BudBuilt Skid Plate GROUP BUY!
Apr 21, 2006 | 05:33 AM
#242
Contributing Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,278
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From: Tempe, Arizona
Originally Posted by BudBuilt
OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ian, you must be a REAL man to lay on your back and press 100+ pounds and 7' of steel with one hand, and install hardware with the other!
Just messing with ya Ian but once you are on your back and the skid on your chest, you will understand!
Us mere mortals should install the front bolts loosely in the front skid first. Then push it up ( a jack really helps ) and use the allen wrench stuck thru the hole in the skid to find the stock holes in the frame. Then push it up into place, and install the flat head screws.
The steering rack brace doesn't work quite right on some trucks, so we're sending a large square washer to help clamp it into place. I'll have pics up tomorrow of the fix and install. Thanks to Steve S for helping me with it!
Once the front skid is on, then the belly can go up. It can go over the top of the front skid or under it. See which way it fits best. Then, 2 grade 5 carriage bolts up thru the first crossmember, with flat washers up on top and the locking nut to finish it off. Then, repeat in the back with 2 or 3 bolts.
Does that help?
Bud
Ian, you must be a REAL man to lay on your back and press 100+ pounds and 7' of steel with one hand, and install hardware with the other!
Just messing with ya Ian but once you are on your back and the skid on your chest, you will understand!
Us mere mortals should install the front bolts loosely in the front skid first. Then push it up ( a jack really helps ) and use the allen wrench stuck thru the hole in the skid to find the stock holes in the frame. Then push it up into place, and install the flat head screws.
The steering rack brace doesn't work quite right on some trucks, so we're sending a large square washer to help clamp it into place. I'll have pics up tomorrow of the fix and install. Thanks to Steve S for helping me with it!
Once the front skid is on, then the belly can go up. It can go over the top of the front skid or under it. See which way it fits best. Then, 2 grade 5 carriage bolts up thru the first crossmember, with flat washers up on top and the locking nut to finish it off. Then, repeat in the back with 2 or 3 bolts.
Does that help?
Bud
I didn't see this. before I posted for the other 2003 Tacoma guy. You know that front brace on the 2003 is really lame. It is nothing like the one on the 4Runners. I don't know if all Tacomas had a brace like this, the front skid mount, but the one on the 2003 is very weak.
Also another interesting thing is that the 4Runners have 5 bolts points in the front versus 3 on the Tacoma. Some but not all 4Runners will use one of the extra 2 holes as a ground for something.
For example, My 99 2.7 and Mike N's 98 3.4 did not have the ground, but Vespuchi's 2000 3.4 did.
Not really sure who got it and who did not, but there are alot of 4Runners that could use the full 5 front holes.
I still wonder what the deal is with the rack placement?
Apr 21, 2006 | 05:37 AM
#243
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
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Likes: 1
Originally Posted by sschaefer3
I bet that is only one plate.
yeah, that would make sense. 7' long by about 20+ inches wide and 3/16" thick is WAY more than 55#
i'm assuming that the mounting points you refer to are the bolts in the front "lip" of the skid? i have 5 holes, but only 3 are used and none are for a ground.
Last edited by bamachem; Apr 21, 2006 at 05:38 AM.
Apr 21, 2006 | 06:00 AM
#245
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,063
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From: High Point NC
Originally Posted by bamachem
yeah, that would make sense. 7' long by about 20+ inches wide and 3/16" thick is WAY more than 55#
i'm assuming that the mounting points you refer to are the bolts in the front "lip" of the skid? i have 5 holes, but only 3 are used and none are for a ground.
i'm assuming that the mounting points you refer to are the bolts in the front "lip" of the skid? i have 5 holes, but only 3 are used and none are for a ground.
Same here w/ the mounting holes and no ground, things seem to have changed in 2000 if we all have sub 2K production Runners.
Apr 21, 2006 | 06:05 AM
#246
Contributing Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
The belly pan was delivered yesterday. Thanks again to Bud and Andy for the group buy. I won't be able to start painting until maybe mid next week since I have rescue training all this coming weekend.
Once you guys have your plates and pans mounted, share some pics. Thanks.
Once you guys have your plates and pans mounted, share some pics. Thanks.
