(Not another) Skidplate DIY, but under $20!

[SubaCool]

This has probably been done before (and I've also posted this on rs25), but I've thought I'd share what I've just done. I was at a local junkyard the other day, and walking around I've noticed a 1985 Subie wagon (DL? GL?). It had a steel skidplate underneath, which looked to be OEM (as I've seen another 85 with it). I took it off, ran me about $10 bucks. Since I'm getting more involved with rallycross I've decided to put it on my 2000 RS. It's a perfect size and fits right under the oil pan (with 1/2-3/4in spacers). I've had to re-drill new holes for the front (on the skidplate), but other than that, it was a perfect fit! It wasn't even all that hard to install, using stock bolt locations. It doesn't cover the headers, but it does protect the oil pan (and keeps things cooler). I took a crappy cell phone picture, but it does show the plate. I'll try for some better ones tomorrow.
http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/46066/2537248320101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

[SubaCool]

More pics:

From the front
http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/45672/2918535250101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

Bottom
http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/29256/2287515020101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

Passenger's side, drain plug clearance (notice the red spacers for rear bolts)
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/20908/2854904650101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

Passenger's side, profile
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/36535/2904774760101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

Driver's side, oil pan clearance
http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/46171/2274502280101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

Driver's side, angle shot
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/43885/2164920910101960247S500x500Q85.jpg

[Gr3en]

That is really cool! I am trying to get one of these from a friend right now.:headbang:

[Thacrudd]

wow, great find and looks great!

[PlummRS]

is there any chance this would fit on an '05 RS? cause that's pretty cool

[rollo]

Nice job - it will give you a bit of extra protection under there, but I kinda get the feeling it will buckle and possibly rip over the boltheads if you hit anything major. Do you know what gauge it is? Skidplates are responsible for bearing some pretty insane forces.

The easy answer of course is don't hit anything major :)

[RS MN]

pretty good idea, i think ive seen this before on an 05 RS, so it should work for you, plummRS.

even if it wont be able to take hard hits, $10 for a skidplate isnt bad, and better than nothing until you fab up a new, heavier duty one, or buy a new one.

[SubaCool]

is there any chance this would fit on an '05 RS? cause that's pretty cool
I'm planning on giving the second one to my bro, who has a 2005 RS. I would imagine that it should work. Will try it out and will let you know! :thumbsup:

Nice job - it will give you a bit of extra protection under there, but I kinda get the feeling it will buckle and possibly rip over the boltheads if you hit anything major. Do you know what gauge it is? Skidplates are responsible for bearing some pretty insane forces.

The easy answer of course is don't hit anything major
It is steel, it is about 3-4 mm thick, and it is pressed (stamped) steel. Nothing super hard, but I bet it beats the street sign "skids" people are cutting up to "protect" their undersides. And it allows for proper engine cooling. Besides, it came off of an '85 and it's still not rusted through, so it must be tough enough :tongue:

For rallycross, I'm sure it is enough. And I've used the spacers (that can absorb some shock too) to keep some distance from the oil pan in case it does get bent ;)

pretty good idea, i think ive seen this before on an 05 RS, so it should work for you, plummRS.

even if it wont be able to take hard hits, $10 for a skidplate isnt bad, and better than nothing until you fab up a new, heavier duty one, or buy a new one.
For $10 at a junkyard, it is easily replaceable (and available) should it get damaged beyond a BFH fix :thumbsup:

[mikelken]

Do you think Borlas will clear this skidplate?

[LPXLTT]

It looks great. I would recommend taking a look under there after your runs to make sure a rock doesn't get stuck in between the skid and your oil pan. I may seem like nothing, but the next bump you hit could send a stuck rock right into you pan. I know because I did it with one of my legacys that had a skid that did not cover the headers. I had a good amount of space from the oil pan to the skid and I used that skid to jack the car up after every time I went in the woods to change my wheels.

