Aluminum Skid Plate Install

[ih8vtec13]

Ok so it's the end of winter and you tore up your stock skid plate parking on ice what do you do now? You could go to your dealer and get it replaced but that part is $150, for plastic WTF???? Or you could get an aluminum one from RaliTEK for $199 plus $46 to ship it (that was to NYC from Portland) and a little time under the car.

Tools needed:
Flat Head Screwdriver
Plyers (optional but makes poppits easier)
Ratchet
13mm socket
12mm socket
13mm wrench

First off this install was so easy a n00b with a 13mm wrench and a ratchet with a 13mm socket could do it. Mine is proff of that :lol:

First thing to do is jack up the car and remove the s**** one if you still have it on. My car didn't so I can't show any pics or give any info on it othere then it is 6 poppits and a few bolts. You will need a flat head screw driver and maybe a set of plyers and a 12mm socket to get it off. Remove all poppits before install you need the skid plate to sit under the bumper completely.

This is what you get in the package:

Skid Plate
This is a very nice looking peice looks like it will take some abuse and will last a lot longer then the stock plastic one.
http://i9.tinypic.com/29dwsih.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/403xtuf.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/497doah.jpg


Mounting hardware:
2 long black bolts
2 nuts
4 washers
3 shorter silver bolts
5 plastic spacers
http://i3.tinypic.com/472xtvb.jpg

Ok so once the car is jacked up and on stands you can begin the instal. If you are doing the install alone then use something to brace the back of the skid plate up, I used 2 jack stands. Slide it back so that it is under the bumper tabs completely. Place 1 white spacer over each of the 2 spaces for the bolts, put the bolt through the skid and the spacer and hand tighten it enough to hold it in place then move on to the rear.
http://i12.tinypic.com/48gzyhu.jpg
http://i5.tinypic.com/2ql8zs0.jpg

Put 1 spacer over the middle of the 3 rear holes and give the bolt a turn or 2 to hold it in place and move on to the outer 2 holes. This is the really fun part that is gonna give you the most trouble, you need to take a spacer and stack a washer on top of it (on the side curved inward) then stick a bolt through the sub frame, then a nother washer (curved side up) on it then thread a bolt on to it. Line everything up and hand tighten everything then get your wrench to get the black bolts. The nuts are kind of a PITA to
to with the wrench, but the service holes help with that, but then when it is all tightened up it is still kind of a pain to get the wrenches off the nuts, but you only have to do it twice so it not too bad. Tighten the silver blots up and drop the car down and your done.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2cz515h.jpg
http://i3.tinypic.com/2m26qde.jpg

Over all I am pleased with the product and the ease of the install. It is also not noticeable on the car unless you get down and look under it. My car is also pretty damn low sothat makes it even harder to see then on stock height or on an Outback.

BTW this part DOES NOT fit the NA Leagcy but there is one in development I think.

[Drift Monkey]

sweet. wonder if it reduces drag...

[jedimaster]

Looking good, my negroid!

[ih8vtec13]

Yeah I'm happy with it, not at all a bad install and I was always told to use protection and this looks like it will provide some. :lol:

[ih8vtec13]

sweet. wonder if it reduces drag...
It feels like it does going from none to this. Mine was a casualty if the snow, and now I have reinforcements :lol:
The front doesnt lift as much as it did with nothing there, but then again I did notice it lifted more after I had it taken off. The car also feels a little better cornering, I am not sure if it is from aerodynamics orr the car could be slightly more ridgid, or even a little of both. I also thought the car had a little more body roll before the install and right after the stock one was completely removed.Let me get my car on one of my "test" roads and I will let you know of any change.

[jedimaster]

James, it's a damn good looking piece- what's your impression of oil changes, etc. without removing the skidplate? Is the hole large enough to get your hand into?

[Drift Monkey]

James, it's a damn good looking piece- what's your impression of oil changes, etc. without removing the skidplate? Is the hole large enough to get your hand into?
Don't be quaint, his girl hands fit perfect into the crevices! :tup:

[ih8vtec13]

It looks like it should be fine, they are prety large.

[TSi+WRX]

Nice write-up! :)

And damn, your jackstands are hawt! :lol:

[ih8vtec13]

Thanks I got them at Pepboys, they are rated at 6000lbs. I figured that I may need to do something with a truck someday :lol:

Plus after you see an Outback crush a stock jack (my stock jack) you get a little paranoid. :lol:

[jedimaster]

Thanks I got them at Pepboys, they are rated at 6000lbs. I figured that I may need to do something with a truck someday :lol:

Plus after you see an Outback crush a stock jack (my stock jack) you get a little paranoid. :lol:
Damn dude- we were smoking that day, but I don't remember my car doing anything to your jack :lol:

[Drift Monkey]

You guys were smoking that bad granola...:eek2:

[NALegacy]

I wonder when the N/A-specific one is going to be out...I need one. Also, how far back does this go? Does this protect the headers/downpipe area at all?

[ih8vtec13]

Damn dude- we were smoking that day, but I don't remember my car doing anything to your jack :lol:

It was Billy when we did my suspention, me and Steve (eatV8) were helping him do a tire swap after. A 3 car tire swap :lol: and he had a 2.5rs project car rs22b style, a 2.5rs that was amde into a PGT class rally car, and an 06 OBXT. we hat the OBXT up on his stock jack, my stock jack, and a floor jack on the rear diff and 1 jack was a twisted mess (mine). I will look for pics later.

I wonder when the N/A-specific one is going to be out...I need one. Also, how far back does this go? Does this protect the headers/downpipe area at all?
It goes back to the trans pretty much so it is past the headers but the plumbing on the GT is not direct. I cant say anything about the NA Legacys cause I have never been under onebut onthe GT the headers connect to the up pipeand that literally goes up and into the turbo then to the down pipe. I would asume that the headers go to the cat pipe straight to the cat back under the car, where as the GT the exhaust is not really visable under the car till he end of the down pipe.

