Ontario BS Thread

I’ll get mine like that one day!!! Just need some time

 

@Windigo @3JOH22A

Always up for a VMUTS run!

 

Do the reroute first. Next, take the skid to a shop with a hydraulic press and flatten it, then drill two new holes for mounting

The reroute when done at a shop can cost more than the single skid by the way, at least at typical District 6ix shop labor rates.

 

but some recommendations for the front skid plate is;

1. change out the allen bolts to hex head bolts on the oil filter door. you'll thank me later.
   bottom one gets smeared and becomes next to impossible once you loose the allen slot.
   
   
2. punch out the M4 bolts (think it's M4, i dont remember anymore) that mount both the front skid and 2nd skid to where the rearward arm of the LCA mounts to (see below). There is an existing bolt that gets reused for the RCI plates and on the inside is a tack-welded nut, 1 got punched out on the trail and i punched the other one out afterwards. drilled slighlty larger holes and stuck in rivnuts in those locations.
   
   i got 1 bolt in my kit from RCI so i just picked up another afterwards from not-so-CrappyTire but the above image is the abuse they go through.
3. Gusset the front skid plate like how @tacoma16 did with the angle iron

 

i have the same RCI skids and i am add the recommendation to weld the oil filter door shut per someone else's (@Norilsk ?) advice here. i took a direct hit to the door and and bent it badly last season. I had my skids flattened and then rattle canned them beginning of this season and first time out i hit the door dead center again and now its worse than it was. as @Shveet said the hex bolts get ground up anyway. i will just take the IFS skid off when i change the oil.

 

I also recommend this, but it's more for people who are ok/ willing to deal with the 40lb steel plate every oil change, otherwise the hex bolt is the better way to go imo.
With that said, welding the door shut and needing to remove the entire skip plate also helps when changing the oil in more ways than 1.
you wont need a 10" long 1/2" extension to reach the filter housing... and then there is draining the oil and having it flow onto the skid plate because a gust of wind hit at that exact moment and then pours onto the dedicated asphalt parking spot you are working in and then have people judge you and all Toyotas that they leak fluid everywhere thinking Tacomas are unreliable and pieces of leaky junk...





also removing the skid makes life easier to clean the engine bay.

 

Thanks for the info! I’ll have to do this. Don’t want anything to sheer off or become impossible to remove!!!

The only thing I’ve done to make these fit was cut 1.5” off the middle transmission skid to fit around my Marlin crawler LCA brackets

 

That's why I got the valve, there only a hole on the skid and I slip a hose onto the valve. No mess. My skids have never come off since installing them.

 

I might be interested as well. Is everyone going up Friday? Not sure about having Friday off.

 

Discussion here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vmuts.736874/

I'll be heading up Friday as I had it booked off work a while ago referring to the TEC club calendar

 

the front skid is 50lbs coming off. its only 40lbs going back on once you clear the 10lbs of mud.

the accessibility of your oil filter is what dreams are made of. we have a well tucked oil soaked paper mess..

 

I would recommend to weld that oil filter door on RCI skid plates. You don’t need to take off skid plates to change oil filter. Every filter comes with a plug that you can attach hose to extract oil prior of the filter removal (which btw should only be hand tight). Place couple rags underneath if there is small oil remains and swap the filter.

 

Have to jump on the no door bandwagon. 2 more bolts is less effort than to mess with stripped heads or a bent door.

 

Hmmmm where does one get it done? How much?

 

Sumin auto just off Finch. @Norilsk can tell you more

 

I'm all ears.

 

sorry I had to chime in with something

 

Sumin Auto Ltd

2400 Finch Ave W, North York, ON M9M 2C8
(416) 740-7519 https://g.co/kgs/AMzMvB


All ears are yours

 

How much? And will they flatten my skid plate for me?

 

No job is the same, give a call.