/16. 3/8 would probably be too heavy on your springs.

[tjblair]

Maybe have someone roll some creases in it for you.

[doublejz]

I'll have to get some prices on both 3/16 and 5/16. Not even sure how much steel is these days... been like 2 years since I bought any.

[doublejz]

Maybe have someone roll some creases in it for you.

I was debating on asking my local metal center to actually toss it in their brake and do the majority in one piece but I'm thinking that would be pricey.

[tjblair]

Rolled creases will stiffen it up a good bit.

[Deadman 94 xj]

I would leave it exactly as it is. It's enough for what you need, anything more will just cause more issues. JMO.

Good job on the mock up.

[SirFuego]

Does the stock lower rad support bolt in like ZJs? Or is it part of the unibody? If it bolts in, you might want to fab up a beefy lower rad support and make it part of the skid. If it bolts solidly like the ZJ, you can probably integrate some beefy tow points into it, too.

I'm talking about something like this tied into the skid plate:
http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/zj/zj_rad_support.html

Also, were you planning to add in any "speed holes"? The part you cut out allowed a lot of air flow, so you might want to consider those. However, it'd act like a "mud grater", so that could allow a bunch of mud to pack in there. How easy is the fascia to remove now? I can see the gap between the top of the skid and the bottom of the bumper want to get clogged with mud, too -- but that should at least be easy to clean out.

My ZJs front bumper is sorta similar in look to that skid except it goes all the way up to the grille. It's all made of 1/4", but the front plate is gusseted for additional support. It's taken quite a few hits with no issues. The front plate is a bit wide, IMO to be unsupported even with 1/4". As long as you run two or three triangular gussets supporting the front plate, I'm guessing it'd be plenty strong even with 3/16".

[jeepxj3]

WJ's had some early heating isues, I would def. cut some holes in there. Maybe some speed holes. They seem to be the new hottness for Jeeps now a days.

[doublejz]

From what I saw the rad support looks to be welded to the bumper.

Also, this guy claims hes never had cooling problems with this huge thing and hes in CA.

[doublejz]

Well I had some time this weekend so I decided to give this a shot. It didn't turn out bad. I didn't block the small section in front of the rad that I intended to, so cooling shouldn't be an issue.

[Barillms]

What exactly are you protecting?
Skid plates usually protect a vital part... a sway bar skid?

Does the radiator really hang down that low? I can't see it.

[Cebby]

It hangs way down.