I designed this skid plate and had my sheet metal shop laser cut and bend the plate from 3/16" thick
302 stainless steel.
I made the support bar from 1/4" wall 2" diameter DOM tubing, welded 1/4" flanges and had it galvanized.
This support bar and skid plate can take the entire weight of the truck unlike the stock unit.
The MCS logo is laser cut through the stiffening flange on the skid plate. The whole plate was power
grained before bending, it looks sweet!
From the side you can see that the skid plate has a bend in it to provide additional clearance and a
ramp just incase you need it. If you like this skid plate and would like one for your dodge
e-mail me
and tell me, if I get enough interest I will do a production run!
I finally got my Dana 60 front axle all setup with ARB air locker, 5.13:1 gears, and 35 spline axle
shafts bypassing the Center Axle Disconnect. I rolled the axle under my truck on a furniture dolly.
I used a floor jack and blocks to get the axle up to the correct hieght and then installed the upper
control arms. I first attached them to the frame and then I stuck a bolt in to hold the first side in
place.
Here you see the bolt sticking out holding the axle in place.
I then Slid bolts in from the opposite side and installed the Rancho dual shock mount that I had plated.
I drilled out the frame and axle mounts to accept a 1/2" Grade 8 bolt.
Another view of the above picture.
Here you can see the lower control arm mount that I previously installed with the longer lower control
arm bolted in with a aircraft bolt. I also cut off the stock lower control arm mount from the frame.
Here both control arms are connected.
There's me turning the last bolt.
here's a close up of the connection of the arms to the axle, the only bolts I retained were the ones
used to adjust caster.
I had the stock shock bucket and the Rancho dual shock mount galvanized and I bolted them on with grade 8 bolts.
Well there it is, ready for springs (which I also had galvanized).
With the help of some spring compressors I slid the center shock, the coil spring, and a new rubber
isolator into place and connected the center shock.
Once both sides were done I connected the second shocks.
Here's a close up of the dual shocks and new custom coils. Next I will connect the steering drag link
and put the tires on so I can measure how long my track bar has to be.
At the time of this update (12/28/01) I have the wheels on the truck and its off the jack stands but
due to some dissapointing service from my parts supplier I had to finish in the rain so I couldnt take
any pictures. I will soon, I promise.