TJ with no skid plate?

[bobthetj03]

Definitely home brewed. Going totally flat takes work.

 

[jjvw]

How much is a body lift is there? That's a pretty flat belly and there needs to be room for everything to go. Either the tub is heavily cut and bent and/or there is a big body lift.

2003 Rubicon

I just took a closer look at the cross member and saw that it is a bit lower than the frame and the skid is not quite flat. Dimensionally, it looks very similar to the Savvy skid as far as how much the rear driveline is raised. It looks like a thoughtful design to me.

2003 Rubicon

 

[FireJeep]

That looks an awful lot like early Nth degree engineering. The tapered pieces on the frame rails with the built-in cross member/trans mount. The the skid plate bolts to that and can be removed for servicing (which your's most certainly needs).

 

[jjvw]

That looks an awful lot like early Nth degree engineering. The tapered pieces on the frame rails with the built-in cross member/trans mount. The the skid plate bolts to that and can be removed for servicing (which your's most certainly needs).

Some early aftermarket TJ history? Maybe @mrblaine has seen this skid and cross member before.

2003 Rubicon

 

[mrblaine]

Some early aftermarket TJ history? Maybe @mrblaine has seen this skid and cross member before.

2003 Rubicon

Jeep Medic maybe?

 

[billiebob]

Hi All! Entirely novice JEEP enthusiast here so bare with me.....

Bought ‘99 TJ earlier this year and when I did, it had its belly plate off (and what I presume is an after market ‘cross member’ in its place) How safe is it to have it in its current state? Should I be looking to get the full plate back on?? I’m not doing any crazy off roading.....yet.

Also, I’m assuming I’m missing one of the four smaller transmission bolts??

Thanks in advance.

I've seen a few like this. A guy did a write up about the same thing with his right hand drive postal TJ years ago. I think he also did a 2" motor mount lift. As for the skid plate..... as long as you don't high center, drag the chassis over anything yer good to go.

All in pursuit of the elusive flat belly.