Skid Plate Help??

[Laxin' Wag]

Hey there-
Dropped the gas tank yesterday, and the skid plate is just awfull. That cancerous rust!!! I can literally pick it apart with my fingers. Is the skid plate absolutely neccesary if I'm not off-roading just yet? Is there another way to strap up the gastank? Please let me know. Thanks

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"One man gathers what another man spills"

[Cecil14]

You shouldn't need the skid plate to put the straps on, you may need some different straps though. Just make sure you put something between the strap and the tank, a cutout from an old tire will work, just cut some strips wide enough. I've got some universal straps on mine now, don't know how long they are going to last, probably going to either make or get something a bit heavier later. You should be able to find the universal ones at a regular parts store.

Anthony

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1983 J-10 resto project
1979 J-10 parts rig
http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/Hosted_Pix/Cecil14_Jeep.jpg

[80wag.Darryl]

You can leave it off if you like,but the gas tank is plastic on your wag I beleive.I wouldnt recomend it.

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SOA,32x11.50's,3" body lift,Pretty Darn Quick.
"Lead Follow,Or Get The F#%& Out Of The Way" !

[This message has been edited by 80wag.Darryl (edited June 15, 2001).]

[Kaiser Volfe]

I have seen those plastic tanks take a lot of abuse, they seem to give more than metal tanks when they take a hit. The newer cars use plastic tanks to and as long as you don't really rough it you should be fine.

[Laxin' Wag]

Hey thanks alot guys. Suppose I went about fashioning my own skid plate, is it possible?
One more question, for any of those who live in the North East...Have you ever seen the frame damage the coffin leaves on the driver side. I hear it's happened on several GW's. It's the really bad rust that just eats away, i plan on welding it this weekend, any pointers?

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"One man gathers what another man spills"

[This message has been edited by Laxin' Wag (edited June 15, 2001).]

[Slippery]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Laxin' Wag:
Have you ever seen the frame damage the coffin leaves on the driver side. I hear it's happened on several GW's. It's the really bad rust that just eats away, i plan on welding it this weekend, any pointers?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Me too! Me too! I need to know how to fix it...



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Jason K.
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/e46e6dee/bc/My+Photos/Festiva.jpg?bcw0GX7Ax3rIxilV
'88 Ford Festiva
40mpg work car
Cost $150, paid for itself already
-----------------------------
'90 Chevy Lumina
Biggest POS in the 115-year history of the automobile
4 cylinders, less than adequate for a car half its size
Crappy rear disc brakes, $19M class-action lawsuit settled
------------------------------
Some other junk not worth mentioning

[Cecil14]

I think if I was going to make a new plate, I'd just use the old one as a template if it's available. Otherwise just make REAL sure the new one isn't going to get in the way of the driveshaft or rub against brake lines/electrical wires. Make sure it fits nice and snug and again put some rubber between the straps and the plate/tank, whichever it ends upo being. I might even put some between plate and tank, just to be sure. Good luck however you go.

Anthony

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1983 J-10 resto project
1979 J-10 parts rig
http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/Hosted_Pix/Cecil14_Jeep.jpg

[BobBarry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Laxin' Wag:
One more question, for any of those who live in the North East...Have you ever seen the frame damage the coffin leaves on the driver side. I hear it's happened on several GW's. It's the really bad rust that just eats away, i plan on welding it this weekend, any pointers?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's just a rumor that it has happened on several GW's; the truth is that it has infected ALL GW's in the Northeast!!!

Yes, it causes the frame to flake-up something severe, sometimes resulting in the loss of the whole rail.

Smaller spots are not too much of a problem; my local Jeep guru regulary fixes the problem by using stock YJ front bumpers as filler material to replace the rusted portion.

I've got a link in my GW page to some guys up here who have developed a kit for repairing the skidplate and frame rust; Auto Rust Technicians. Drop them a note and check the price for that kit.

As for the skidplate, I got my replacement from J&W Jeep in California; it was worth the $30 or so in shipping to get a clean rust-free one.

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Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[Slippery]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BobBarry:
my local Jeep guru regulary fixes the problem by using stock YJ front bumpers as filler material to replace the rusted portion.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A-HA! I knew they were good for something! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif

Seriously, though, thanks for the tip.



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Jason K.
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/e46e6dee/bc/My+Photos/Festiva.jpg?bcw0GX7Ax3rIxilV
'88 Ford Festiva
40mpg work car
Cost $150, paid for itself already
-----------------------------
'90 Chevy Lumina
Biggest POS in the 115-year history of the automobile
4 cylinders, less than adequate for a car half its size
Crappy rear disc brakes, $19M class-action lawsuit settled
------------------------------
Some other junk not worth mentioning

[andy d]

done the skidplate/framerail dance 4 times. i took the minamalist approach and left the skid plate off. i just rehung the tank on universal straps that i sleeved with mtn bike tubes. after welding a new lower flange onto the frame rail, i would replace the brake line before re-hanging the gas tank

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'88 gwag,pure stock

[87grand]

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS AND PRICES FOR FIXING THE SKID PLATE