Aluminum IFS Skid

Woo hoo presents at the door!



Here's how it looks straight out of the package. I'm an aircraft structures mechanic and work with aluminum so I won't be overly critical lol. For a 4x4 skid, it looks outstanding, however the OCD sheetmetal mechanic in me has to blend out a few things before installation.



^The front corner closest to this text took a hit during shipping and was bent slightly. Sandwiched between some aluminum and a 2 lb hammer took care of that with a couple hits.

First I ran a palm sander loaded with 3M scotch brite pads.



Here's a shot of the edges as they come. (Scotch brite already done)



Next I broke out my files and broke all the edges. Don't get me wrong, they didn't show up razor sharp, I just prefer them chamfered a little further.






After.



Installed. (Anti-seize on the bolts, CRC 6-56 sprayed on the skid.)

 

looks good on those edges! tell me about CRC 6-56 ?

 

Thanks, 6-56 is a water displacing, electrical safe, corrosion inhibiting lube popular in the boating world. I'm using it to stay proactive against corrosion. It doesn't leave a waxy film behind which is why I like it. You need to reapply it periodically, however that only takes five minutes to go around the truck.

I buy that and 303 by the jug on Amazon. Metal gets hit with 6-56, and plastic with 303.

 

Looks amazing!

 

@BadBrains How's the skid holding up? Any update?
Mine should be in next week.

 

Looks the same as when I installed it.
Here's a close-up I just ran out and shot. No signs of corrosion around the dissimilar metals, no worries.
The frame on the other hand...we all know how that goes.

 

Looks good.
Thanks for the pic and reply.

 

Just bought one of these today!! Did you just take a regular ole scotch brite pad with the palm sander or is there some other special thing you used to get it so nice looking??

Super stoked to become part of the pelfrybilt family so to speak.

 

"Very Fine" Scotchbrite pads, cut to size and put in the sander.

 

how come u just didnt order it coated

 

You should get those rust spot before they grow.

 

Because unlike steel, which needs to be coated, aluminum builds an outer layer of aluminum oxide which protects it. On a skid plate, if it were coated and was scratched it would need touch up paint. Nah. This way just leave it, or blend it out with sandpaper/scotchbrite and let the aluminum oxide build back up.

..and I like the way it looks.

 

Yep, have even had these

$85 POR-15 Six Pack Rust Preventive Coating, Stop Rust and Corrosion Permanently, Anti-rust Protective Barrier, 4 Fluid Ounces, Gloss Black, Pack of 6

POR-15 cans in my Amazon wishlist when I build up the motivation to start doing some cleaning/painting.

 

This.
Aluminum oxide is harder than aluminum itself, so it's a good "hard crust" protector.

 

Anyone know the torque value for this bolt?

 

22 ft lb

and in case anyone needs a new one, the part number is: 9008011373

 

Keep in mind that aluminum in direct contact with steel will accelerate rusting of the steel through galvanic corrosion. There is wikipedia page about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
Quote:

US Navy Littoral Combat Ship Independence[edit]
Serious galvanic corrosion has been reported on the latest US Navy attack littoral combat vessel the USS Independence caused by steel water jet propulsion systems attached to an aluminium hull. Without electrical isolation between the steel and aluminium, the aluminium hull acts as an anode to the stainless steel, resulting in aggressive galvanic corrosion.[8]

 

Yep. You also need an electrolyte to go with the anode and cathode to complete the reaction. We aren't ships in saltwater, so it's not going to be aggressive. Over time for sure, it'll corrode, which is why I use a little CRC to displace water.

 

Slight hijack.....

..but does the rear skid (xfer case) require the mid-skid for installation? I hadn't thought so, but when I read the install instructions for the rear skid it mentions the mid-skid.

I have the front IFS skid already, and was thinking of skipping the mid for now. The general consensus of the guys I wheel with say they never get caught up on the mid anyways.