[bsevans]

Dave Watson, the engineer at Caid Industries said that duplicates, especially multiple orders together would definitely be discounted in price.
They can build any variation on the theme that you would want. I must say that the mockup turned out to be an essential element for fitment.
Abby, the dog in the picture, is a 65 lb. poodle that can not get enough wheeling.
Just how do I cross post this thread into another group so others might see it?

[rusty_tlc]

Copy and paste this
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=93447
to link.
Most forum software will have a link button that looks somethink like this just copy the URL from the page you want to link to, click the link icon and paste the url into the window.


Is Abby a Phantom? I have a Black Std, his Mom was a Phantom. Jake is 65# as well. He likes rabbits and birds so he loves going with me, not so much to ride but just to run around wherever we wind up.

[Blue77FJ40]

Have you ever tried adjusting the parking brake with the skidplate on? The stock skidplate has the slot for a 10m wrench. I guess a slot would need to be cut.

Do you think the skidplate hangs low enough for the Orion tcase? It's ~ 1/2" lower than stock.

Quality work.

[Nomis]

I am always amazed at what the LC crowd is capable of planning, designing and executing. Awesome work - let us know how much they would be offered at. Better still - I would potentially be interested in buying the plans so I could have my local shop fab it up for me.

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by Blue77FJ40

Have you ever tried adjusting the parking brake with the skidplate on? The stock skidplate has the slot for a 10m wrench. I guess a slot would need to be cut.

Do you think the skidplate hangs low enough for the Orion tcase? It's ~ 1/2" lower than stock.

Quality work.

It would be very easy for them to change the depth. Adding a slot would be straight forward, however, I would not want to compromise the flange in the back too much as it is part of the strategy to maintain as much stiffness as possible around the emergency brake. I rebuilt my emergency brake 8 years ago (the two brake pads delaminated) and have not adjusted it since and it still holds a good incline. I've already compromised the back of the skid with the outlet for the exhaust pipe. The only reason that location does not concern me as much is that it is on the opposite side of the skid from the emergency brake and would have little impact. The truth is, I do not think I will ever bend this skid unless I take the big staircase in the sky and go off a cliff.

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by Nomis

I am always amazed at what the LC crowd is capable of planning, designing and executing. Awesome work - let us know how much they would be offered at. Better still - I would potentially be interested in buying the plans so I could have my local shop fab it up for me.

The prototype which included the cost of making a mockup with two iterations was $365. The engineer at Caid Industries said the cost would be less for additional builds since they already had the programming for the CNC precision plasma cutter. I assume the final cost would be driven by the number of units they build at one time. If you do not live close to Tucson, you need to consider the cost of shipping 85 pounds and how long the UPS guy is going to hold it against you for his broken toe.
The digital drawing and CNC database are the property of Caid Industries. The culmination of my original sketches and Excel spreadsheet. All the tweaks to get it just right were penciled in on the mockup and therefore I do not have possession of the final drawing dimensions. I told Caid that there would be other cruiser heads that have wanted similar protection and that they should be prepared to make more. He just smiled and said "no problem, we'll build as many as they want". In all honesty, this skid plate was a no brainer for them. You should see their fabrication facilities. They have one that specializes in sheet steel and Aluminum and another that specializes in precision industrial fabrication and engineering. Both are very large. I should also add that the people I dealt with were very easy to work with.

[Brian in Oregon]

So do we go through you ro contact these folks directly? Is there a list going for a group puchase? I'm interested.

I suppose a more basic question would be - I have a 1971 FJ40 with a later model 4-speed and its transfer case. I would think this skidplate would not have any issues clearing them.

And yes, I do have a V-8, but it's single exhaust, nearly duplicating the factory exhaust routing. And it uses a Mark's of Australia kit, so the tranny, transfer and Toyota bellhousing are in the original locations.

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by Brian in Oregon

So do we go through you ro contact these folks directly? Is there a list going for a group puchase? I'm interested.

I suppose a more basic question would be - I have a 1971 FJ40 with a later model 4-speed and its transfer case. I would think this skidplate would not have any issues clearing them.

And yes, I do have a V-8, but it's single exhaust, nearly duplicating the factory exhaust routing. And it uses a Mark's of Australia kit, so the tranny, transfer and Toyota bellhousing are in the original locations.

I listed the contact, Dave Watson (see earlier post, this thread), so that those interested could call him direct. I'm not sure about your clearance requirements. My setup is factory with the four speed and non-split transfer case. If in fact the tranny and transfer are in the same location as my stock 78, then it should fit. As far as a group buy - I'm not sure how to go about organizing a group buy with different shipping needs. Would a poll thread need to be started to get an idea of who wants to be included in any discount a group buy would offer? I think what will have to happen is this. All those that would like to purchase one will need to organize and call Dave the same day/week and place an order. I am having Caid Industries modify a mounting bracket for my 4x4 turbo diesel and will see him today. I'll ask him about a group buy. I'll post the results of the conversation later today. Also, I could give Dave a list of members that want to be apart of a group buy. Heck, I do not know what kind of discount they would be willing to offer. I just know what I paid for mine.

[orangefj45]

back to the internal pressure/vent question. the transmissions themselves do not have a vent like the t-cases; they're vented thru the shifter assy.

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

back to the internal pressure/vent question. the transmissions themselves do not have a vent like the t-cases; they're vented thru the shifter assy.

