Iron Pig Off Road (IPOR) Skid Install - New Design

[TraiLex]

Firstly, compliments to IPOR for a great product. I had been thinking about ordering one for about a year, but was hesitant to shell out all the cash as I was thinking about making my own. However, when it arrived, I quickly recognized that I wouldn't be able to fabricate a skid of such quality for the money spent; well worth the investment as far as I'm concerned. Good stuff, IPOR

Here are two pictures of the installed skid......and one of the bolt that I broke off in the frame during the removal of the crossmember (luckily, after heating the broken shank to cherry-red, I was able to grab it with Vise Grips and twist it out).

I wrote "New Design" in the thread title as this is the first IPOR skid that I've seen with the protective border around the transmission mount nuts.

Just purchased new design ipor skid. Got it installed and noticed that there is 1.25 inches between bottom of tcase and the top of the tcase skid tongue. Is any body else noticing this? I have a 97 lx but I wouldn't think this would be a factor. I have a buddy with a 94 and the older style ipor skid. His tucks up really nice, only a half inch or so between bottom of tcase and skid tongue. I'm kind of bummed, seems like I lost over an inch of clearance under tcase with this skid. Can anyone pay pics of their clearance between tcase and skid tongue, please?

 

[Chaldaean]

Can anyone pay pics of their clearance between tcase and skid tongue, please?

View attachment 1456054

I also have a 97 LX with the new design skid.

Just went outside and snapped the attached photo:

 

[TraiLex]

I also have a 97 LX with the new design skid.

Just went outside and snapped the attached photo:

View attachment 1456093

Wow, yours is much closer. So just to confirm, yours is the newer design with the metal guard plate welded around the transmission mount studs? I will double check my tranny mount height. I did replace the tranny mount a little while back (factory toyota part of course). I did not notice any change in distance between factory skid after that (before ipor install). I am just wondering if during the last production run from iopr's supplier the specs were altered a bit (perhaps they changed production vendors?) I did talk to Lance and he said I was the first one with this complaint. Apparently something is amiss. Might it be possible for you to get a measurement from the bottom of the crossmember section to the bottom of the skid under the tcase using a square and straight edge of some sort? If you have the time or inclination. Thanks for your input.

 

[concretejungle]

you don't want it too close or else you might hit it and next thing you know it's making contact wth your t-case. That will cause vibrations and noises. I actually had to space mine up just a little for this very reason.

 

[TraiLex]

you don't want it too close or else you might hit it and next thing you know it's making contact wth your t-case. That will cause vibrations and noises. I actually had to space mine up just a little for this very reason.

I certainly agree that some clearance is needed there too account for tcase movement when torque is applied. How much of a gap would you say is present in your setup between skid and tcase by the drain plug? I imagine if I take the support foot off I could use a floor jack to bend the skid tongue slightly closer to the tcase. Then I suppose the support foot won't mount flush and may need to be modified slightly as well.

 

[concretejungle]

What you pictured is a lot more than what i would consider necessary. I"m by no means an engineer, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[kombi]

I have a ipor skid, its probably one of the first. Never had 1 issue with the "exposed" hardware. Truck has been all over from az, baja, now in oregon. I have used the skid alot and never had a single issue.

 

[concretejungle]

I have one of the first as well and drove up to their shop to have them install it. It's been great but i did have an issue where it was vibrating because it got mashed up into the t-case ever so slightly. I removed it and saw the rubbing marks that indicated where it was rubbing. i ended up using some square metal pieces, drilled holes in them, to use as spacers which has worked well ever since. and, that was before taking it on the Rubicon.

 

[Chaldaean]

So just to confirm, yours is the newer design with the metal guard plate welded around the transmission mount studs? View attachment 1456288

Yep.

Might it be possible for you to get a measurement from the bottom of the crossmember section to the bottom of the skid under the tcase using a square and straight edge of some sort? If you have the time or inclination. Thanks for your input.View attachment 1456288

~3.060" (from face of the metal guard plate to bottom of tcase section);

see image