Westin Oil Pan Skid Plate, 42-21095

[morricus]

I recently bought one of these to protect my oil pan and the Fumoto valve I have installed. I'm just starting down the rabbit hole of taking my Jeep on the trails and the mods that go along with that, so I didn't want to spend a ton. Found this skid plate for $106 shipped, looked perfect. (Westin part 42-21095)

A few days ago, it arrived and I immediately ran out to install it. The install is extremely straight forward, an easy bolt on. But the instructions and pictures made no sense. One part in particular kept stating that I was to install the back of the pan using an M8 nut on the passenger side OEM threaded-stud bolt that connects the engine to the trans. I had no such bolt. Or I should say, there was a bolt, but it certainly didn't have a threaded part to allow an M8 nut to screw into the top of it.

I called Westin and explained what the my problems was, that perhaps I was missing something. The Westin support rep was confused as well, and asked me to send a picture of my set up. I did so, and he sent it to an engineer to review. I got a call back in about 10 minutes saying that my Jeep had a completely different bolt than their in house Jeep has. I don't have a threaded stud on the OEM M10 bolt, which is needed to secure the rear of the skid plate. I have a 2018 Rubicon with the 8 speed...which is exactly what Westin has, but this one bolt is different, which is what they designed the skid plate around.

I had some extra washers around that fit the OEM bolt, and used about 4 of them to fill the space that exists between the skid plate attachment ear and the back of the engine. Fit just right. I also measured the 4 washers and sent this, along with a bunch of pictures to Westin. They made a spacer that day, and over-nighted it to me with two new, longer M10 bolts. Worked perfectly.

I'm very happy with the skid plate; its solid, low cost and the support I received from Westin was awesome. I'll be buying more from them in future. Westin said my Jeep is the first they've seen with this missing studded bolt, so perhaps its a fluke. Kinda weird regardless. I would still recommend this skid plate, you just might to contact Westin for the spacer if you have different bolt set up I do.

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[D60]

OP, thanks for the heads up on the skid plate. I too ordered for $106 after seeing your thread.

A personal pet-peeve is all the branding cut into all these products, but like the Million Dollar Man, we have the technology...

I cut the letters out. If you have 1.25 x .25 flat bar it'll fit or be close. I only had 1.5" on hand so I milled it down to 1.25.

Added a few speed holes for additional horsepower and welded it up, ground it down and slapped some Rustoleum on it

 

[D60]

I had the same issue as OP with the rear bolt, so whatever Westin prototyped from was a one-off.

Bummer for them that who-knows-how-many of these are out there that won't fit quite right.

I made my own spacer out of Al; I went .300" thick, .790 OD and .406 (13/32") ID

The OEM bolt is M10x1.50x45mm. The replacement should be about 60mm I'd say so I'll look to source one or call Westin after the weekend

 

[morricus]

Dang, you certainly took control. I agree with you on the branding, it certainly has become excessive. But not only do I lack the technology of you, but I also lack the will! You did an outstanding job, looks awesome.

For the money though, warts and all, the skid plate isn't a bad deal.

 

[D60]

I was surprised to find my local rental place had the M10 bolt I'll need. Just a Gr8.8 but that's plenty IMO

 

[D60]

Ok got the vehicle back on the lift and the replacement bolt installed. Left: OEM, right: 60mm long replacement.

Also not sure if OP mentioned it and I didn't see it in the Westin instructions but take a 10mm socket and loosen the 2 anchors for your trans lines; then you can pull the lines down (finger) to install the new bellhousing bolts

 

[D60]

Also a lot of the provided Westin fasteners are sub-par IMO....but sometimes machinists are picky about fasteners.

They provide a lot of split washers for the M8 hardware. They're the smallest diameter, thinnest split washers I've ever seen. I'd reco throwing them in the scrap bin (please try not to send metal to the landfill) and just use some thread locker if you wish.

Any experienced mekanik'll tell ya split washers cause more problems than they solve, and ones as chintzy as Westin provided are likely to just spiral open/twist out.

