Composite shields

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:32 pm

I picked up a set of composite shields today.

I thought some of the differences were interesting.

The front shield is flat and smooth lacking the raised bars that reinforce the aluminum and plastic shields.

The engine/front differential shield is over 1" thick through the center section

Whoa! pretty beefy! It attaches using two of the "mushroom headed" Torx shoulder bolts and two self tapping cap screws. That differs a bit from the aluminum versions.

The transfercase shield I have seen before and looks ok, although it does have a deep recess for the transfercase. When compared to the aluminum version, this one hangs down approximately one additional inch.

There are pros and cons to both types of shields.

The advantages of the composite shields are, as I see it, lighter weight, should be quieter (aluminum shields rattle and vibrate at times), darker, so they disappear underneath and hide dirt and oil better, and the biggie....$20 for the set (used) with brackets

(Aluminum shields have been $45 for a used set , if you can find them)

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:13 pm

If you want to sell your front aluminum shield let me know. The one with the oil filter access.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:17 pm

Jim wrote:If you want to sell your front aluminum sheild let me know. The one with the oil filter access.

I still like the aluminum shields and have no plans to part with them.
If I come across one , you are first in line for it

Conman · Post by **Conman** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:12 pm

What truck did you get them off of? ZR2 model?

Cheers,
Con

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:31 pm

Conman wrote:What truck did you get them off of? ZR2 model?

Actually a 2000 Blazer , seems like it might have been a 4dr?

I should have grabbed the fuel tank shield too. It was composite also, though I'm not really sure about it being compatible with the crews. It was different than I remember what the ZR2's shield looked like, I'm not really sure how it mounted and what hardware needed to be gathered.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sat May 01, 2004 1:53 am

wow. you have the best junk yards every. thats an amazing deal!

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 01, 2004 3:55 pm

Installed the composite shields on Art's truck today

Simple bolt-on install. We had more than enough hardware and they fit nicely

He is ready for some offroading now, and I think that I can get him in on a trip to Silver City without worrying about cracking that cast aluminum oil pan

They aren't the aluminum shields , but WAY better than no shields at all. Heck the composite sheilds are what we would have received if a package had been available, and for the average offroader they will last forever.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Sat May 01, 2004 5:45 pm

Are the composites cheaper at the GM parts counter?

Brad

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 01, 2004 5:52 pm

Brad wrote:Are the composites cheaper at the GM parts counter?

I'd say no. They have the same part number as the aluminum version used on earlier models.

Eventually all that will be available will be the composites, they replace the aluminum shields.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sun May 02, 2004 12:26 pm

my tcase shield was completely trashed when i sold it. it is basically useless againts any big rocks

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Sun May 02, 2004 1:07 pm

and boy did they fit nicely.. I am ready for some off roading now.. I feel much safer now that they are on.. I didn't realize how much they cover till I got under there....

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 02, 2004 2:14 pm

a2b wrote:my tcase shield was completely trashed when i sold it. it is basically useless againts any big rocks

Like I said...

HenryJ wrote:...for the average offroader they will last forever.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun May 02, 2004 2:27 pm

HenryJ wrote:
a2b wrote:my tcase shield was completely trashed when i sold it. it is basically useless againts any big rocks
Like I said...
HenryJ wrote:...for the average offroader they will last forever.

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Mon May 03, 2004 12:43 pm

I like the aluminum skids better. I like the metallic shine underneath, specially on a body lifted truck. That composite front diff/engine skid is big time thick. Good find Brule. Oregon must have the best junk yards.

Pete

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Mon May 03, 2004 2:48 pm

yeah they do! they replaced autozone and shucks..

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:39 pm

I found an interesting picture here

I guess the composite skid is off a ZR2 truck and the aluminum skid is off a blazer not sure if ZR2.
They are not the same size and the composite skid looks different from the one in Brule's picture at the top of this thread.

Interesting!

Pete

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:23 pm

yep, i have heard that they are not all the same front skids

Post by **HenryJ** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:29 pm

Retep wrote:I found an interesting picture here
...Interesting!....

Yes , indeed. The picture of the differing composite shield is reported to be off a 2001 ZR2 Blazer-

Dingman wrote:All we could figure is that the Blaz skidplate is shorter than the pickup version. Check out the pic, easily 2" difference from bolt hole to bolt hole.

This could easily have been the source of an earlier confusion on the same subject.

Thank goodness the wrong front shield seems to be harder to come across, and there may not have been an aluminum version since the newer models seem to be the ones that differ.

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:35 pm

I had an idea

, bear with me here

I have a plastic front shield, What if i went to the store and bought a peice of aluminum diamond plate about the same size and bolted it to the front of my plastic one??

That way it is strong and I dont have to pay like 70 bucks, though I would have to take it off to change my oil filter.