Iv'e been planing on making a bigger skid plate for the front of the turbo, out of thicker stuff(aluminium or steel). But now that I look @ the stock pice, it looks stout!

How well have the stock units held up for all U hard core off-roaders? And how well do they protect? (ie: are there things it should keep safe, but dosen't) Should I even bother with making a new one?

Ive NEVER had a problem, and Ive been bombing the sube through crap since i learned how to drive one. As a matter of fact, ive never even seen a damaged skid plate either.

 

I Heard some people double them up, use 2 stacked on top of eachother for added strength.

 

-Brian

They do their job just fine. They protect the essentials well. I have bent and dented them but not damaged the things above them. My exhaust on the brat is just the same as your Turbo and it works well.

I had a '84 GL10 parts car that a previous owner had managed to dent the oil pan through the skid plate. But man they must have nailed that rock hard to do it. Like many retired Subes, that car was really riden hard and put away wet.

Thanks guys! Now I can stop wasting time on a new skidplate, and get on to somthing more importand:-)

man, I smashed my oilpan so hard i bent the pickup inside. The only reason that my EA82 isn't FUBAR is because the skidplate did such a good job. They're small, but they do the job, plus with the subtle ribbing it gives a few areas of crumple room.

 

Dude, you should design and fab some mean fender flares for people who want or need to cut the fenders for bigger tires...

I mangled my skidplate real good a reiter last time I was there. Dented the oil pan. When I make a front bumper Im going to incorperate a phaty skidplate. I only have a 1" spacer on the front though, which makes it closer to the oil pan.

my wagon has no skidplate, is this stock or was it removed? I've already put a dent in the oilpan. oh well, It won't work with the lift, and my oil pan is rusty anyways (I bet many of you have not seen a rusty subaru oil pan before )

I think the absolute best thing you could make a skid plate for is the rear diff. Is it just me, or do those things take a serious beating?

I made skid plates for my 92 Loyale wagon out of 2/8" thick, hardened, diamond plate aluminim that has been bolted on and/or attached with GE silicone sealer. It was made from scrap I was able to pick up at the local metal supply co. for $20. Now they protect the:

 

* front roll-pan

* oil pan

* mid-exhaust

 

A year ago I made some for my all-road minivan project, to protect the vitals when taking it off road to the cabin. The aluminum plate holds up very well. It's as strong a steel but weighs about 1/3 less.

 

T.J.