Budbuilt 460 skids with useable oil filter access panel (1 Viewer)

[jlficken]

If anyone is going to install skid plates and wondered where to put the jack stands to lift the vehicle I found this in the tech manual that I found.

It's a PDF that I'm hosting:
GX460_Jacking_and_Support_Instructions.pdf - https://nextcloud.fstech.ltd/s/ynkjPCqNrTTMraz

 

[r2m]

I just use my rock sliders or rear diff!

 

[jlficken]

I just use my rock sliders or rear diff!

I don't have rock sliders as I'm too much of a wuss to cut on a brand new GX

 

[Acrad]

Unfortunately I am out of town for another week. I'll have to track down the pics when I get back. Sorry

 

[jlficken]

Unfortunately I am out of town for another week. I'll have to track down the pics when I get back. Sorry

No worries. It might not actually happen on Saturday now anyway. I'll just keep looking at them in the basement until I get someone to help as that fuel tank skid would be a bear by myself.

 

[jlficken]

I just noticed something.

They aren't using weld nuts anymore. At least they aren't using them on the 3/16" stainless skid plates. The only weld nuts anywhere are on those two little brackets I posted earlier.

They just threaded the backing plates around the openings for the drain plug and the oil filter directly. I'm guessing that's because they think that 3/16" is enough meat for the threads whereas 1/8" like on Acrad's isn't?

The drain plug panel also has recessed bolts like on the oil filter access panel whereas Acrad's are a panhead type screw instead. Another difference because of mine being 3/16" rather than 1/8" maybe?

My wife's a quilter

 

[Acrad]

Use a floor jack to assist with fuel tank skid… did mine by myself this way.

 

[OllieChristopher]

Wowee!! Those are some of the nicest looking skid plates I have ever seen. I like that they don't have a bunch of material weakening manufacturer "advertising cutouts". An added touch are the well placed cooling vents. That company really takes pride in their fabrication.

I just noticed something.

They aren't using weld nuts anymore. At least they aren't using them on the 3/16" stainless skid plates. The only weld nuts anywhere are on those two little brackets I posted earlier.

They just threaded the backing plates around the openings for the drain plug and the oil filter directly. I'm guessing that's because they think that 3/16" is enough meat for the threads whereas 1/8" like on Acrad's isn't?

The drain plug panel also has recessed bolts like on the oil filter access panel whereas Acrad's are a panhead type screw instead. Another difference because of mine being 3/16" rather than 1/8" maybe?

My wife's a quilter

 

[jlficken]

Dad and I installed them today since it was nice out and it went okay.

The crossmember was a b!tch to install with moving the brake line bracket. Trying to get it lined up wasn't fun and we had to do some pulling to get it in position which I didn't like.

I wound up being shorted 2 of the 3/8"x1" stainless carriage bolts so I asked them to send them to me as I looked at 4 different places locally and couldn't find them. I used regular zinc bolts for now.

Those little weld nut tab things that I posted a picture of earlier wound up going into the frame to act as kind of a stud since the hole at the rear of the bracket in the frame isn't threaded. At least I hope that's how it's supposed to work since there weren't any instructions provided for anything and when I tried calling they didn't answer nor did they respond to the email I sent yesterday. I'm not sure what to do with the tabs that are left besides cut them off or bend them flat to get them out of the way?

The fuel tank skid was kind of a pain with the one bolt being right above the drive shaft. We got it but that bracket was bent a little off as well so we had to take up a 3/16" gap between the bracket and the skid plate. The other brackets fit perfectly.

I did wind up calling as there was a 1/2" gap between the mid and rear skid plate and was told to go back to the front and tighten everything front to back and it should get the gap to go away....which it did.

I didn't think to ask about those weld nut tab things while I was on the phone.

All in all it went pretty well. I just wish they had some form of even basic instructions with it....especially for that stupid cross member install. Then just some basic tips like tightening everything front to back would have been helpful.

 

[Acrad]

Sent you a PM

 

[jlficken]

If anyone cares here are the weights of the OEM Skid Plates that come with the GX 460.

Front - 24.4lbs
Mid - 6.6lbs
Tank (1/3) - 8.8lbs

They are all .062" (1/16") thick steel.

 

[r2m]

If anyone cares here are the weights of the OEM Skid Plates that come with the GX 460.

Front - 24.4lbs
Mid - 6.6lbs
Tank (1/3) - 8.8lbs

All steel? This may be reaching, but can you also give the material thickness?

 

[jlficken]

All steel? This may be reaching, but can you also give the material thickness?

All steel except for an 8" plastic extension on back end of the mid-plate that extends over the transmission for little bit. I guess there's also some rubber on the lift point in the front plate as well.

They all measure .062" (1/16") thick according to my calipers.

 

[jlficken]

I got curious today so I measured ground clearance on OEM sized (P265/60R18 XL) Falken Rubitrek's (30.9" OD) at 37PSI w/ 3000 miles on them.

Front Skid Plate - 8.5"
Mid Skid Plate - 7.8125"
Rear/Transmission Skid Plate - 8.625"
Tank Skid Plate - 9.75" (Front), 9.875" (Rear)

Also, I did notice that either I put a little gouge in the tank when taking the original skid plate off or it came that way. It's nothing major but I'd advise caution when removing the OEM skid plate as there must be a sharp edge on it somewhere even though I couldn't find one when I checked. I'd also take the bolt for the bracket above the driveshaft loose first before the driver's side bolts as that bolt is a PITA. Ratcheting wrenches would have been a life saver!

 

[Bang Bang]

Had an opportunity to meet Bud this weekend at the Toyota Jamboree. Nice guy.

 

[Banandalorian]

Went to install my skids today. Front and engine skid plate go on easy, but it looks like I was sent either the wrong crossbar or a defective crossbar. It's like 1/2 too wide for the frame and the holes don't line up.

I'll have to get in touch with them Monday and see what the deal is.

 

[r2m]

Went to install my skids today. Front and engine skid plate go on easy, but it looks like I was sent either the wrong crossbar or a defective crossbar. It's like 1/2 too narrow for the frame and the holes don't line up.

I'll have to get in touch with them Monday and see what the deal is.

Most likely wrong part was packaged with your order. That's way too off on a measurement to be a reject.

 

[Banandalorian]

@Acrad or @jlficken either of you have a picture of your crossbar handy? I'm wondering what your brackets look like.

 

[Bang Bang]

That’s what mine looked like.

 

[jlficken]

Sorry, I don’t have one besides this one from the passenger side when it’s installed. That looks like the right bolt pattern and overall design though.

I’d call BudBuilt too as they aren’t very good at responding to emails lately in my experience.

Woolwax makes things dirty, however, my brother the mechanic said he’d take dirty over rusty any day.

I can get a better picture tomorrow but it’ll be 11AM central or so as we have to be at the dealership at 9:30 for it’s first service and it’s a 100 mile drive.