I hope one of you that actually has one can answer this. How much, if any, ground clearance did you gain with the Bud Built t-case plate?

My MC bumpers will be here on Thursday and I'm trying to figure out what else I need to do to clean up the underside of my truck. The stock t-case cross member sure is an eyesore and looks more like a rock anchor than a support.

Thanks in advance.

 

Assuming you are talking about a single case crossmember, I gained about an inch to an inch and a half with mine. You move the low point farther back, so you get extra clearance where the old crossmember goes, but the back of the skid is only about an inch higher than the old crossmember was, but its at the back of the transfer case.

Better than clearance is PROTECTION. You can hammer that thing all day long and not have to worry about damage to your transfer case, which translates into being able to drive home.

I do not like the clearance on my dual case budbuilt. Very poor. I will be swapping it for a FROR crossmember and a different belly pan.

 

It depends on the truck....some have lower hanging cases than others...

I gained about 2 inches from my dual case plate

 

Basically measure the thickness of your stock x-member under the t-case mount and subtract about 3/8" for the thickness of the B/B x-member and that would be the gain there (add any drive train lift height ordered with the x-member). Of course, the FWD section hangs down the same regardless of the x-member used.

I gained about 2.5" with the F/R x-member as it also eliminates the rubber mount under the t-case:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...aseCrossmember

Of course the x-member won't work with the stock IFS suspension as the torsion bar mounts are in the way.

 

Huh. I didn't know that. Sucks that I have a low hanging case. Any idea where the differences are?

 

Since the drive train is angled downward a bit, with the 2nd t-case, it'll hang down that much farther than with a single case. And since the front drive section is the lowest hanging part of the t-case, that goes down as well.

I think all the trucks through the '95 models have the same design x-member, the Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runners has a higher clearance design:



This is my '85 w/ dial cases, F/R x-member and a 3" d/t lift:


Only thing hanging down is the skid plate under the front drive, a clocked t-case adapter is ready to install to take case of that last low hanging bit.

 

looks good

 

Depends on what engine/transmission you have. For a V6 manual, I had about 13" of clearance under the crossmember stock:


and about 12" with the Budbuilt at the lowest point:


It is important to note that the lowest point is only a couple inches wide and is there to truly protect the FWD output section of the tcase. Also, since it angles into it, you are better able to slide over obstacles instead of the big plow that the stock one acts like.

My dual case one doesn't have that bump, so I'm back up above the 13" I had stock, but I haven't measured it exactly.