ColorBlind

Factory fiberboard splash guards covering engine and trans are practically disposable upon delivery. RCI plates aren’t in the budget yet. Here’s a quick fix if yours is broken or you just want to strengthen them for cheap.

Before pic, damaged trans cover. Hung down low enough to nearly scoop up roadkill

Creased thanks to ford oil change techs over the winter

Fixed using some Bondo fiiberglas resin and hardener that I had laying around in the garage (about $15-20 a quart) and a disposable paint brush


Resin soaked into fiberboard, no fiberglas needed. Coated both sides.

Reinstalled on truck. Stays flat and won’t break again. Should work until RCIs are installed.

A bit wavy and curved upward in the back. I’m sure most of you guys will do better work than I did.

T Diddy

That’s a great idea! Thanks for posting

Lare

Brilliant! One question: is it now brittle, i.e. more likely to crack if it hits something or while doing an oil change?

ColorBlind

It’s definitely hard but I don’t think it’s too brittle since all the original fiberboard is now reinforcing the resin. I didn’t coat the areas around the bolts so that it would remain flexible and I won’t have to worry about it breaking off in those areas.

02reaper

iTrader: (2)

That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

Harry Franklin

I would assume that the stock piece is fire retardant. Fiberglass resin is not.....

ColorBlind

I’m not concerned about my transmission cover getting hot enough for cured fiberglass resin to catch fire. And without the aid of my plumbing torch, I wouldn’t assume that Ford sprung for higher cost flame retardant fibers in this area of the truck.

yellowboy

wow 50-60 grand for a truck and you have to do that.

tmcolegr

Not the fault of the vehicle. Tech's performing the oil changes aren't properly dropping the skid plate during the oil change.

Harry Franklin

With this shield being just inches away from hot exhaust and fairly easily pushed into it, I have no doubt that it is flame retardent.