how close to t-case do i mount skid guard

[abig84]

kinda a stupid question, but im making a custom cross member on a SFA s10 im building. how far away from the transfercase do you put the skid plate. i'm guessing about 1/2 inch away should be fine? i know the trans and transfercase twist obviously but i want it up as close as possible.

half the reason im asking is i went and looked at my 85 k5 blazer for reference and its actually smashed up against the transfercase so i'm guessing i hit something a while back and never noticed

 

[chevysmithz71]

It Does depend on your mounting spots. If you have 2 crossmembers close together then 1/2 in. would be fine. If the 2 mounting spots are a distance apart I would find a way to strengthen up the middle to mount it.So all in all I would think you're right.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would think 1" would be your safest bet.

 

[abig84]

i made it somewhere around 1/2-3/4 inch down on the s10. the k5 blazer yeah it was right up on the transfercase i dont know how the heck that happen, i just stuck some washers under the back bolts to pull it away some.

heres my homemade ghetto set up for the s10

 

[4X4HIGH]

The first time the back of that skid gets pushed into the t-case you can say goodbye to the t-case. It's going to split the case probably near the adapter somewhere.

 

[abig84]

The first time the back of that skid gets pushed into the t-case you can say goodbye to the t-case. It's going to split the case probably near the adapter somewhere.

the way i look at it is if the skid plate wasnt there the same thing would happen, at least with it there itll have a better chance of sliding over something instead of grabing it if i left it unprotected

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The first time the back of that skid gets pushed into the t-case you can say goodbye to the t-case. It's going to split the case probably near the adapter somewhere.

That's the first thing I thought too

 

[4X4HIGH]

If it were me i would make another crossmember to mount just behind the t-case then make a skid plate that bolts to both the front and rear crossmember.

 

[abig84]

If it were me i would make another crossmember to mount just behind the t-case then make a skid plate that bolts to both the front and rear crossmember.

that shouldnt be hard to do, probably can just do some V shaped thing from the frame going to it.

but this is how the stock k5 blazers are set up. and done tons of offroading my k5 and other chevy trucks and never busted a transfercase but im basicly done with this turd anyways so i will look into doing a crossmember across the back. i have nothing else to do anyways

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

that shouldnt be hard to do, probably can just do some V shaped thing from the frame going to it.

but this is how the stock k5 blazers are set up. and done tons of offroading my k5 and other chevy trucks and never busted a transfercase but im basicly done with this turd anyways so i will look into doing a crossmember across the back. i have nothing else to do anyways

My '77 has the exact crossmember setup that 4X4HIGH suggested, two crossmembers with a skid plate in between. Suffice it to say that I would have broken several adapters and/or transfer cases if that skid plate wasn't supported on both sides.

I know that GM often put the single mount skid plate under 208's but that doesn't mean it will actually protect it.