Timberline Transmission Skid Plate Installed

[ColoradoJon]

Any idea how much airflow is restricted to the trans cooler on the front of the transmission? Don't see it well in the pictures. With towing I am hesitant to block any air flow.

 

[jar0023]

Went ahead and installed mine today and used the small bolts/spring nuts from the old pressed fiber panel. FWIW I have an 18 FX4. Two metal skid plates up front then the fiber trans panel. Thanks up front to those who did the digging to get the correct part numbers. Random thoughts and instructions. Install went better than expected. Everything lined up. Maybe 20 minutes after I raised the front of the truck.

To the question of airflow. The panel really shouldn't restrict airflow any more than the fabric panel. Since it's metal it ought to transfer heat better than the fabric panel. Only one drive and it's cold out. I watched the trans temp gauge but I didn't go far enough to fully heat up the trans. I normally see 206 on the hwy. Didn't get past 176 tonight.

The plate is stamped steel. It has a nice sharp edge in places. Gloves are recommended. I managed to cut a finger sliding my hand around. If I had less than manly hands it could have been bad, LOL.

I took the time to grease all the bolt threads. My FX4 sees plenty of rain along with gravel and muddy roads duck hunting. I couldn't bring myself to install everything dry.

For the four large frame bolt/nuts. You could reuse the bolts holding the original brackets. Same size as the four large sets in the kit. M10x1. Looks like the two small bolt/nuts for the front edge should be the same size as the bolts holding on the oil change door. 6mm ish. I'm waiting on those from the dealer. I reused the small 8mm head bolts and nuts from the old panel. Actually I have stripped so many from removing the panel for oil changes I have a small stash of back ups the dealer gave me.

Someone asked about mounting the front edge of the new skid plate. There is a thin metal bracket that saddles over, under actually, the engine crossmember. It's held in place but the rear bolts on the middle/engine skid plate. You need to spin it 180 degrees. Loosen the front bolts on the middle plate. Remove the rear bolts on the middle plate. Drop the thin bracket and spin it. Front edge goes to the back. Back edge to the front. Bolt it back with the middle skid plate. With the fabric panel this bracket has a cut out that holds a tongue in the fabric panel. It helps with install. This will interfere with the new metal skid plate. When you spin it around the new rear edge is flat with a hole in each end that matches up with the front edge of the new metal skid plate.

Someone mentioned a box. That was great help for the install. Slide the skid plate under the truck. Slide the box under the plate so it's lifted to just under the frame rails. You can lift each side and start the two bolts one side then another. Once this was done the front edge lined up near perfectly. Go back and torque down all the bolts and you're done.

 

[RacerBX1]

Ok, I’m a bit OCD when it comes to my vehicle, and my original install of the Tran Skid plate didn’t sit well with me due to the mounting of the front of the Trans plate. For the mounting of the front two bolts I put the spring nuts on the Trans skid plate and put it above the existing plate where the old cover mounted to. Rested the Trans plate on that lip which held the front up and lifted the back of the plate to get the main support bolts in then attached the two front bolts. The reason for this is so the bend in the existing front plate doesn’t get in the way. This time I took pictures.

Front of Trans Skid Plate from passenger side.
Front of Trans Skid Plate Drivers Side.


Side of Trans Skid Plate Passenger Side.

Side of Trans Skid Plate Drivers Side.

Overall this install was easier and no forward facing edge.

 

[AKDV]

Thanks for the pictures RacerBX1. I installed my skid plate this afternoon and installed it the way you did.

 

[LazSlate]

Ok, I’m a bit OCD when it comes to my vehicle, and my original install of the Tran Skid plate didn’t sit well with me due to the mounting of the front of the Trans plate. For the mounting of the front two bolts I put the spring nuts on the Trans skid plate and put it above the existing plate where the old cover mounted to. Rested the Trans plate on that lip which held the front up and lifted the back of the plate to get the main support bolts in then attached the two front bolts. The reason for this is so the bend in the existing front plate doesn’t get in the way. This time I took pictures.
View attachment 76375
Front of Trans Skid Plate from passenger side.View attachment 76376
Front of Trans Skid Plate Drivers Side.

View attachment 76377
Side of Trans Skid Plate Passenger Side.
View attachment 76378
Side of Trans Skid Plate Drivers Side.

Overall this install was easier and no forward facing edge.

I installed mine the same way today. Not sure which is the actual correct way but this was seemed to work just fine.