Don't know why you guys would be having problems with the link (that's the internet though), but I'll repost it here.
As promised, here is the info on my aluminum splash shield.
My stock splash shield had deteriorated to the point that every time I patched it, another area would tear and the shield wouldn’t stay in place.
Keep in mind that the splash shield provides for more than just keeping crap out of the engine compartment. It is also designed to aid in cooling the engine. In case anyone is in doubt, here is a direct quote from Langer1 at
, “That little narrow opening where the air goes in needs all the help you can give it. With the front down just a little and the shields in place you create a vacuum under the front that helps pull air through the radiator.
With the front up and the shield missing your create high pressure under the front that the fans must overcome.”
Rather than ordering a new splash shield and since I had a sheet of aluminum and to save a few bucks and maybe have a better shield, I decided to fabricate my own. As you can see, the aluminum I had wasn’t going to directly match the OEM shield in size and would require it to be cut and spliced together.
After cutting, riveting and tracing on the pattern.
Now the pattern is cut and the holes drilled (the holes weren’t exactly dead on as the OEM shield had stretched quite a bit. I had to mod the holes when it was mounted in place, but at least they were close).
An here it is, mounted in place.
Now don’t everyone go out and try to fab your own out of aluminum or sheetmetal. There are problems involved. Mostly, trying to get the >%?# thing up in place. With the OEM variety it was easy to bend, fold corners and tuck everything to get it to fit around the suspension. This was a major PIA to get in place and when I have to drop the splash shield again, it will be another PIA. Fortunately it was aluminum and not sheet metal.
That would have been worse.
Since I have a riveted seam, I’m thinking I can use screws to hold it together and that would make it easier to install and remove. I’ll see how that works next time. Other than fitment, I like the way it covers the bottom. Only time will tell on my overall satisfaction.
No matter what, anyone that does not have a shield and uses their XJ for a DD or drives a lot in mud, I strongly urge you to get one. Either try the JY or if you want a new one, here is a link where you can purchase them.
http://www.jeepsareus.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=JAU&Category_Code=CHEROKEE