Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread!

[Chocolate Thunder]

The money for this mod is from a vacation rental deposit placed in January that got cancelled because of COVID-19. My wife had another reservation for a long weekend away at the end of the month. Where you ask? Pensacola, FL. Due to old Sally I doubt that’ll be happening. So maybe she can get a refund of that deposit. Sounds like new wheels and 37s might be in my future.

South Alabama and Florida panhandle folks- stay safe.

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[DanW]

The money for this mod is from a vacation rental deposit placed in January that got cancelled because of COVID-19. My wife had another reservation for a long weekend away at the end of the month. Where you ask? Pensacola, FL. Due to old Sally I doubt that’ll be happening. So maybe she can get a refund of that deposit. Sounds like new wheels and 37s might be in my future.

South Alabama and Florida panhandle folks- stay safe.

Dang, so that's how its done! I'm scheduling a trip soon! Of course, with my luck, I'll wind up actually being able to take the trip! Lol!

 

[Halstem1]

Well we could’ve just hung out and had it on the lift visiting and before I knew it we were done and I forgot to charge!

brett

I need new friends.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

So I got the Artec aluminum belly pan install finished. The install didn’t go too badly working alone and no lift. It can’t be overstated how important it is for you to run the tank as close to empty as you dare before installing this The written instructions from Artec are kind of crappy. There’s a YouTube video by Artec that’s pretty good.



The gear is top quality and fitment is very good with a couple of exceptions. No amount of pulling with ratchet straps and banging with a big hammer makes the front most hole in the gas tank skid line up properly. And since every other hole is lined up, either my frame is off (it’s not) or Artec needs to move that hole a millimeter or two forward. The oil pan skid has exhaust cutouts on both sides to clear the cross pipe. One side clears the pipe by about an eighth of an inch, the other is touching and needs to be cut back for clearance.

I ended up with a few spare fasteners. I have one bolt hole that I somehow buggered that I need to retap. I broke one OEM fastener off in the captive nut inside the frame that I don’t know if I can fix.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Update on the Artec aluminum skid install.

I believe that I have all of the issues fixed. Took it to Jeep Slop Shop in Kemah and had them fix the broken fastener issue and the poor fitment of the exhaust cutout on the passenger side of the oil pan skid. Both are perfect now. I also took the advice to remove the bolts one by one and apply anti-seize to them to to make them easier to remove. Sure enough, even after only 2 weeks they seemed tighter than o remember putting them. On one I had to use a cheater on my Allen wrench to break it loose. Bent it a little. Now I need to take it somewhere to use them.

Before and after:

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Soon...

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

The shop did a real nice job on those cuts to the skid.

I'm having that internal argument with myself over getting these, they're sweet but even on sale they're a chunk of change for sure.

I purchased them new at a used price from a member here in the forum classifieds. Happened to be at just the right time that I had the extra money available and could rationalize spending the money to myself and my accountant of all things Jeep. Paid quickly before she determined that it was a waste of money and we should pay for something practical with it.

Still haven’t gone anywhere to get scratches on them yet since having them installed though.

 

[DanW]

I purchased them new at a used price from a member here in the forum classifieds. Happened to be at just the right time that I had the extra money available and could rationalize spending the money to myself and my accountant of all things Jeep. Paid quickly before she determined that it was a waste of money and we should pay for something practical with it.

Still haven’t gone anywhere to get scratches on them yet since having them installed though.

The subtle chess game of a great marriage! Lol! Been there many times. She wins plenty, though, too, I'm sure!

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

The subtle chess game of a great marriage! Lol! Been there many times. She wins plenty, though, too, I'm sure!

30 years next summer.

I could take a picture of a large shelf I had to build in the closet to store very expensive designer purses that are used for a few months then put away forever. Don’t get me started on the number of shoes, but at least she does wear them regularly until they’re wear out. Skids are used every time I go in the rocks for as long as I own the Jeep. Which is a better use of funds?

 

[DanW]

30 years next summer.

I could take a picture of a large shelf I had to build in the closet to store very expensive designer purses that are used for a few months then put away forever. Don’t get me started on the number of shoes, but at least she does wear them regularly until they’re wear out. Skids are used every time I go in the rocks for as long as I own the Jeep. Which is a better use of funds?

Lol, sure, you can say that here, but let's see you say that when she's around! (I'm hiding my screen from my wife as I type this!)

 

[Goin2drt]

30 years next summer.

I could take a picture of a large shelf I had to build in the closet to store very expensive designer purses that are used for a few months then put away forever. Don’t get me started on the number of shoes, but at least she does wear them regularly until they’re wear out. Skids are used every time I go in the rocks for as long as I own the Jeep. Which is a better use of funds?

I didn’t know my wife had a long lost sister.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Ready!

Back from the powder coater. I used a local guy who works out of his little shop at his house rather than one of the big well established businesses in Houston. He was cheaper and faster and the results are acceptable for parts underneath the axles that will be scratched up anyway. Just wanted to tone down the MetalCloak Goldmember Effect. I hope to be able to install them tomorrow.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

10/31/2020 25,984 miles

Today I installed MetalCloak front and rear differential covers along with skid plates for both. Before installing them I had the covers and plates powder coated gloss black.

The installation is fairly straightforward. There is a tight clearance between my SteerSmarts front track bar and the new front diff cover, about 1/4 or 3/8” at the closest point. I don’t know if this’ll cause interference when wheeling but I guess I’ll find out. I did have to remove the frame side track bar mounting bolt to be able to move it up and down to access some of the upper fasteners.

The rear went much quicker and easier, no interference from the track bar. The rear skid went on quickly and easily.

View attachment 386951

@Metalcloak, why is the logo upside down on the rear differential skid?

 

[DaddyEngineer]

10/31/2020 25,984 miles

Today I installed MetalCloak front and rear differential covers along with skid plates for both. Before installing them I had the covers and plates powder coated gloss black.

The installation is fairly straightforward. There is a tight clearance between my SteerSmarts front track bar and the new front diff cover, about 1/4 or 3/8” at the closest point. I don’t know if this’ll cause interference when wheeling but I guess I’ll find out. I did have to remove the frame side track bar mounting bolt to be able to move it up and down to access some of the upper fasteners.

The rear went much quicker and easier, no interference from the track bar. The rear skid went on quickly and easily.

View attachment 386951

@Metalcloak, why is the logo upside down on the rear differential skid?

Looks great, when we going to take them and try to scratch them up?

Scott

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Looks great, when we going to take them and try to scratch them up?

Scott

Hidden Falls Saturday 11/7?

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