Transfer Case Crossmembers & Skid Plates

[adamj]

I did not know there were 3 different skid plates... well I guess I'll have to keep looking and trying. Do you happen to know if the transmission crossmembers are specific to a transmission type? That might help me rule out a skid plate that's paired to a type of transmission.

 

[HotRodPC]

I did not know there were 3 different skid plates... well I guess I'll have to keep looking and trying. Do you happen to know if the transmission crossmembers are specific to a transmission type? That might help me rule out a skid plate that's paired to a type of transmission.

No, the crossmembers don't seem to matter by transmission. Seems they matter by year model more than anything. Then what matters is the height of the Tcase adapter. There is short and tall Tcase adapters. The taller one is needed for the older style crossmember that I have not pictured. The short Tcase adapters go to the 2 crossmembers I've pictured above, known as the W crossmember and I'm seeing the other called a Wavey crossmember.

I've got my **** scattered from my storage/shop, to my dad's property 70 miles away, and my buddies shed. I'll try to make it a point to gather up all the skid plates and take pics with their respective crossmember, except I don't have the W crossmember anymore.

 

[HotRodPC]

This doesn't help much since you can't see the crossmember and skidplate, but this is NP208 behind a 700r4 on the Wavey Crossmember pulled from an 87 Suburban. Notice how short the Tcase adapter is.

Here is skysurfer's pic. He too should have the same wavey crossmember and skidplate I have pictured below.

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh, I did find a pic of the older style crossmember that uses the taller Tcase adapter. Notice how this crossmember dips down, therefore the Tcase adapter has to be taller. In this example, the Tcase adapter is built into the transmission tailhousing.

For Comparison purpose, I've included the pic with the W crossmember and the Wavey crossmember. This the only 3 crossmembers I know of used on 4x4s.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'm fairly certain that this skidplate is the one for the W crossmember which is the bottom one of the 2 in that picture.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[HotRodPC]

Then the skidplate that 1low posted goes to the older drop down crossmember.

 

[HotRodPC]

Are you getting this info Adam??? I've got some more pics that I took today after gathering 2 of my crossmembers and their skid plates.

 

[HotRodPC]

That wavey type crossmember used in the later model squares with short Transfer Case adapters. And it's skid plate.

 

[HotRodPC]

The drop down crossmember commonly found in manual transmission applications that have the taller transfer case adapter.

 

[HotRodPC]

And the underside of both of the above 2, Wavey and Drop Down Crossmembers with Skidplates installed.

 

[HotRodPC]

I no longer have a W crossmember in my possession, but I do have a W crossmember skidplate around somewhere. When I find it, I'll post a pic of it too so you know what it looks like.

Here is a pic of the W crossmember that uses the short Transfer Case adapter. I know it's used in the early to mid 80's trucks, not sure what years and models it's used in.

 

[bucket]

The drop down crossmember commonly found in manual transmission applications that have the taller transfer case adapter.

This one seems to be used for everything pre '85. The NP203 skid plate employed two of these crossmembers, with the second one just supporting the end of the skid plate and not the trans. The K30 version of this crossmember was a little more flat to accommodate the taller frame rails.

 

[adamj]

Thanks for the info HotRodPC!!
This is very helpful, now I feel comfortable next time I'm at the yard to find the skidplate I need. I have the wavey, not the W, and I've got an idea now from the picture what to look for in the skid plate, from post 25.

 

[HotRodPC]

Post up an ad here in the WANTED section, and I'd include will to trade too. The skipplates are nice to have but not necessary. But someone may be in the same boat as you and have the wrong skidplate.

I'd imagine you don't have a W crossmember laying around from another truck do you? I'd sure trade that crossmember for this Wavey Skidplate. My truck originally had the W crossmember, but I'm likely going to have to drill holes in the frame to use the Wavey Crossmember I have.

 

[Craig 85]

My 85 K30 has the W crossmember with the skid plate in Post #20. I have a TH-400 w/NP-205.