[SubaCool]

I went ice racing yesterday and well, one of the courses was rutted out with a few spots deeper than 5-6 inches. A friend of mine busted an oil pan on his VW R32 (no protection) and he only ran though there once. I've hit and scraped my undercarriage on that course every time I've gone through (10+ times) and guess what! Everything held up! The skidplate took a few heavy hits and does show it a little bit BUT it's only cosmetic! So, it is pretty stout i'd say :thumbsup: I haven't taken any pictures of it yet, but I've made a few marks on the existing ones to show where it got hit. It bent in slightly on the front (from the car going nose first into a rut) and it still has room for more 8) The clearance between the bottom of the oil pan and the plate has not changed any! I'll try to remember to take pictures of it when I go change my oil next :thumbsup:
http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/46213/2138655310101960247S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/44571/2767778650101960247S600x600Q85.jpg

The arrows show approximately how "deep" the dent is (the longest is where it's most noticeable, but it's not THAT deep) and mainly show the direction of the forces that caused it ;)

Oh, and btw, I've used it as a jacking point a few times before with no issues ;)

[wolfman79]

I need to finish my baller hybrid skid plate after seeing the VW carnage.

Sent from my Comet using Tapatalk

[409industries]

Not bad for a $10 skidplate. It will definitely help save your oil pan while running over things. Keep in mind though, if you have those large openings... this an area where an embedded rock can grab the plate and pull it off (those 4 bolts are no match for a hungry rock that wants to get in there) so i would still be mindful of slamming the front end into anything real rough.

Great find, and thank for posting up. I'm sure there will be guys out there looking for some old GL wagons in the junkyard for this part now!

[MilesFox]

is there any chance this would fit on an '05 RS? cause that's pretty cool

Kampferzentrum has done this already. Skidplate from an 88 gl wagon. any 85-95 gl/dl/xt/rx/gl-10/loyale wagon, coupe, sedan will fit the same(came on 4wd models)

[SubaCool]

Not bad for a $10 skidplate. It will definitely help save your oil pan while running over things. Keep in mind though, if you have those large openings... this an area where an embedded rock can grab the plate and pull it off (those 4 bolts are no match for a hungry rock that wants to get in there) so i would still be mindful of slamming the front end into anything real rough.
Definitely, but it gives me a better peace of mind knowing the oil pan isn't the first thing that gets smacked :thumbsup: I also have a 2007 Outback (Legy) that has seen its (very) fair share of offroad abuse. It's protected with the 3/16in aluminum skids from Primitive (solid, no holes) and even with those I'm very careful not to bash around too much. My RS doesn't see as much offroad as the OBW does (if it did, i'd have the Primitives on it) therefore this $10 skidplate works just fine. And I understand its "limits" :thumbsup:

[Blix666]

not sure how i feel about this plate for rallycross/offroad. first thing i don't like is the fact that it does not cover your exhaust pipes at all. secondly those holes are going to suck up a ton of rocks and put them right where you don't want them, between the oil pan and the plate. even full length skidplates are prone to this, but that one having those holes, especially the 2 in the front. be careful...

[SubaCool]

I was thinking about welding those holes shut at some point, but I haven't really seen any traces of rocks or anything making its way in there, yet. I've done a number of rallycrosses and other offroad driving and it's still holding up. I'm not too worried. Sh.t happens and there's no way of stopping it :thumbsup:

[SubieDanRS]

I have been looking for one of those but have had zero luck. No 80's Subies in my local junkyards... Anyone have an extra?! :)

[twagoon]

I would think if rocks getting stuck between the plate and the oil pan cause any damage from an impact, the damage would have been done anyhow. If you are concerned about the holes you could also get some rubber truck bed mat type material and rivet them onto the plate on the leading edge of the holes. That way you also don't hamper the cooling properties of that plate. I think that one would work decently for very mild use, as you stated though, for more severe use a proper skid plate would be required.
Looks good though, I have been thinking about doing the same thing to mine for a while, just never gone through with it.