Main Menu Vehicle Trails Mechanicals TJ/LJ Mods JK Mods Gallery
Medic Belly Up Skid

Medic Belly Up Skid

Part #:

One of the biggest issues that has come up about the newer 2003 and up TJ's is the fact that the new transfer case skid plate hands much lower than the previous years. Those obstacles that the older TJ's could get over now become an problem. The new skid plates have affectionately, to use the term loosely, "the Shovel." One of the first persons to come up with a really nice skid plate to correct this was Jerry at Jeep medic fabrications. His new skid plate, not only raises the skid approximately 1 3/4", but it also has a nice flat surface to help with sliding over obstacles. Oh and not to forget the fact that the front edge is not turned down like a plow blade. This "Belly up" skid also has a partner engine skid that mounts up to it so that you can have lots of protection underneath.

Additional Parts:
Anti-Seize
Tools Needed:
1/2" Combo Wrench
1/2" Socket
18mm Socket
13mm Socket
Ratchet

 

Installation:
Here is what you get with the belly up skid. Everything it bolted in on the plate, so it's pretty hard to lose anything in shipping. Besides it's always fun to take things apart that are still clean before you get under the jeep to what awaits there.
DSC03587
DSC03588
DSC03589
DSC03590
DSC03591
DSC03592
DSC03593
DSC03594
1. Unpackage your new skid. You will need to unbolt the nut that is holding your compressor bracket in place and place it on the to 5/16” studs all the way to the right of the skid, the slant goes to the back. Take all the nuts off the studs, and place them under your jeep for further use. You will need a 1/2" Combo wrench to tighten up these nuts.
DSC03590
DSC03606
DSC03608
2. With a 13mm socket take off the 4 bolts holding the transmission bracket to the skid and save for later.
DSC03597
3. With the same socket, take the 4 bolts to the compressor bracket off. You will not be reusing these. Let the bracket just sit there.
DSC03595
DSC03596
4. Now, you will need to find a block of wood and a jack. On the 5-speed you will be able to place the block of wood just in front of the skid onto the tranny and raise it up as far as you can. On the auto’s you will need to place the block of wood on the bell housing. Another option is to place the block of wood on the upper fold of the rear drive shaft. A word of advice is to use a small block of wood to hold the jack in place, it can roll quite easily.
DSC03600
5. Take the 6 18mm bolts off that hold the tranny skid in place, save these you will need them. Make sure to hold on to the skid. A word of advice is to unbolt one side at a time. I used a floor jack to hold the skid in place. It makes for lowering and pulling it out pretty easy.
DSC03598
DSC03602
DSC03603
As you can see the medic skid is pretty nice compared to the old stock skid.
DSC03604
DSC03605
6. After removal of your stock skid, slide the new skid under the jeep, lift the skid to fit over your tranny mount, you may have to push the compressor bracket towards the back to lift the skid all the way up. Loosely place all bolts onto the tranny mount to hold the skid into place.
DSC03610
7. Make certain you get the 4 transmission bolts lined up with the holes in the skid. DSC03613
8. Loosely place all the 18mm head bolts back into the frame. Then tighten them to factory specs. Make sure not to cross thread, which is done very easily.
DSC03614
9. Lower your transmission.
10. Tighten the 4 nuts to the tranny. With a 13mm Socket. This may be a tight fit
DSC03615
11. Place your compressor bracket on the mounting point and tighten firmly. You can use either a 1/2" socket or a 1/2" Combo wrench to tighten up these nuts.
DSC03616
12. Check for clearances. Some tight area’s is the passenger front upper control area. You might need to pull your exhaust down. My muffler sat pretty close to the edge of the skid. Jerry has modified the skid slightly to open this area up.
DSC03878
DSC03632
13. Once every thing is tightened down it is time to check if you need to adjust your shifter linkage to the 4wd selector.
14. If you are having problems with shifting into 4wd high, low, neutral or 2wd you need to adjust your linkage.
15. Again with a friend place the transfer case into 4wd low, take a 13mm socket, loosen the bolt on the shifter linkage on the driver’s side of the transfer case. Place some lubricant onto the shaft (wd40, liquid wrench, pb blaster), and make the adjustments accordingly. Then retighten the 13mm bolt’s.

Tip for install: Feed back from Medic customers, is to loosely put all bolts into the frame, half way, set the tranny down on the skid, fire up the engine, let it run for one minute, shut it down then bolt all bolts to spec….

 

  N-m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.

TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATE BOLTS 

74  55 -
TRANSMISSION MOUNT NUTS  28  21 -

This page last updated: 16-Apr-2008

Content and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail,  Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
All trademarked names & logos are property of their respective owners
This site is in no way associated with FCA.
Jeep is a registered trademark of FCA.