DBAX's misfortune was my blessing.

Like vultures on a dead bunny, we descended on his poor dead 1st Gen & scavenged it's parts for our own. I was the lucky winner of his custom 'bomb proof' sliders & Skid Row skid plates.

First thing I did was have the sliders sandblasted & powder coated. Aside from the yellow paint & light surface rust, there were some serious scrapes & gouges. I can just imagine what the rocker panels would've looked like with out these bad boys to protect ‘em.

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The place I went quoted me $65 & 2 weeks, but came in at $58 & one week. I went with hammered black since black goes with everything.

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[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/378945303_453efb98b7.jpg?v=0[/img]

If anybody in the Phoenix area needs sandblasting or powder coating, I highly recommend these guys:

Affordable Powder Coating
2111 W. Fillmore (21st Ave North of McDowell)
602-272-7646

These guys run shifts around the clock. Some of the places I called had a 5 to 6 week lead times.

Dan already had the plates off when I got there so all I had to do was clean ‘em up. The worst had to have been the gas tank skid. I didn't take any pics before cleaning, but there was 3 states worth of mud in that thing. After that I sanded a bit, mostly to get what little surface rust there was & to rough up the surface for painting.

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Look at these pictures carefully. There were times that the entire weight of Dan's X was resting only on the skids.

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Look at the front of the gas tank skid. That picture alone should answer the 'Why should I spend so much money on skids?' question once & for all. A 1st Gen truck would be lucky to only reduce his fuel capacity by 25%. A 2nd Gen plastic tank? Let's not even go there.

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I hit the skids with the ever popular Rustoleum Hammered Black. I did 3 coats on each side & had to go to a 3rd can for the last coat on the last skid. I sprayed it on pretty heavy, so I might've gotten away with just 2 cans. I was more concerned with protection than beauty.

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I forgot t-case & gas tank after pics, but they turned out same as others.

For those of you that have never seen your OEM gas tank skid, here it is.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/378953050_ea2c9dc218.jpg?v=0[/img]

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/378953051_587c367d28.jpg?v=0[/img]

Now compare them side by side. The OEM skid might weigh 5 pounds where as the Skid Row skid is at least 50 pounds. The OEM is also very flexible, which leads me to believe that it might prevent a puncture, but it won't stop a rock from caving in your tank. The Skid Row plate also adds side protection that the OEM lacks.

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The OEM skid reminded me of something, but I just couldn't place it. Then I was making spaghetti one night & it hit me. The damn thing looked like Mom's old colander.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/378953980_c180d420c8.jpg?v=0[/img]

I'd like to give a big shout out to Rick Scott at Skid Row for sending me the instructions & hardware list. I'd also like to thank Adam (Conundrum) for once again volunteering his driveway & wrenching expertise.

I guess I should also thank the illeagal who hit DBAX without whom none of this would be possible.

Use it all in good health Tom

Nice upgrade Tom. They look great

Great pics, Tom!

Hey Dan, high center much?

Nah... not for long... momentum is working for him!!!

this whole thing is highly suspicious.... The whole vultures and rabbit thing I mean..