Bent Belly Pan?

[AdrianBrewster33]

Ive seen this on a few TJs by now and wonder if you all have any insight.

When a belly pan get bent like this, does it "pull" the frame rails into the middle and potentially create frame damage? These skid plates are pretty heavy and I imagine it takes a lot of pretty to bend them upwards like this. Is this cause for concern?

 

[01TJ-Blues]

I highly doubt it’s pulling the frame together, if it is it would be minuscule amounts. Looks like you need a beefier skid though.

 

[Goatman]

They have oval shaped bolt holes at the frame mount bolts. If you are worried then just loosen all 6 frame bolts and give the transfer a good wiggle. This should recenter the skid (and trans mount) to where the driveline wants to be. Then just retighten the 6 frame bolts. If you are really worried then you could pull the skid entirely off and bend it back straighter then reinstall it.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

View attachment 225273

That body mount/lift looks crooked.

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

That body mount/lift looks crooked.

I couldn't tell if that was just the bushing or not. But I see what you're saying.

 

[mrblaine]

I imagine it takes a lot of pretty to bend them upwards like this.

Around here, ugly is what does that unless you meant pretty ugly. Ugly driving, ugly spotting, ugly obstacle. That and I'm far more worried about the lack of oil pan protection than the skid.

 

[AdrianBrewster33]

Around here, ugly is what does that unless you meant pretty ugly. Ugly driving, ugly spotting, ugly obstacle. That and I'm far more worried about the lack of oil pan protection than the skid.

Agreed. Thats a whole lot of ugly.

Yeah, this thing needs and deserves full skids underneath it. As pointed out in another post, it almost looks like the frame has a slight arc upwards in the middle. The body mount is crooked. Something feels fishy to me.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Depending on exactly how that skid plate is now shaped it could be pushing the holes from each side farther apart. Whatever it's trying to do, pull or push, I would think the frame is stronger than the skid plate.

In the middle of typing this post AdrianBrewster33 mentioned that frame may be bowed up. Well that frame was stronger than the skid plate at one time, and maybe still is, but something else was even stronger.