Basket's Build

[lBasket]

Went to adjust steering stop bolt, and the nut is welded to the bolt. Guess that will wait another day.

Went to remove the skids to get to the stripped nutzert. Looks like I'm replacing engine skid bolts... what are the crowd favorite for bolt that best resists being smeared across rocks?

Was an allen head. Ended up hammering in a screwdriver to get it out lol. Anything I can find at the Ace that might do better? I was thinking about maybe trying to find torx button heads.

Nothing too glamorous, used a flap disc to get the old nutzert head off, popped in with a chisel, and got the new one installed.

 

[Abendage]

That’s normal for the steering stops. To adjust them you put washer(s) between the nut and the knuckle. You should be able to loosen them just by turning the bolt.

Countersunk bolts are usually the go to for engine skids, I think any button head would suffer the same fate. You’d need to drill new holes and use a counter sink bit though to use them.

Was the hole for that nutsert rusted out?

 

[lBasket]

That’s normal for the steering stops. To adjust them you put washer(s) between the nut and the knuckle. You should be able to loosen them just by turning the bolt.

Ohh okay I figured you'd just buy a new nut and bolt and change how far in the nut goes. That is easier

Countersunk bolts are usually the go to for engine skids, I think any button head would suffer the same fate. You’d need to drill new holes and use a counter sink bit though to use them.

Was the hole for that nutsert rusted out?

It wasn't rusted out, I actually don't know what happened to it. Last time I removed the skid it was threaded in tight when I removed it and then when I went to put the bolt back in there was just no threads anymore.

That flaking in the picture is just a little layer of mud not rust

 

[JMT]

Countersink PH4 is nice for underbody skids.

Not sure about that skid hole though.

 

[lBasket]

Countersink PH4 is nice for underbody skids.

Not sure about that skid hole though.

Because it's an oval?

 

[Abendage]

Because it's an oval?

I’m questioning this, it looks like the nutsert pulled through and the hole is rotted.

 

[Abendage]

Now that I zoomed in on it though I can see that might just be grinder marks on the frame?

 

[lBasket]

I’m questioning this, it looks like the nutsert pulled through and the hole is rotted.

View attachment 667693

Uhhh I think that is just where I hit the frame a little when sanding off the old one

 

[Abendage]

Uhhh I think that is just where I hit the frame a little when sanding off the old one

View attachment 667694

Yeah, crappy eyes on my part.

 

[lBasket]

C

Yeah, crappy eyes on my part.

Cool had me worried for a second

 

[JMT]

Because it's an oval?

I don’t know the gauge of steel or the hole size, so don’t know if you need a standard or undercut flathead bolt.

 

[lBasket]

I don’t know the gauge of steel or the hole size, so don’t know if you need a standard or undercut flathead bolt.

It is supposed to be 3/8" aluminum. I don't know much about countersinking details I have never done it before

 

[Woodrow]

It is supposed to be 3/8" aluminum. I don't know much about countersinking details I have never done it before

do this:
https://wranglertjforum.com/attachments/img_6408-jpeg.517727/
this is a UCF engine skid (1/4’ aluminum). use a 45 degree counter sink on your drill and get some of these:

 

[lBasket]

do this:
https://wranglertjforum.com/attachments/img_6408-jpeg.517727/
this is a UCF engine skid (1/4’ aluminum). use a 45 degree counter sink on your drill and get some of these:
View attachment 667702

Oh yeah that looks way better. Definitely the way to go. I might see if they have that all in stock at Ace tomorrow

 

[Abendage]

Oh yeah that looks way better. Definitely the way to go. I might see if they have that all in stock at Ace tomorrow

They will, you’ll just way over pay for the bit, $25 at Ace and $7 at Harbor Freight and are equally as bad of quality, but either will work fine for aluminum. I guess UCF got tired of me hounding them to ship the skid, that said was in stock when I ordered it, for 2 months and didn’t countersink or send me the right hardware for it. Ace had everything.

 

[lBasket]

They will, you’ll just way over pay for the bit, $25 at Ace and $7 at Harbor Freight and are equally as bad of quality, but either will work fine for aluminum. I guess UCF got tired of me hounding them to ship the skid, that said was in stock when I ordered it, for 2 months and didn’t countersink or send me the right hardware for it. Ace had everything.

They didn't countersink mine either, were they supposed to?

Harbor freight is over an hour away so unless I want to spend most of my day tomorrow driving, ace it is. I miss living a mile away from one

 

[Abendage]

They didn't countersink mine either, were they supposed to?

Harbor freight is over an hour away so unless I want to spend most of my day tomorrow driving, ace it is. I miss living a mile away from one

They advertise it as countersunk, picture it that way and even the instructions say it should be. I think they’re skimping to get crap out the door. The hardware was laughable. They sent 3” long 3/8” hex grade 5 bolts to bolt both the skids together as well as the supports in the front. The shoulders on the bolts were too long to even make them usable even if i was ok with 2” of extra bolt sticking out and them not being countersunk.

Both my tcase skid and engine skid said they were in stock when I ordered them and after I followed up with them after 2 weeks with no shipping notification they could not have been any ruder and bothered. I don’t plan on buying anything from them again.

 

[ColoJeep]

They didn't countersink mine either, were they supposed to?

Harbor freight is over an hour away so unless I want to spend most of my day tomorrow driving, ace it is. I miss living a mile away from one

Ace is a very reasonable place to get hardware , especially where we live .

 

[lBasket]

Ace is a very reasonable place to get hardware , especially where we live .

I like the ace by my house, they also have a lumber yard. It would be a little bit harder out here without it so close

 

[Woodrow]

They advertise it as countersunk, picture it that way and even the instructions say it should be. I think they’re skimping to get crap out the door. The hardware was laughable. They sent 3” long 3/8” hex grade 5 bolts to bolt both the skids together as well as the supports in the front. The shoulders on the bolts were too long to even make them usable even if i was ok with 2” of extra bolt sticking out and them not being countersunk.

Both my tcase skid and engine skid said they were in stock when I ordered them and after I followed up with them after 2 weeks with no shipping notification they could not have been any ruder and bothered. I don’t plan on buying anything from them again.

Man that sucks. I’m sorry. I’ve had better experiences: I have gotten 2 different T-case skids and an engine skid plus a YJ winch plate from UCF. The engine skid I had to counter sink as I mentioned. No big deal IMO, but it would have been nice if it came that way. No relavant comments on the T-case skids. They were as advertised if expensive (like seemingly everything these days). The YJ winch plate I adapted to my TJ and when I called about fitment, I explained what I was trying to do and the guy went and took some measurements while I was on the phone and gave me some good technical info on the aluminum vs steel options which led me to purchase the cheaper option. I appreciated the help.