Apr 21, 2006 | 06:51 AM
#248
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Loveland, Colorado
Originally Posted by tulsa_97SR5
Just got my crossmember, this thing is HOT!!! Bud, what else do you make that will work on my 85?
Apr 21, 2006 | 06:55 AM
#249
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by sschaefer3
I didn't see this. before I posted for the other 2003 Tacoma guy. You know that front brace on the 2003 is really lame. It is nothing like the one on the 4Runners. I don't know if all Tacomas had a brace like this, the front skid mount, but the one on the 2003 is very weak.
Also another interesting thing is that the 4Runners have 5 bolts points in the front versus 3 on the Tacoma. Some but not all 4Runners will use one of the extra 2 holes as a ground for something.
For example, My 99 2.7 and Mike N's 98 3.4 did not have the ground, but Vespuchi's 2000 3.4 did.
Not really sure who got it and who did not, but there are alot of 4Runners that could use the full 5 front holes.
I still wonder what the deal is with the rack placement?
Also another interesting thing is that the 4Runners have 5 bolts points in the front versus 3 on the Tacoma. Some but not all 4Runners will use one of the extra 2 holes as a ground for something.
For example, My 99 2.7 and Mike N's 98 3.4 did not have the ground, but Vespuchi's 2000 3.4 did.
Not really sure who got it and who did not, but there are alot of 4Runners that could use the full 5 front holes.
I still wonder what the deal is with the rack placement?
Apr 21, 2006 | 07:24 AM
#251
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
Any details that you can share regarding your suspension swap?
Originally Posted by bamachem
i gotta get busy... i have a full suspension swap, a full 5-tire swap, and the belly/skid paint & install to complete before the 11th on top of a few other minor changes/adjustments to do. 
Apr 21, 2006 | 07:35 AM
#252
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 1
going from:
OME N91s with TRD Tundra 2WD coils and one top plate spacer in the front
OME N86 with Downey 3.5" Coils and 3/4" spacers with air bags in the rear
to:
Tokico Blue TRD struts with TRD Tundra 4WD Coils and one top plate spacer in the front
Cruiser OEM Shocks with Cruiser OEM Coils and air bags in the rear
just time to try something different and see how i like it. if it's good, then i'll keep it and sell off the stuff that's on there now. if i don't, then the other stuff will go back on and this setup will get sold as a "kit".
OME N91s with TRD Tundra 2WD coils and one top plate spacer in the front
OME N86 with Downey 3.5" Coils and 3/4" spacers with air bags in the rear
to:
Tokico Blue TRD struts with TRD Tundra 4WD Coils and one top plate spacer in the front
Cruiser OEM Shocks with Cruiser OEM Coils and air bags in the rear
just time to try something different and see how i like it. if it's good, then i'll keep it and sell off the stuff that's on there now. if i don't, then the other stuff will go back on and this setup will get sold as a "kit".
Apr 21, 2006 | 09:28 AM
#254
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by 00Runner
Does anyone have a pic of this new steering rack brace that Bud is supplying with the front skid? I'm interested in seeing how it mounts up as well.
Apr 21, 2006 | 09:31 AM
#255
Contributing Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Menlo Park, CA
Originally Posted by ohio03trdtaco
I don’t have pictures but I can give you a good idea of how it mounts. Take the lower two bolts out of your steering rack and place the brace in-between them and your rack. Then bolt the brace to the skid. I might have to drill or elongate the slots on mine to get the brace to work, or switch the bolts out for longer studs. I want to say the driver side lower bolt on the rack is already a stud.
Apr 21, 2006 | 10:54 AM
#257
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by 00Runner
So is the brace a piece of angle, flat steel, tube,...?
Last edited by ohio03trdtaco; Apr 21, 2006 at 11:54 AM.
Apr 22, 2006 | 02:37 PM
#259
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: colorado
Well, I tried to mount up my front skid today and it wasn't going for me. The front bolts would line up but the rear bolts and steering rack brace were both off. So I took the steering rack brace off of the skid, mounted it to the rack and marked the holes. Monday my dad is going to have them re-drilled at work. Then if the rear holes line up or not, it doesn't matter because I think the steering rack brace is strong enough to support the skid. We will see monday. Anyone else get theres installed yet?