That may be true, until the seal between the tranny and transfer case goes out. The front tranny input shaft seal then becomes a very good vent for pressure and gear oil.

[orangefj45]

why would a rear seal failure cause an input seal to fail as well?

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

why would a rear seal failure cause an input seal to fail as well?

Well, my experience is that when the seal between the tranny and transfer case fails, the added pressure in the tranny due to gear oil being pumped into the tranny from the transfer case causes the front seal on the tranny to eventually fail. If you look closely at the photo below, you will see the access plate wet with gear oil. I've had the gear shifter out and there is no oil being purged from the shifter mount on top of the tranny. I've had this happen to the front seal every time the tranny/transfer seal has failed. When the photos were taken, I had just installed the bypass and it took time for the gear oil that had already been purged to flow out. Since then I have noticed a reduction in the oil flow out the front seal and a dramatic reduction in the oil loss from the transfer case.

[Blue77FJ40]

How much clearance do you have between the bottom of your tcase and the skidplate? I'm interested in group purchase, but could use that at a base measurement for needed clearance for my Orion, that sits ~1/2" lower.

Also, on the install, do you have to use a lift?

[Mace]

You ever check the bearings in your tranny to see if they still are within spec??

If you are building up high presures in the tranny/tcase you have other issues..

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by Mace

You ever check the bearings in your tranny to see if they still are within spec??

If you are building up high presures in the tranny/tcase you have other issues..

The last time I tore them down everything looked fine - gears, bearings, washers, spacers, shims, output/idler shafts. Of course that was 30K miles ago (10 years) when I put a rebuilt Toyota clutch in, along with replacing all the seals. What other issues would you be refering to? Is there something else I should be looking at when I take eveything out to put the centerforce clutch in.?

[Mace]

The tranny/tcase is vented to the atmosphere. So, even if you add a ton of extra oil to the tranny cause the seal wore out pressures wouldn't increase significantly..
I would be more concerned with play in the input and the tranny output.. That would eat seal rapidly..

And you are eating seals a lot faster then you should.

[bsevans]

Originally Posted by Mace

The tranny/tcase is vented to the atmosphere. So, even if you add a ton of extra oil to the tranny cause the seal wore out pressures wouldn't increase significantly..
I would be more concerned with play in the input and the tranny output.. That would eat seal rapidly..

And you are eating seals a lot faster then you should.

What you said makes a lot of sense. I will be inspecting/measuring all the shafts when I rebuild the tranny, to make sure that they are not contributors to early seal failure.

[Advent]

For those with an Orion...Does just the case stick down 1/2" more, or does it lower the output as well?

If it's only the case, then the bottom of this skid plate should already be low enough.

[Advent]

Nobody knows?

I'd like to have a skid plate before I pony up for the Orion...

[Hanna Quality]

Originally Posted by Advent

For those with an Orion...Does just the case stick down 1/2" more, or does it lower the output as well?

If it's only the case, then the bottom of this skid plate should already be low enough.

The Orion is lower than the original trans case at the drain plug.

The outputs are in the same location as the original trans case.

[Advent]

So, then, since the drum is the lowest part of the case, and the Orion doesn't lower that, it would be logical to assume that this transfer case wouldn't need to be modified for it?

Thanks!

[Mark W]

The Orion fits above the factory skidplate with no changes.


Mark...

[Blue77FJ40]

Originally Posted by Advent

So, then, since the drum is the lowest part of the case, and the Orion doesn't lower that, it would be logical to assume that this transfer case wouldn't need to be modified for it?

Thanks!

On my Orion, the lowest point is the drainplug - by far. It's only 1/2" lower than stock at the drainplug.

[Waorani]

Originally Posted by bsevans

Here is another photo that shows how the skid plate marries to the edge of the frame.

Contact information if your interested in purchasing one:
Caid Industries
Dave Watson
520-294-9252
The prototype was under $400

Man I really like that skid plate so finally got around to calling Dave Watson today. Unfortunately, the price he gave me was $600. I had made up my mind to get one thinking it would be under $400. If I understood right, they haven't done anymore since the first one for bsevans. I'd hoped that they had been producing a few of these and price would be more reasonable but apparently not. I'm sure its worth $600 but just don't know if I want to put that much into it.

By the way, the phone # has changed to 520-889-7775. Somebody else order some of these so we can get the price back down!!

[fatboy]

i also called dave and he wanted $825.00 for the same skid plate

[orangefj45]

wow. for $825 you can easily have a custom skid plate built at just about any fab shop.

[bsevans]

I'm real glad I got mine for $365. I'm not sure what the increase is all about (time, cost of steel, labor rates, profit etc). When I talked to Dave 7 months ago, he assured me that cost to build additional units would be under $400. Time changes many things.

[Sputnik40]

Very nice work. I'm getting ready to make something similar - but am going to run flat across the portion under the transmission (SM420 with AA adaptor to t-case) and then cut out and weld ramps around just the area of the t-case that hangs below the frame rails.

My tranny and most of t-case sits about 1/2" below the plane of the frame rails - so perhaps with a little extra spacing on all the mounts (fan shroud adjustment included) and a minor bit of spacing for the plate and I hope to be mostly flat - seen it done before and looks like it works fine.

That plasmas cutter is awesome - just spent an hour grinding the slag off my 3/8" plates for my traction bar and the regular plasma cuts were kinda rough...