How to straighten out a skid plate

[Jason4x4]

I mentioned a while back that I got a Rusty's engine/transmission/oil pan skid for my '06 TJ. Well, I took it wheeling for the first time since I installed the skid yesterday at Rausch Creek. I'll save the details for another thread when I get the pictures in order, but going through some rock beds I 'tweaked' my engine/oil pan skid. It's not too bad, but I'd like to straighten it out. It's fairly thick metal though, so I'm not sure what I'll need to get it straight. Will removing it from the Jeep and beating it with a sledgehammer be enough, or is there another trick I should know about?? The tweaked skid and the check engine light I mentioned in another thread were the only problems with my TJ. Some other members of our group weren't so lucky - we had one TJ with a broken track bar and an XJ that cut a tire and didn't have a spare the correct size (he had a stock spare, but was running 32's so I'm sure his gearbox was loving that. Anyway, it was a lot of fun, but I'm not sure how to attack this skidplate. Any help is appreciated!

 

[currupt4130]

My advice is to forget it. If you somehow do manage to straighten it out, it's just gonna get bent the next time you go wheeling. Leave it be and it'll do it's job just fine.

 

[redrooster]

If you really want to straighten it, pull it off and put it in a press. Then weld some re-inforcement in there wherever you can. Or, just leave it on there and continue to paint your canvas.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Heating it up with a cherry blossom on the end of oxy/sediline torch will help when you straighten it out with a sledge, but with Red's advise that is apparently a weak area,adding some structural rails will strengthen the area.

 

[Jason4x4]

If you really want to straighten it, pull it off and put it in a press. Then weld some re-inforcement in there wherever you can. Or, just leave it on there and continue to paint your canvas.

I'm thinking about just leaving it...it's not too bad. What do you mean by "paint your canvas" though??

 

[currupt4130]

Scratches dents, and bends. A skid plate is like a piece of artwork by Picaso...

 

[Jason4x4]

Ah, I get it. JD is having another ride in April, if anyone is interested in coming along. I'll probably be back. Hopefully the mud pits will be thawed out by then .

 

[TerryMason]

So how bad would it have been without the skid plate?

 

[Jason4x4]

So how bad would it have been without the skid plate?

Worse. Might have missed the oil pan, but hard to say. Plus, on a lot of situations, the way the Rusty's skid tucks into the transfer case skid saved the TC skid. The Rusty's skid really smooths things out on the bottom of the Jeep and helps you to slide over stuff instead of catching on everything.

 

[cewtwo]

I was going to say, take it off, put it back on upside down and hit the obstacle in the same way.

Barring that... I go on rides with one young lady that marks a trail name and a date on every trail ding that she gets...