Those of you with JCR Skid plates.... make your life easier!

[redbucky2022]

I apologize in advance.. i didnt get pics but figured I'd share.

When I got my JCR skid's I was excited but the installation was kind of a PITA which made me realize how much of a PITA it had to be for a tech (ex-tech here). I quickly realized after a warranty visit or two at the dealer that this was not ideal. Trust me... the techs made it a point to tell me that it was a pain to put back up and the dealer even contemplated charging me an hour of labor to remove and install the skid because it was aftermarket.

On non-badlands models the holes are in the sub-frame for skids but the threads are not present. A trip to harbor freight fixed that really quick.

Picked up this - https://www.harborfreight.com/10-in-professional-rivet-nut-setter-kit-58078.html?_br_psugg_q=rivet+nut

Eliminated the brackets that tuck into the back of the sub frame and all the speed nuts that make everything a PITA. Instead of it being 20 min process it turns everything into a 3 min process to access the bottom of the engine and trans.

Simple way to make life easier.

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[Poolmanz Sport Bronco]

Thanks. After a few times the techs screwed up my bolts . I remove the front skid plate and engine plate before I take it in for service.
I have FIRST ED. So factory steel engine plate and gas tank shields. Everything else is JCR plates with rock sliders. With @HRG Offroad front skid plate.

 

[laurent1784]

Could you further explain why the brackets are an issue? I am considering this skid plate for my 22 Big Bend. Thought you could service the oil and filter without removing the entire plate.

 

[cprcubed]

Could you further explain why the brackets are an issue? I am considering this skid plate for my 22 Big Bend. Thought you could service the oil and filter without removing the entire plate.

I won't explain the bracket issue as I have no experience with the skid plate other than noting that if you have the composite 6.6 qt. oil pan on your 22 BB (as I do), the JCR skid plate's oil drain plug hole is in the wrong spot (unless they finally got around to getting it in the correct spot for the larger capacity pan).

(Added in edit): According to JCR's website they indicate that they have modified their slid to accommodate the larger oil pan drain plug location.

Cheers!

 

[NMhunter]

I had no idea that such a tool existed. Now that I know, I'm sure I'll find a use I need one. Thanks.

 

[laurent1784]

I won't explain the bracket issue as I have no experience with the skid plate other than noting that if you have the composite 6.6 qt. oil pan on your 22 BB (as I do), the JCR skid plate's oil drain plug hole is in the wrong spot (unless they finally got around to getting it in the correct spot for the larger capacity pan).

(Added in edit): According to JCR's website they indicate that they have modified their slid to accommodate the larger oil pan drain plug location.

Cheers!

Thanks for the reply. Still got me wondering if the brackets are a pain to remove if you need to take down the entire shield. So the rivet nuts you installed are on the subframe or on the skid plate? Did you have to drill into the frame for fitting them? The latest update to the JCR skid plates includes another opening for the plastic drain plug. Still it would be Interesting to evaluate your mod since it would definitely be an improvement to the original design @JcrOffroad

 

[cprcubed]

@redbucky2022 would be the one for the insight on the rivnut usage (I have an idea why, but not positive). Cheers!

 

[redbucky2022]

So the nut rivets go into pre-existing holes in the frame that would have normally had threaded inserts in them for the OEM skid plate on the badlands. Absolutely no drilling required.

After a few rounds at the dealer they were starting to swap hardware for random crap they had laying around our would omit hardware on reinstall. My putting the inserts in you go from the brackets and PITA through bolts in the front corners along with the torx screws on the front bumper to 4 bolts in equal size, no extra brackets and no though bolting. I did continue to use the torx screws in the front leading edge just to keep that portion of the bumper secure.

I have a 22’ with the composite pan and it was before JCR’s revamp to match the larger capacity pan/quick drain plug. I had called them last year to ask if I could buy the same front plate used for oil filter access so I could modify the bottom portion of my skid to make and access plate and I was told NOPE. So hopefully that will be my next write up…

FYI- I almost did away with the slide on speed nuts and torx screws on the oil filter access hole. Literally tried to make my entire JCR front skid as user friendly as possible.

 

[MoFoCo]

Just be careful with those rivnuts, if they come loose and spin, you'll have a terrible time ever getting the screw out again (been there done that with an angle grinder). Make sure you install them tight and put plenty of grease on the screw. Some folks also put a little loctite or superglue on the outside of the rivnut before installation.

 

[redbucky2022]

Just be careful with those rivnuts, if they come loose and spin, you'll have a terrible time ever getting the screw out again (been there done that with an angle grinder). Make sure you install them tight and put plenty of grease on the screw. Some folks also put a little loctite or superglue on the outside of the rivnut before installation.

Fully agree with you. For now it’s “hand tighten only” but I think I might extend my project one of these days and actually tack the edges of them for better security. For now it’s a step in a better direction of simplicity.

 

[mwangarch]

It's the same with the Rival skid plate. Only takes like 4 minutes to remove, but I wouldn't trust a tech to do it right. Would definitely take it off prior to sending my big bend in for servicing. Got to remove 10 bolts and loosen two to slide out the skid plate.

 

[Folkman]

Well… thankfully I have a BL. So I should be ok I’m not replacing my engine skid. Just considering cat and evap/sliders.

just wish there were discount codes . Good things come to those who wait right?

 

[Mwittke5857]

I apologize in advance.. i didnt get pics but figured I'd share.

When I got my JCR skid's I was excited but the installation was kind of a PITA which made me realize how much of a PITA it had to be for a tech (ex-tech here). I quickly realized after a warranty visit or two at the dealer that this was not ideal. Trust me... the techs made it a point to tell me that it was a pain to put back up and the dealer even contemplated charging me an hour of labor to remove and install the skid because it was aftermarket.

On non-badlands models the holes are in the sub-frame for skids but the threads are not present. A trip to harbor freight fixed that really quick.

Picked up this - https://www.harborfreight.com/10-in-professional-rivet-nut-setter-kit-58078.html?_br_psugg_q=rivet+nut

Eliminated the brackets that tuck into the back of the sub frame and all the speed nuts that make everything a PITA. Instead of it being 20 min process it turns everything into a 3 min process to access the bottom of the engine and trans.

Simple way to make life easier.

Just ordered engine/side skids and that nut-certs are a definitely my plan. Why would you not???

 

[laurent1784]

So the nut rivets go into pre-existing holes in the frame that would have normally had threaded inserts in them for the OEM skid plate on the badlands. Absolutely no drilling required.

After a few rounds at the dealer they were starting to swap hardware for random crap they had laying around our would omit hardware on reinstall. My putting the inserts in you go from the brackets and PITA through bolts in the front corners along with the torx screws on the front bumper to 4 bolts in equal size, no extra brackets and no though bolting. I did continue to use the torx screws in the front leading edge just to keep that portion of the bumper secure.

I have a 22’ with the composite pan and it was before JCR’s revamp to match the larger capacity pan/quick drain plug. I had called them last year to ask if I could buy the same front plate used for oil filter access so I could modify the bottom portion of my skid to make and access plate and I was told NOPE. So hopefully that will be my next write up…

FYI- I almost did away with the slide on speed nuts and torx screws on the oil filter access hole. Literally tried to make my entire JCR front skid as user friendly as possible.

If plausible, do you remember the size of the rivnuts you used? Where they English or metric? Thanks for all the help!

 

[redbucky2022]

If plausible, do you remember the size of the rivnuts you used? Where they English or metric? Thanks for all the help!

I had bought the gun as a kit from Harbor Freight and it came with assorted inserts. I do believe they were M5 and M8.

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