RCI Metalworks Skid Plates: Engine, Tranny (and cat shield), T-Case Overview, Install, and Review

[boogielander]

Thank you both. Looking forward to hearing your report after your trip to Arizona. Safe travels.

just came back. 1000 miles round trip including ~160 miles of dirt (140 miles of high speed and 20 miles of bumpy)
on highway going long down hill with no throttle input coolant tempt goes down to ~180-190 ish and engine oil goes down to ~200 ish
regular throttle input highway driving gives about ~210 coolant and 210 engine oil
slow 4L action both goes up to ~220F

all within parameter. I run 0-40 oil so engine oil part may be different for you

 

[lsupcar]

just came back. 1000 miles round trip including ~160 miles of dirt (140 miles of high speed and 20 miles of bumpy)
on highway going long down hill with no throttle input coolant tempt goes down to ~180-190 ish and engine oil goes down to ~200 ish
regular throttle input highway driving gives about ~210 coolant and 210 engine oil
slow 4L action both goes up to ~220F

all within parameter. I run 0-40 oil so engine oil part may be different for you

Thank you.

 

[lsupcar]

Installed the skid plates this weekend.. Some before and after pics. The pass through socket wrench was helpful to tighten the bolts inside the front frame member. Instructions were not the best in regards to the clips but got it figured out. Will see how it goes when I need to change the oil. Thanks for all the advice. No photos. Files to big. Will see what I can do.

 

[boogielander]

Installed the skid plates this weekend.. Some before and after pics. The pass through socket wrench was helpful to tighten the bolts inside the front frame member. Instructions were not the best in regards to the clips but got it figured out. Will see how it goes when I need to change the oil. Thanks for all the advice. No photos. Files to big. Will see what I can do.

any time!
make sure you tight them bolts lol

i forgot to tight them after I remove them to swap bumper light brackets and after a trip of ~1000 miles with 120 miles of high speed offroad and 20 miles of bumpy offroad, I lost 1 bolt somewhere in the desert and the rest were hanging by the threads. yeap that was on me, but at the same time, im impressed that I managed to only lose 1 bolt with all that driving lol

 

[lsupcar]

Here we go.. Bolted everything on tight. Instructions don't include torque specs.

 

[W Six]

@Isupcar, nice looking.
I had installed some of their products on the Tundra I had. Great quality.
Does that gear wrench have different size inserts that swap on the racist handle?

 

[pkman]

Here we go.. Bolted everything on tight. Instructions don't include torque specs.
View attachment 184964View attachment 184965

I assume you had to remove the factory skid for the front axle?

 

[lsupcar]

This is the kit I have. It has metric and sae. And pass through extensions. I don't use it often, but sometimes it is just the thing you need. In this application it was much easier to keep ahold of the nut with this than a geared boxend wrench.
Both the stock front diff and rear transfer case skid plates need to be removed if you install the complete skid plate package as I did.

 

[boogielander]

Here we go.. Bolted everything on tight. Instructions don't include torque specs.
View attachment 184964View attachment 184965View attachment 184966

usually the "torque spec" i go with is the dewalt 3/8" impact gun set at setting 1 and go for the 3 duhga duhga duhga
or setting 2 and go for 1 duhga.

 

[boogielander]

@Isupcar, nice looking.
I had installed some of their products on the Tundra I had. Great quality.
Does that gear wrench have different size inserts that swap on the racist handle?

the racist handle? which one is it LOL

 

[W Six]

Auto correct.....I rarely look back at my post
@Isupcar, thanks for the info. I can see that as being pretty handy at ti.es.

 

[lsupcar]

Point of reference.
I weighed the RCI and factory skid plates.
RCI front skid plates and hardware 1/4" ALUM powder coated: 27.6 #
RCI Tranny and Tcase skid plates and hardware 1/4" Alum powder coated: 44.6#
Total RCI Skid plate package with hardware 1/4" alum powder coated: 72.2#

Ram factory skid plates. Frontdiff and Tcase: 20.4#

So a 51.8# increase to add these RCI Alum powder coated skid plates.

There was extra hardware included in the RCI package that is included in the above weights. Maybe a little bit less than a pound of hardware left over.

 

[boogielander]

Point of reference.
I weighed the RCI and factory skid plates.
RCI front skid plates and hardware 1/4" ALUM powder coated: 27.6 #
RCI Tranny and Tcase skid plates and hardware 1/4" Alum powder coated: 44.6#
Total RCI Skid plate package with hardware 1/4" alum powder coated: 72.2#

Ram factory skid plates. Frontdiff and Tcase: 20.4#

So a 51.8# increase to add these RCI Alum powder coated skid plates.

There was extra hardware included in the RCI package that is included in the above weights. Maybe a little bit less than a pound of hardware left over.

oh yeah RCI still include extra hardware? lol
the added ~50lb ain't much for our trucks, especially if you have a Hemi. Not that big of an impact for us.

If weight is an issue in terms of MPG and stuff, start with the unsprung weight of wheels and tires. Time to get those Rays and Volks wheels that are way lighter lol

 

[Rick3478]

oh yeah RCI still include extra hardware? lol
the added ~50lb ain't much for our trucks, especially if you have a Hemi. Not that big of an impact for us.

Also improves stability for towing and many other uses.