picked up some well used slee skid plates from @hoser on Sunday. i got the belly plate and intermediate plate. Slee says you need both the belly pan and the front skid to mount the intermediate plate but i was able to mount it without the front skid by drilling some holes that lined up with holes in the stock diff cross member and through bolted it with some 3" long 7/16 grade 8 bolts. 3" long bolt is just barely long enough to get through with 2 washers and a nut and clear the oil pan. if you had a diff drop it wouldnt be a problem and you could use a longer bolt with a lock washer (which i did on one side).
those holes in the cross member already go all the way through. i just drilled the skid plate.
the bolt on the left in the picture is 3.5 inches and has a lock washer on top. a 3.5 wouldn't fit on the right due to the oil pan.
this last pic is the gap between the stock front skid and the intermediate skid. i handled it by bolting the splash shield back on over top the skid. i could have left it off entirely and been fine. i plan to order the front slee skid imminently so I'll deal with it then. you don't need the slee diff drop to do what i did but i think I'll need it when using the front skid depending on how it bends around the front cross member and diff. besides it will probably have the proper welded nut locations so i can just use bolts. and lowering the diff probably isn't a bad thing
unintended consequence: engine noise seems much louder. it must be reflecting off the intermediate plate. not sure i like that aspect.
edit: now i think the exhaust is contacting the belly pan since its bowed a little, leading to vibration congruent with engine RPM.
those holes in the cross member already go all the way through. i just drilled the skid plate.
the bolt on the left in the picture is 3.5 inches and has a lock washer on top. a 3.5 wouldn't fit on the right due to the oil pan.
this last pic is the gap between the stock front skid and the intermediate skid. i handled it by bolting the splash shield back on over top the skid. i could have left it off entirely and been fine. i plan to order the front slee skid imminently so I'll deal with it then. you don't need the slee diff drop to do what i did but i think I'll need it when using the front skid depending on how it bends around the front cross member and diff. besides it will probably have the proper welded nut locations so i can just use bolts. and lowering the diff probably isn't a bad thing
unintended consequence: engine noise seems much louder. it must be reflecting off the intermediate plate. not sure i like that aspect.
edit: now i think the exhaust is contacting the belly pan since its bowed a little, leading to vibration congruent with engine RPM.
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