Skid Plates

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 1 Sep 2010, 8:17 pm

#799821

Hey all.

I'm looking at making a front skid plate and possibly a rear for my Baja. Looking for any inspiration and ideas that anyone has to offer. Pictures would be great.

How is your skid plate mounted?
What's it made out of?
How thick is it?
What components does it cover/protect?

Thanks in advance.

Smiley 😎

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 1 Sep 2010, 8:32 pm

#799826

Here's a good one

65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 1 Sep 2010, 8:34 pm

#799827

11CAB wrote:Here's a good one

With those floorpans it looks like it runs all the way to the transaxle!!!😂😂😂

Smiley 😎

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 3 Sep 2010, 3:06 pm

#800189

here's a pic of mine

it goes down and under the car stopping a few inches before the firewall. The idea is that is there to protect the radiator as much as possible. What's it made from? Stainless steel. Now before you go, "what the?! that must be so heavy". It's not that heavy and it's VERY strong. I went with stainless because all of the sheet metal shops round blacktown didn't have any Ali sheet at the time. The place I got this sheet, bent it up for me and every thing. If it is a little heavier than ali, that's an advantage in a tail heavy buggy.

Other things you can build the skid plates out of?

Fibreglass - works very well. make up some FB sheet. cut it half way through where you need to bend it, break it and then glass it back into the shape you need. Add some kevlar fabric while glassing it and it will never rip.

For non contact areas, rubber sheet or neoprene/urethane sheeting good to, to keep the gravel off the metal and stop the paint being worn off.

If you are broke and don't care about weight, mild steel is great. Hope that helps.

if you need more help as to designs and the like get this book...
http://www.amazon.com/Baja-Bugs-Buggies-VW-based-off-road/dp/0895861860/ref=pd_sim_b_4

It's the offroad bible for anyone taking early VWs offroad. Cheap and indispensible.

"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 3 Sep 2010, 6:59 pm

#800233

Thanks for your reply Pete. Very informative.

Stainless would be good, you could run thinner stuff and it would still be as strong.

I have a copy of that book! Didn't even think to have a look!

One last thing. Do you still have the build diary of your buggy somewhere on the internet? I remember reading it years ago and wouldn't mind doing so again. From what I can recall it was a great read with lots of info.

Smiley 😎

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

DubCrazy Custom Title Time!

1,295 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 3 Sep 2010, 8:30 pm

#800252

front

comes under to the torsion bars. alloy checker plate about 3 mm think

rear

sits just past the bell housing of the gearbox and runs to cover the whole of the engine/rad. made from the same as front. i have replaced the rear once in two years from a very nasty landing and a naughty tree stump jumping under the car! is didnt rip it off but did tear it.
I have a few times laned hard and its bent but its saved the sump many times. always bends back out..
on my old Baja i had steel and i find the alloy much better and its held up just as well

not the best pic of the old one but u can get the idea

personaly i would fit a rear skid plate before a front, much more to be damaged at the back.

steff.................

Life with out a v-dub is no life at all!!!!!

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 6 Sep 2010, 8:58 pm

#800817

6mm aluminium plate. can't tell you the type, but is really hard, was a real pain to bend. I bought it from the local scrap metal place, cost $80 for 1m x 1.2m piece.
The front really only helps the front skid over stuff. Don't have a good picture of the rear sorry, but mine only protects the engine, particularly the push rod tubes. Have never hit the trans so, didn't see the point.
They are held on by 10mm nut and bolt sets the nut welded to the cage tubing to keep the plate off it enough to allow you to wash all the sand and mud out

Quit calling rust patina

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 7 Sep 2010, 5:19 pm

#800936

Thanks for eveyone's replies.

I really love your Baja Nils, it's a mad rig!!

Keep them coming everyone.

Smiley 😎

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 7 Sep 2010, 7:57 pm

#800972

thanks smiley,
If you need some idea's (most alittle stupid) heres the build thread,
http://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=126314&start=0

Quit calling rust patina

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 7 Sep 2010, 10:15 pm

#801012

nils wrote:thanks smiley,
If you need some idea's (most alittle stupid) heres the build thread,
http://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=126314&start=0

I know. Have read it many many times! 😀

I love the R&P stuff. Very much thinking of going this route on my buggy, so when I get round to it expect PMs 😂😂😂

Smiley 😎

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 8 Sep 2010, 6:35 pm

#801122

the r&p stuff credit actually should go to bajawes, I used a very large section of drawings and spread sheets from a post that he put on here to get my engineer to approve it.
But am happy to answer any questions you PM me, if it takes a little while to answer it's because im off to the airforce in the next few weeks.

Quit calling rust patina