praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 All right, I received my SSI skid plate from Rallitek one day early, so of course I had to install it. I had a few observations that Sean will be taking care of, but I will mention those at the end. Here is the very large box it came in… http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBox.jpg After opening the box, I realized that there was enough hardware, in enough different types, that the lack of directions could be a problem. So, I e-mailed Sean. Here are a few pictures of what it looks like… http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateUnpainted1.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateUnpainted2.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateUnpainted3.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 While I was waiting to figure out the install, I decided to paint it flat black. First, if you do this, do yourself a favor and go spend the money on a new can of paint. I used some that I had lying around, so the paint job took about 3 times as long, and did not come out perfect. But, it is a skid plate. Any shiny parts are very fresh, and end up drying flat… http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBeingPainted1.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBeingPainted2.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBeingPainted3.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBeingPainted4.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateBeingPainted5.jpg While it dryed, I talked to Sean on the phone. 1. I received 3 shiny bolts, 2 longer flat black bolts, two shiny nuts, 4 very large washers, and 5 plastic spacer/bushings. 2. The spacers go between the plate and the car. 3. The silver bolts go into the stock mounting holes. 4. The black bolts go through the skid plate, through a spacer, through a washer, through the large hole in the sub-frame brace, through another washer, and then have a shiny nut on the end. The large washers are due to the VERY large hole in the sub-frame brace. The washers act as a sandwich to hold the bolt in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALL 1 Flat Head Screw Driver for Pop-its 12 mm Socket for stock bolts 13 mm Socket for New bolts Jack Stands and jack, or Ramps So, next are the mounted pics. Before you can put the plate on, you must take off the stock undertray. 1. Jack up the car or put it on ramps. 2. Remove the 3 bolts (2 in front, 1 in the back) and 6? plastic pop-its from the stock plastic under-tray. This will allow you to remove it and dump dirt in your eye 3. Somehow, hold onto the skid plate while holding it up and putting in the first of the two silver bolts at the front of the car. The silver bolts are shown by the red circles below. This is hard with 1 person and requires crunching with the plate for a while. Get a second person… http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateMounted1.jpg 4. I suggest getting both silver bolts at the front of the car started, and then moving to the single rear silver bolt, also circled in red in the picture above. Do not start this bolt, just put a spacer on top of the skid plate and put the bolt through, while you still have a little space above the plate. 5. Now it is time to make the sandwich on the two black bolts. In the above picture, these bolts have yellow circles. Put the bolt through the hole in the plate and then slide a spacer and washer on to the bolt. (the concavity of the washer faces away from the sub-frame brace) Push the bolt through the hole in the sub-frame brace, slide a washer on the backside, and then start the nut onto the bolt. 6. Repeat on the other black bolt. 7. Now, just tighten everything up. http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateMounted2.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateMounted3.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateMounted4.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateMounted5.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 Now, here are some pictures of things that you might be wondering about. Here is a closer picture of the hole for the oil-filter. With a Subaru filter, there is roughly 2” of clearance between the plate and the filter. http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateOilFilter.jpg This next picture shows one of my slight concerns. I have a Fumoto valve w/ nipple installed. The skid plate does not sit as low in the rear, so as you can see, there is only about a half inch of clearance from the skid plate up to the valve. http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlateFumoto.jpg I talked to Sean about it, and the easy fix is simply to include 3 extra spacers for the back. That should give it about 1” of clearance which will make me much happier. This last picture shows the wheel well splash guards. Only time will tell on how these hold up. With the stock undertray the plastic parts that are circled had more support. Now they are free to flutter in the wind. http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/praedet/Skid%20Plate/SkidPlatePlasticPiece.jpg The only other issue that I have asked Sean about is the overlap of the plate and the bumper in the front. The skid plate goes underneath (between the bumper tabs and the ground) the tabs that used to hold the undertray to the bumper. This makes the bumper slightly less secure. Also, the skid plate looks like it will abrade those tabs over time. Not major, but I wouldn’t mind securing them so that won’t happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 Overall, I am very happy with the skid plate. It offers MORE clearance than the stock piece, it covers more of the suspension pieces and engine than the stock piece, it will drain a LOT better than the stock piece, and it will take a hell of a lot more abuse. It is a VERY worthwhile if you are planning on going off the beaten path, there are lots of pot holes/rocks in your area, or you get a lot of snow and ice. CLIFF’S NOTES: Rallitek Skid Plate GOOD. Easy to install. Works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Cool! Nice "urban camo" paintjob, BTW! <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGT Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 Yeah, the flash makes the paint look splotchy (tech term) It is not that way in regular light... Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanboy Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Now go scratch it up and take pics. -B http://www.standardshift.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 More clearance from the ground?...so especially a good thing for peeps lowering their car and needing "more protection for the bottome" ...looks great! In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftride Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 praedet, whats this thing weight? is it pretty light? *vb gallery* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 Yeah, more clearance from the ground. I would guess an extra inch or so, plus it will protect the parts that might scrape a hell of a lot better vs. the plastic. I'd guess in the 20ish lb category. It is light for its size since it is aluminum, but it is about double the weight of the stock tray. Worth it for the protection IMHO... Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Thanks for the install tips. Mine got delivered yesterday too, but I only got as far as opening up the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Wait for the extra spacers. (8 instead of 5) E-mail Sean and he should send them to you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nsaglibene Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Looks nice, pritty cool mod. Will the paint get all beaten up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 probably, then I can take it off and paint it again... It is a skid plate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB34 Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Will it fit the 2.5i? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 You'll have to e-mail Sean -at- rallitek.com and ask him that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Is there any possibility of the skid plate "catching" something solid to the ground while driving and just tearing something apart?? In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Such as a rock? More clearance than the stock piece, and if it was pulled straight off the back, it wouldn't hit anything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkwag Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Looks sweet!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bemani Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I don't like the spacers, they should weld those onto the plate already, so the skid plate can be easier to remove. Also, the dangling wheel well cover is a concern, I wonder how much rock and stuff you can kick into the engine compartment without the plastic side piece on the stock skid plate. How thick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I don't like the spacers, they should weld those onto the plate already, so the skid plate can be easier to remove. How about just gluing them on so they stay in place during install and removal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudfoot Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 How about just gluing them on so they stay in place during install and removal? sounds like a good option Got Torque ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted April 2, 2006 Author Share Posted April 2, 2006 Only glue the spacers after you figure out where they go... Each bolt goes into a slot, not a hole, so the plate can slide a little to adjust for manufacturing tolerances on the cars. I do not think the spacer thing is a big deal, and so far I think I am the only one who has installed the plate. Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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