Tankerblade

I've been thinking about building a new tranny crossmember. Being in AZ with all the rocks, my current crossmember is beat to hell. I was thinking of making a low profile crossmember that can serve like a skid. Kind of angle the front lip up, so if i do hit rocks, hopefully, it'll just slide under the skid and not stop the jeep.

I've kind have been looking around, but not much has been found. only link i have found is this at NAXJA

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1034088

But he made a t-case skid into it as well. Im 2wd so i dont need to worry about that.

So my thoughts were to get either 1/4" or 3/16" plate, have it angle down like an upside down trapizoid just enough to get that rubber piece that holds the tranny up. It should look kinda like rusty's but a little slimmer...i think. Then with a lip that angles up to catch the rock and push it down.

http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...y_Code=xj_skid

Thoughts? I'll draw up some pictures tomorrow and show you what i mean exactly

sandaddik2

sounds like a good idea.
if it was me i would try to save up to make it 4wd and put tabs on the cross member and make a long arm kit for a little bit more money.
just throwin the idea out there

Tankerblade

haha i would love to, but will be getting a new xj in a year with 4wd, so i can do that then

sandaddik2

Well depending on what you can afford both money and time wise you could
make one for the old jeep then make a better one for the new jeep

Lightfoot

I built my skid plate and it runs from right behind the lower control arm mounts to just after my transfer case. Its about 36" from front to back.

Its made using the stock crossmember and some extra stiffners. Its made from 3/16" steel and works very well. Its been well tested.

I cut the stock crossmember to fit inside my skid and then welded it all together. I need to take it back off to replace trans mount and paint.

Its as tight as I could keep it.

Tankerblade

wow now thats a skid plate. I thought about doing something like that as well. but wouldnt that keep alot of heat trapped inside there raising the trans temp? I mean i live the the desert and the high was 110 today...

Also did you use a metal brake for that? or just cut out pieces and weld them together

sandaddik2

nice lookin skid plate. also where did you get the plate?
(a sheet of 3/16 plate last week was 179 bucks when i checked, im at the steel yard 2 times a week plus cuz i do fab work for xjs)

Lightfoot

I had the 3/16" plate bent for me at a local shop. I also had gas tank skid bent. I bought all parts cut out and bent for $225.00.

It is warmer so I will add a trans cooler sometime. But I don't have to worry about the rocks getting my transfer case or my tranny.

Jeepfreak1020

Ill have to look and see If I have any better pics later tomorrow. But hers mine. Pretty much just like JCR's. Made out of 1/4" bolts to the crossmember and then 3 bolts per side threw the frame, pic only shows 2 because I only had 2 done at that time lol. Put the jeep on it before. Have jacked the jeep up on it and nothing. I built it myself. Made out of 5 pieces and was cheap to build.

Tankerblade

Jeepfreak, if you can get me pics and some measurements, you'll be amazing

Jeepfreak1020

Ya man Ill do that for you tomorrow no problem.