The NA problems are that the headers are too low which sugests that it goes straight back unlike the GT, and that the hole in the sub frame it attaches to is not there. I think that the subframe on the LGT is lightened and it just happened to be a good place to mount it. There are a few other differances in the moddels that are light weight such as the hood which is aluminum insted of steel so it wouldnt suprise me. As of right now I would expect that you would need to do some drilling and add some extra spacers or change the angle of the bends o fit a 2.5i. The design change would be on RaliTEK but the drilling would be on you.

If you know someone near Portland get them to conatct RaliTEK and help get one fitted to the 2.5i. There is a noticable differance from no skid plat to a skid plate installed in performance, my car handles better and also doesnt lift the nose as much with this on compared to no skid plate.

[NALegacy]

It goes back to the trans pretty much so it is past the headers but the plumbing on the GT is not direct. I cant say anything about the NA Legacys cause I have never been under onebut onthe GT the headers connect to the up pipeand that literally goes up and into the turbo then to the down pipe. I would asume that the headers go to the cat pipe straight to the cat back under the car, where as the GT the exhaust is not really visable under the car till he end of the down pipe.

The NA problems are that the headers are too low which sugests that it goes straight back unlike the GT, and that the hole in the sub frame it attaches to is not there. I think that the subframe on the LGT is lightened and it just happened to be a good place to mount it. There are a few other differances in the moddels that are light weight such as the hood which is aluminum insted of steel so it wouldnt suprise me. As of right now I would expect that you would need to do some drilling and add some extra spacers or change the angle of the bends o fit a 2.5i. The design change would be on RaliTEK but the drilling would be on you.

If you know someone near Portland get them to conatct RaliTEK and help get one fitted to the 2.5i. There is a noticable differance from no skid plat to a skid plate installed in performance, my car handles better and also doesnt lift the nose as much with this on compared to no skid plate.

Yeah, our n/a headers go straight back, and they do in fact hang quite a bit lower than the downpipe on the lgt. I know this for sure as the Cusco front brace wouldnt not go onto my car because of clearance issues. B/c of this low hanging header issue is exactly why I want this type of a shield. I need to find a metal forming shop or something and get one bent for me. My header shielding already has a large gash from something. I'm just glad it didnt go through my header...although that would probaby make it sound nice and deep:lol:

[ih8vtec13]

My header shielding already has a large gash from something. I'm just glad it didnt go through my header...although that would probaby make it sound nice and deep:lol:
So why dont you get a LGT hood and route pipes from the headers out through the scoop :lol:

Oh wait they would have to be pointed back or up and you would have to remove exhaust parts to open the hood :lol:

You could also look at Primitave Racing they do aluminum skid plates in 1/8th and 3/16th thicknesses. They also do custom plates as well.
http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/skid.htm

[GodWhomIsMike]

Nice, looking good.

[TSi+WRX]

Sorry for backtracking to jedi's question, bruddah.... :o

So you'd say that alignment with the critical service points (filter and drain hole) are pretty good? :)

[ih8vtec13]

Yes everything looks like it was well thought out and they spent the time needed to test fit it. Ifo you are ever heading to NY you are more then welocme to come take a look at it :lol:

next time I have the car on stands (hopefully soon for summer tires) I will try to get some good pics of the service holes.

[Fox06LegacyGT]

Yes everything looks like it was well thought out and they spent the time needed to test fit it. Ifo you are ever heading to NY you are more then welocme to come take a look at it :lol:

next time I have the car on stands (hopefully soon for summer tires) I will try to get some good pics of the service holes.

Throw em on!! I did already :lol:

and the one day I decide to drive my car was in the ST. pattys day storm
It was like driving on ice...WEeEeEeEeEeEe

[ih8vtec13]

I have an anodized lip and salt will destroy that quickly.

[TSi+WRX]

Yes everything looks like it was well thought out and they spent the time needed to test fit it. Ifo you are ever heading to NY you are more then welocme to come take a look at it :lol:

:) Cool, thanks for the info! :tup:


next time I have the car on stands (hopefully soon for summer tires)

^ Ugh, you had to bring up tires, didn't ya. :p


I will try to get some good pics of the service holes.

^ I have no doubt, bruddah, that you'll try to get as many pictures of "service holes" as possible. :lol:

Thanks again!
-A

[jedimaster]

I have an anodized lip and salt will destroy that quickly.
It'll do a number on your mangina too!

[ih8vtec13]

Yes I did have to bring up tires, BTW they are Kumho MX BTW :lol:

[TSi+WRX]

^ Dude, you're gonna get raped. :lol:

[Fox06LegacyGT]

^ Dude, you're gonna get raped. :lol:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Drift Monkey]

next time I have the car on stands (hopefully soon for summer tires) I will try to get some good pics of the service holes.
IN for pics of your service holes!

[NALegacy]

So I've done some research, and this skid plate is a no go on the N/As. The cross-member that these attach to, does not exist on the N/As, as our headers are routed this way, so therefore, it would only be attached at the front, and a skidplate is no good if it can't stay on.:mad: Oh well, just ONe more thing I can't have...

[Drift Monkey]

So I've done some research, and this skid plate is a no go on the N/As. The cross-member that these attach to, does not exist on the N/As, as our headers are routed this way, so therefore, it would only be attached at the front, and a skidplate is no good if it can't stay on.:mad: Oh well, just ONe more thing I can't have...
For now..:lol:

[NALegacy]

For now..:lol:

True true;) :tup:

[jedimaster]

IN for pics of your service holes!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: