OEM T-Case Skid Plate Bolts

[BruceB83]

Can anybody tell me the size of the bolts for the OEM t-case skid plates? I came up with one but it doesn't have any hardware with it. I searched and couldn't come up with anything. Thanks!

 

[karstic]

Do you have the nutserts in the frame rail and cross-member on your Jeep?

If not you, can get either metric or SAE nutserts, it's up to you.

 

[BruceB83]

Oh...good point. Not sure if I have them or not, I just assumed I did. That would make things easier if not. Thanks!

 

[Shorty]

O.K. I'm a retard-- I got a TC skid plate and a front skid plate from the local Pick-N-Pull a while back and didn't get the "nutserts" when I got 'em. I finally decided to put 'em on and realized I don't have any in the vehicle! I'm not opposed to buying and installing them, but I can't for the life of me see where they would install for the frame rail side of the TC skid. I've got holes, but I don't see how I'd get to the back to install anything?? As for the front, I've got holes, but they're not threaded-- did they only get tapped from the factory if the skid was installed?
It's an '88, 4.0L, Aw4, NP231....
Any info would be appreciated-- I know I can drill holes and weld nuts to the back, or weld the darn things up, but now I really wanna know how it was done from the factory!

--Shorty

 

[2000XJSPORT]

Here are a few diagrams. They are for a 97-01, but the install for those two skids are the same for all years. The front skid uses studs to bolt it on and two other bolts that screw into the frame rail. Welded nuts should be already factory installed. As for the T-Case, like other have said it mounts with two nut inserts on the cross member and one bolt to the frame rail. Nut should already be pre-installed and welded in place.

Front Skid.

T-Case Skid.

 

[Shorty]

awesome!!! looks just like what I expected to find-- except the four holes on the front skid have UN-tapped inserts (yes, they are clean and not just rusted away) and the frame rail hole for the TC skid is a big-ol' honkin thing that looks like an insert "should" be there-- but isn't! I'm not just loosing my mind, am I? There should be threads on the front and an insert in the other..... right?

--Shorty

 

[Ray H]

You'll have to get the nutcert for the frame. It goes in the hole and as you screw the bolt into it and tighten it, the nutcert will tighten up in the hole. Its like a masonary or drywall anchor. Actually it works more like a rivet but thats neither here nor there. You can use a pair of vicegrips to hold the nutcert while you begin tightening the bolt. Once the bolt starts getting tight, you wont have to hold the nutcert anymore, it will be tight enough that it wont spin.
On the crossmember side of the skid, you can use a couple bolts, washers and nuts. Just run the bolts up through the skid and into the hollowness of the crossmember and find or make a wrench that will fit inside the crossmember to hold the nuts while you tighten them. I cut a wrench in half and it fit up in the crossmember fine.

 

[Shorty]

thanx a bunch!

should I be buying the nutcert from the dealer, or is there a better place to get 'em?

 

[5-90]

thanx a bunch!

should I be buying the nutcert from the dealer, or is there a better place to get 'em?

Nutserts are also used in aircraft and fabrication - just Google them, and you'll find them. Nutserts or Rivnuts should work for you - but I know Rivnuts need tools to install them. Nutserts sound like they do not.

 

[Shorty]

thanx a bunch-- I'll be doing that now and if I find anything good, I'll be sure to share!

 

[Jeff in VA]

Here's a writeup I did when I put my skid on....it may help you a bit.

Jeff

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=905526&highlight=skid