adding oem skid plates to regular 4x4 silverado 1500

[DanY]

Finished the install. Should take only 15-20 minutes. You need a 10mm socket and 15mm socket.

 

Remove the plastic guard by removing the 2 15mm bolts from the radiator support. Then remove the 4 10mm bolts from under the engine.

 

Remove the 2 brackets by removing the 4 15mm bolts from the front and rear A-frame crossmembers.

 

Install the rear skid plate using the same 4 15mm bolts in the same position as the brackets.

 

There are 2 holes in the front crossmember just in front of the new rear plate that need tapped with 2 of the new self-tapping bolts. Then install the front plate using these 2 new holes and the 2 existing holes in the radiator support.

 

I'm adding the link to my new imgur.com album, hopefully your can see them. Sorry about the crappy installed pics. Can't get a good shot without the truck being on a lift.

 

http://imgur.com/a/YzATY

Edited December 27, 2015 by DanY

[jrob56]

Looks great! Plates nice and thick, looks like aluminum right?

 

Edit: Just looked at page 3 thanks for all the info. Might be grabbing a set!

 

Where does the little black plate go?

Edited December 27, 2015 by jrob56

[DanY]

Looks great! Plates nice and thick, looks like aluminum right?

Edit: Just looked at page 3 thanks for all the info. Might be grabbing a set!

Where does the little black plate go?

The black steel plate goes under the transfer case with 4 self tapping bolts.

 

The other 2 plates are aluminum.

 

Check my post back on page 3 for the eBay link to get the kit for $183 shipped.

Edited December 27, 2015 by DanY

[SMiller]

Finished the install. Should take only 15-20 minutes. You need a 10mm socket and 15mm socket.

 

Remove the plastic guard by removing the 2 15mm bolts from the radiator support. Then remove the 4 10mm bolts from under the engine.

 

Remove the 2 brackets by removing the 4 15mm bolts from the front and rear A-frame crossmembers.

 

Install the rear skid plate using the same 4 15mm bolts in the same position as the brackets.

 

There are 2 holes in the front crossmember just in front of the new rear plate that need tapped with 2 of the new self-tapping bolts. Then install the front plate using these 2 new holes and the 2 existing holes in the radiator support.

 

I'm adding the link to my new imgur.com album, hopefully your can see them. Sorry about the crappy installed pics. Can't get a good shot without the truck being on a lift.

 

http://imgur.com/a/YzATY

Looks great, thanks for the pictures.

 

 

Wonder if they would fit the HD trucks, anyone know if they use the same skid plates as the half tons?

[tnchevy]

Thanks a ton DanY for your help and write up on this. Should have mine in a couple of weeks and your install instructions will come in handy. You keeping the transfer case cover or selling it? I will probably end up keeping mine, the one on my truck is made out of steel because it is already rusting so may need the extra one in a few years.

[DanY]

Thanks a ton DanY for your help and write up on this. Should have mine in a couple of weeks and your install instructions will come in handy. You keeping the transfer case cover or selling it? I will probably end up keeping mine, the one on my truck is made out of steel because it is already rusting so may need the extra one in a few years.

I haven't decided yet. I'll probably keep it for now. Now the 10 leftover self tapping bolts may be another story. I'll keep 4 for the transfer case plate. I paid the dealer over $8 a bolt when I bought my original transfer case plate.

Edited December 28, 2015 by DanY

[bertiman]

Some idiot dumped his ladder on the highway over the weekend.... I ran over it at 65 mph. Fortunately, it was just a small bump for the truck, but it could have easily been worse. I'm having skid plates installed tomorrow.

[ajdata]

Thanks ajdata, I figured it would. Any pics you can share with us?

https://goo.gl/photos/ApfsWXDBinoRAAJz6/URL]

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Rayce08]

Just ordered mine , should be here next week hopefully , I will also post pics when I install

[tnchevy]

https://goo.gl/photos/ApfsWXDBinoRAAJz6/URL]

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Can't get your link to work. Hearing about DanY having to install 2 self tapping bolts has me worried that the 2014 does not have the holes to tap into that the 2015's have. I hope that is not the case!

[ajdata]

Can't get your link to work. Hearing about DanY having to install 2 self tapping bolts has me worried that the 2014 does not have the holes to tap into that the 2015's have. I hope that is not the case!

I didn't have to do anything special to get them to fit. Just unbolted the plastic ones and bolted up the aluminum ones.

 

Try this link

https://goo.gl/photos/ApfsWXDBinoRAAJz6

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[tnchevy]

Thanks ajdata! So you didn't have to install two new self tapping bolts for one of the front skid plates?

[DanY]

Thanks ajdata! So you didn't have to install two new self tapping bolts for one of the front skid plates?

You do have to install the rear 2 self tapping bolts for the front plate. There are 2 holes in the front a-arm cross member. They are sort of punched inward, not a simple drill hole, this gives them some depth for the threads to cut into. From what people here say, they are present on the cross member for the 2014-2016 models.

 

If you want to convince yourself, take 10 minutes and pull off the plastic splash guard. You will see the holes directly in front of where the 2 steel brackets bolt to the front a-arm cross member.

[ajdata]

You do have to install the rear 2 self tapping bolts for the front plate. There are 2 holes in the front a-arm cross member. They are sort of punched inward, not a simple drill hole, this gives them some depth for the threads to cut into. From what people here say, they are present on the cross member for the 2014-2016 models.

 

If you want to convince yourself, take 10 minutes and pull off the plastic splash guard. You will see the holes directly in front of where the 2 steel brackets bolt to the front a-arm cross member.

What is a self tapping bolt? When I hear that I think of a bolt with a sharp point designed to penetrate an area that did not already have a hole.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[DanY]

What is a self tapping bolt? When I hear that I think of a bolt with a sharp point designed to penetrate an area that did not already have a hole.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

These are GM bolts that are tapered a bit. They use them on a lot of attachments to the frame without having to tap the holes. The tapered tip allows the threads to bite when you start turning it in. These bolts are 10mm x 1.5 thread. You can use regular bolts if you tap the holes with a tap and die set.

 

The GM part number for these bolts is 11518341. They are listed as M10x1.5x25. Retail for 4 is $37.40 with tax.