Difference between Engine Skids: 97-02 vs 03-06

02GreenTJ

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Messages
788
Location
California
Hey everyone, I was looking at engine skids and noticed that some companies, like Rokmen for example, offer a skid that is marketed only as an 03-06 skid. It is my understanding that only the transfer case skid is impacted by the year difference. I have a savvy engine skid and it is applicable for all years if I remember correctly. Maybe the manufacture only offered a t case skid for 03-06 and this is meant to bolt up directly to their skid? I was hoping someone could shed some light onto whether or not I could bolt an engine skid marketed for an 03-06 to my 02 as long as I drill the appropriate holes in my transfer case skid. Thanks
 
Since the transfer case skids are different some companies make two versions so they are simple bolt-ons. You should be fine with the Savvy skid if you are comfortable drilling a few holes and spending a little time to get it all aligned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 02GreenTJ
Since the transfer case skids are different some companies make two versions so they are simple bolt-ons. You should be fine with the Savvy skid if you are comfortable drilling a few holes and spending a little time to get it all aligned.

Sorry I should've been more clear. I am currently running the savvy skid and have the option to get a rokmen skid for a good deal. My savvy skid is thrashed and I am in need of a replacement. I know this is forum sacrilege, but I would be swapping out the savvy for rokmen's skid. Based on the pictures it looks like a really similar design as far as the mounts are concerned. Looks like it would just be a matter of drilling new holes, but I wanted to double check before I picked up the rokmen model.

1656024895552.png


1656024914456.png
 
It should work. Absolute worst case you have to extend the Rokmen and that will be easy, it's just plain steel. I'm very hard on my skids, I understand your position. My Skid Row plate isn't supposed to fit my setup but I made it work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 02GreenTJ
It should work. Absolute worst case you have to extend the Rokmen and that will be easy, it's just plain steel. I'm very hard on my skids, I understand your position. My Skid Row plate isn't supposed to fit my setup but I made it work.

Thanks for the reply, I'm leaning towards trying it out. My first oil pan was damaged beyond repair even with the savvy engine skid there, and my second one already has some small dents from just a couple of wheeling trips. Sometimes I wonder if mine was heat treated incorrectly or if I drive like an idiot :ROFLMAO:. The last thing I want to do is another RTV or JB weld oil pan fix on the trail again so I better bite the bullet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pagrey
I wonder if mine was heat treated incorrectly or if I drive like an idiot.
If you want to continue to get advice from quite a few of the people on this forum then you drive like an idiot and so do I. Best to leave it at that. Are you still running the stock transfer case skid? There are a few Rokmen things I wish I could have bought over the years, they make good stuff.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: 02GreenTJ
If you want to continue to get advice from quite a few of the people on this forum then you drive like an idiot and so do I. Best to leave it at that. Are you still running the stock transfer case skid? There are a few Rokmen things I wish I could have bought over the years, they make good stuff.

I am running a Barnes 2 inch drop transfer case skid. I was only joking above because I seem to be the only person in existence whose had issues with my engine skid. I know savvy makes good products and hopefully I didn't offend anyone :ROFLMAO:
 
If anyone else has thoughts about whether or not this would work due to any constraints such as length or something like that feel free to chime in as well
 
I got it late 2019. I thought it was just a logo they were playing with, I didn't know 7 slot customs was different company they bought. Looks like that branding is pretty much gone from their products now, it is really interesting how these things evolve.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 02GreenTJ
I got it late 2019. I thought it was just a logo they were playing with, I didn't know 7 slot customs was different company they bought. Looks like that branding is pretty much gone from their products now, it is really interesting how these things evolve.

It was probably just old stock if I had to guess. I got mine in 2019 and it had no logos at all on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pagrey
Thanks for the reply, I'm leaning towards trying it out. My first oil pan was damaged beyond repair even with the savvy engine skid there, and my second one already has some small dents from just a couple of wheeling trips. Sometimes I wonder if mine was heat treated incorrectly or if I drive like an idiot :ROFLMAO:. The last thing I want to do is another RTV or JB weld oil pan fix on the trail again so I better bite the bullet.

I remember that thread with your bent savvy skid, and you are saying you dented a 2nd oil pan with that same savvy skid? I hope you do come back and post how your new skid fares.

Tangentially, have you by any chance considered going to bigger tires (and properly doing what is needed for that) given where/how you like to play?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 02GreenTJ
I remember that thread with your bent savvy skid, and you are saying you dented a 2nd oil pan with that same savvy skid? I hope you do come back and post how your new skid fares.

Tangentially, have you by any chance considered going to bigger tires (and properly doing what is needed for that) given where/how you like to play?

My first oil pan was dented and I kept running it. A year later it cracked and now I’m on my second pan and it is already dented. My savvy skid has taken 3 years of abuse and is nowhere near straight anymore. This is a question I genuinely have for all engineers out there, maybe Blaine would like to chime in. Is it possible that the material plate has gone past the point of elastic behavior, hence lowering the load it can bear causing it to contact the oil pan with less load than a brand new not abused skid would?

As for bigger tires, I wish but that’s out of the question due to budget, streetability, and personal use. I am running 35s and lockers front and rear. The setup works really well and gets me everywhere I want to go, but I just don’t like that my skid plate is coming into contact with the pan. The reason for the rokmen skid is that I can get it for a good price and the material is thicker and has some reinforcement on the bottom.
 
You bent the skid, the reinforced rails obviously were damaged and bowed out. That means it will never be the same. I don't think it really has anything to do with heat treat or and elastic behavior. You just bent the can and now it ain't strong cause it's wrinkled up. I would not blame the skid. I don't really enjoy the fact that anybody told you that you were doing something wrong. That's total bullshit. Real companies see bent and busted stuff and make it so it doesn't bend or break. If they tell you, "you shouldn't have been doing that" they don't win races. They are just trying to defend their weak ass products and people simply go to another vendor and say, "I need it not to break." Exactly like Blaines tie rod. Nobody told those guys that are in the bent Currie club they were doing something they shouldn't have been. Blaine just stepped up and made a better product.