NOW, that leads me to....their use of two M8 carriage bolts up front. In thinking about it last night the equivalent of two 5/16" fasteners didn't instill confidence for me, should the vehicle wind up on the skid plate. Furthermore I'm honestly not sure if you can get graded carriage bolts (anyone?) but I doubt these were.

I also don't know why they felt compelled to use carriage bolts at all - there's PLENTY of room to get between the upper oil pan and the front bracket. So I drilled out to 3/8" and installed two 3/8 Gr8 fasteners. Unnecessary? Probably. But working in the shop is my happy place.

M8 carriage bolt vs the 3/8s I used, and pic of one of each installed

 

[spurly]

So some just something to keep in mind. Skids plates are great, they can truly save you from ruining an entire trip, however be mindful of HOW this is attached. Most engine skids bolt to the frame and engine mounts, but with one good solid hit to this skid, there's a chance of cracking the block or shearing off a mounting bolt in the block. I've seen it happen before on TJs with the Teraflex skid plate. Although the skid plate saved the oil pan from getting smashed, it wasn't till later we realized one of the bolts sheared off in the block and my buddy was SOL.

 

[D60]

So some just something to keep in mind. Skids plates are great, they can truly save you from ruining an entire trip, however be mindful of HOW this is attached. Most engine skids bolt to the frame and engine mounts, but with one good solid hit to this skid, there's a chance of cracking the block or shearing off a mounting bolt in the block. I've seen it happen before on TJs with the Teraflex skid plate. Although the skid plate saved the oil pan from getting smashed, it wasn't till later we realized one of the bolts sheared off in the block and my buddy was SOL.

I don't disagree.

Can you define SOL?

The three front bolts have excellent access and the rear two ain't bad...if I was looking at a broken fastener extraction situation, I've handled worse.

I can't see being left stranded on the trail, even if all five of the bolts sheared

 

[morricus]

I don't disagree.

Can you define SOL?

The three front bolts have excellent access and the rear two ain't bad...if I was looking at a broken fastener extraction situation, I've handled worse.

I can't see being left stranded on the trail, even if all five of the bolts sheared

My experience with this is limited at best, but I would speculate that any impact hard enough to destroy any of the mounting points of this skid plate would absolutely obliterate an unprotected oil pan. And could the weaker bolts you had mentioned be included by design, acting as sacrificial weak points?

I never expected this thing to replace a true, full skid plate set up. But its good enough, until I graduate to such a complete solution.

 

[D60]

My experience with this is limited at best, but I would speculate that any impact hard enough to destroy any of the mounting points of this skid plate would absolutely obliterate an unprotected oil pan. And could the weaker bolts you had mentioned be included by design, acting as sacrificial weak points?

I never expected this thing to replace a true, full skid plate set up. But its good enough, until I graduate to such a complete solution.

I absolutely considered that the M8 carriages were supposed to be a fuse, but I'm just not buying it. It simply does not make sense with the way the plate would be loaded if it had to bear weight, and the ways the plate could move if force were exerted upon it.

I could go into a lengthy explanation no one would read, but no point.

 

[D60]

I noticed that at least with the seller I bought from on eBay pricing has jumped lexdysically from $106 to $160. Yikes

 

[morricus]

I noticed that at least with the seller I bought from on eBay pricing has jumped lexdysically from $106 to $160. Yikes

Yikes indeed. You and I were ahead of the curve

 

[D60]

Well I was under the JL today and noticed this. TTBOMK I've never actually "used" the skidplate. The obvious answer is that my spacer was a bit too thin, flexing this ear. Even so, damn, I wouldn't expect failure like this.

I'll probably just fix it up

 

[HellaJL2817]

Well I was under the JL today and noticed this. TTBOMK I've never actually "used" the skidplate. The obvious answer is that my spacer was a bit too thin, flexing this ear. Even so, damn, I wouldn't expect failure like this.

I'll probably just fix it up

How is that skid holding up.? I’m interested in something that is not as expensive for the moment. I mainly drive on road and minimal off-road.

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