[Andygoodbloke]

My work is nearing completion but want to add some under body protection for my SJ50

Has anyone got a templates of the plates needed for over the sump, gearbox and transfer case. I have a set of rock slider bars for under the sills which will go on soon but more worried about the expensive stuff which is bound to get a hiding

What material - I would guess 3mm plate steel but have also considered 8mm aluminium
Each have their good points and bad - alloy is lighter but thicker and doesn't rust and harder to fold being thicker and have access to a MIG not a TIG - has anyone tried Aluminium?

If anyone has a template for a SJ413 / SJ50 please let me know as looking under the vehicle I cannot see any good mounting points apart from gear box cross member

If no one has a template to follow advise on where to fold/weld and mount, plus measurements of the material would certainly help

Thanks Andy

[Gwagensteve]

The fuel tank is critical to protect. I can’t imagine ever contacting the sump or gearbox. I’ve never heard of impact with either causing an issue. Protecting the transfer might be a good idea, I haven’t found it an issue and as it’s quite softly mounted it can move a long way if it’s sitting on something, but how to do it is a bit complex. Running a mount from rail to rail under the case (calmini used to offer this style) puts the skid very low and that’s a major detriment to capability. It also traps a lot of mud and reflects noise and heat back into the cabin. A small skid just under the transfer is a better idea but it it’s mounted to the stock transfer mounts on the chassis it can cause them to fail (and it also has to hang quite low to allow the transfer to move). Have a look at Beery’s transfer skid plate. It’s very nice.

[Gwagensteve]

PS it’s on page 10 of his build thread. Note it costs almost no ground clearance and it’s attached to the case mounts so it floats with the case. This is infinitely better than making it fixed below the case.

Almost 20 years ago we built Gregc’s car to have a flat belly and built an aluminium belly pan skinned in plastic. It’s never been fitted to the car- it just doesn’t need it.

[Andygoodbloke]

Thank you for your response
I purchased a big sheet of 3mm steel plate which is 2.4 meters long and about .45m wide

Next will be building a bender

The gas tank one is basically a box over the outside and plan to mount to the same brackets as the tank is hanging from - may need to weld the 2 lengths together

The second plate will be over the transfer case and will get a cardboard template first but it has bolts on either side from mounts of the body ( I think from memory) on either side to use

The Sump is going be the last bit and on the back burner for now, as Steve is correct saying they don't get hit due to its position.

I got cheap a bash plate off a Hilux and that is going to be modified and then bolted under the front of the vehicle. I have no front bumper only a bull bar so the place where the steering damper shock is will get covered and hopefully protect the front help slide up and over things.

Making stuff is good fun - when it works