Show Us Your Skidplates!

[GRMPer]

I've got one of those on my other "saab" and had one on the P2 Impreza. They work ok, but can bend into the exhaust if you really stuff it.

I want to participate with this thread since my new nick name is "skidplate" (which is better than monopod, but that's another story)

Here's my skidplate on the outback, from primitive racing 3/16" aluminium.

[GRMPer]

Oh, and yes Groo, I had Brian as a co-driver at WV. Grahn was my co-driver at NY. Haven't figured who is going to be in the stupid seat in the new car.

[Geoff]

Per, here are some shots of some skidplates from some Swedish rally cars. Sorry about the size...

works 99 (this one used to run in the US!)


Trollspeed 99


Worksish 900






Gas tank skidplate on 900


No photos of mine yet [/img]

[saab90089]

Interesting skid plates on this thread. I always wondered what the saab rally cars ran.

The Primative skid plate for the Outback is nice. However there is a downside to them (least I think it was Primative). They do not bend all the edges up (bevil...right word?) which isn't a big deal. Untill you get stuck and have to back up; causing all the mudd to get pushed between the plate and underbody. This happened to my buddy's WRX last year at STPR. He notice his friends STI had a different company plate and they bent all the edges so they angled up for the last 1".

Ian

[SAABMaven]

...they bent all the edges so they angled up for the last 1".
Ian

Like this?

In the second picture, you're looking at the _back_ end of the skidplate. Also angled upward and so far has prevented the exhaust from getting ripped off on a stage.

Cheers
Rob



[/img]

[Crazyswede]

wow look at all that ground clearance

[SAABMaven]

wow look at all that ground clearance

Most of you have a lot more experience on the stages than I have; so with this qualification...

This is a SAAB 96 rally car, not a 99/900; a 96 has a lot less hanging underneath to be damaged. Ground clearance on the 96 can afford to be less; what is significant is not how low you are whilst parked, but how low you will go on the springs. Put two somewhat overweight people into the SAAB 96 and it will not go down so much. Come down hard from a yump, and again, not down so much. I worked with Jack Lawrence (MSS) and Bert Arano (Union 7) on the proper ride height and springs; we arrived at a figure that was a few cm lower than stock.

Add to that, that the underside of the 96 is flat, like toboggan. The engine compartment is closed on the bottom. Except for the exhaust hanging out; which has always been a problem in rallying: no exhaust tunnel! (But lots of leg room !)

In Baja, the solution was to put the exhaust up and over. Regardless, the 96 was a great rally performer in its time, especially for being always underpowered compared to the competition.

Today the Power Slide is more common and better known than the Pendulum, and the quality of the turns are less critical. So rally cars are built very different from vintage rally cars.

[Luke]

Rob I really want to see that thing back on stage! Black River 2007! Its a great rally, no BS just good roads and good people, perfect for a SAAB 96.

[Crazyswede]

I will navigate for you if you want to run.

[Luke]

The skid plate after a 60 mph collision with a rocky washout:

[Jordan]

As bad as that looks, it looks worse in person....so how are the mounting points?

[Crazyswede]

just imagine the damage if you had the skid plate on there we had at BRS last year.

[Rallyho]

Hmmm, seemed to absorb the hit, but man did it mush that thing.

So, any ideas how you will rebuild it?

[Geoff]

So, any ideas how you will rebuild it?

Thicker!

[Rallyho]

yeah...thicker would help. I was wondering if some diagonal cross-members would have helped keep that from crushing in so far...spread the load out a bit.

Is that 6061 alum?