I pulled a front skid plate from a junkyard truck because mine didn't have one, it was cheap, and I was there with tools.

So yesterday I go to put it on my truck.
@#$&.

I guess your truck had to come from the factory with skid plates for Ford to take the trouble to weld nuts on the inside of the frame for it. I got just big gaping holes, where a nice threaded nut should be sitting on the other side.

Seriously?

not ideal but I guess a plastic insert nut of some kind would be better than no skid plate at all.

 

its been awhile since i messed with my skid plate but im pretty sure that the bolts go into those threaded clips found all over the truck like the nerf bars mine had and can be found at lowes home depot etc

 

you use these or similar, in 10 mm or 3/8 inch

 

Yup ^^^, every one those use that type fastener. No welded nuts. Hell, even the 4x4 D hooks on the frame uses similar type fasteners. Just a larger dual type of the same. Welded nuts or bungs (10 series) would of been better...last longer anyway.

You should have that skid plate, then above that a heavy (very thick mill, 1/4" at least) chunk of formed rubber protecting the front of the engine and cooling system. Pretty sure that's standard for all. That uses heavy plastic push pin fasteners to keep it in place.

 

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Dont recall seeing a heavy chunk of formed rubber. Theres a flexible , pretty thin, undershield, maybe 1/8" at best , covering front part.

Truck i pulled skid plate off (2002)sure looked lke just holes in frame/nuts. Didnt notice clips. Could have been packed with dirt though, looking just like holes.

 

mm

 

Yea they use those clips BUT, I think the clips you need are larger. Longer fastening clips for a more secure fit in the openings. I don't recall them being quite that small..the clipping flange is much longer anyway. I've replaced a few of those in the past, pretty sure about it. Yea the bolts are 10mil w/13mm heads.

The thicker rubber may have came with the trucks that had dual core radiators, -or the heavier tow package trucks w/4R100/E4OD trans set ups. Yea, they are a full 1/4" thick at the very least. Most definitely do the job and last forever, - it's good heavy stuff unaffected by age lol. The stuff is too thick to tear on yuh and fastened with just plastic push pins...big ones. The plastic pins do eventually wear after so many in and outs, personally, I've never replaced them. Doesn't take much to secure that piece in and it stays there.

 

Both of mine have 10mm heads, and I think the threads are 8mm. They use those same inserts that AK posted.

 

Nah, that's BS. Well partially anyway. 100% sure the bolt heads are 13mm, - that I know. Going out that way today, I'll pull one off if your interested in the correct info mbb.

 

Sorry Brew, but mine are not 13mm heads on either truck. In fact, after I posted this, I think they might actually be 8mm heads rather than 10mm. I will take pics of both trucks later if you'd like.