Transfer case skid nut strips

[banderso]

I am looking for info on the nut strips that hold the factory transfer case skid on. Pictures of the factory parts or home made ones would be great. A description from those who made their own would also be great. As far as I can tell the nut strip in the cross member is a piece of flat stock with two holes drilled in it and nuts welded on top of the holes. The fact that there are two nuts/bolts in it keeps it from turning. The nut strip that goes in the unibody rail only has one nut/bolt so the flat stock just turns until it wedges itself against the sides of the rail. Is this all correct? Am I missing anything? What size steel stock have people used? Thanks for any info you can offer. By the way, I hope this is right forum because even though I am trying to make the piece did come on some cherokees from the factory. Thanks.

[Wayne Sihler]

There are no "nut strips" in the cross member for the skid plate.There are nut-serts that are installed and expanded to bolt into.
The factory skid is better than nothing,but spend a little more and get a better skid from Tomken or Rustys.
Wayne

[banderso]

Thanks for the correction. So the nutserts are probably a dealer item then? How do they work?

[karstic]

"SEARCH" is your friend

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57314&highlight=nutserts

[RichP]

The factory ones are like $18 or so each, I've also seen someone who makes an aftermarket one, was in a post over the last couple months.
You could make your own with some thick stock by just lining up the holes, drilling and tapping them, the only issue would be the little jog it makes when it comes out the rear to the last hole...

[Eagle]

Ummm, Rich ...

He's looking for the TRANSFER CASE skid mount.

I buy the threadserts (sometimes also refrred to as Riv-Nuts, because they can be set with a tool like a rivet gun) from an industrial fastener company called The Nutty Company. They're on the web, if you can't find the things locally. IIRC the ones you need take a 5/16" bolt and fit a 1/2" diameter hole.

They are also available in both steel and aluminum. As much as I worry about galvanic reaction using steel bolts in aluminum threads -- GET THE ALUMINUM. Ain't no way you're going to collapse the steel ones using the hand setting tool. Just be sure to use anti-seize on the bolts when you put things together.

[RichP]

Ummm, Rich ...

He's looking for the TRANSFER CASE skid mount.

I buy the threadserts (sometimes also refrred to as Riv-Nuts, because they can be set with a tool like a rivet gun) from an industrial fastener company called The Nutty Company. They're on the web, if you can't find the things locally. IIRC the ones you need take a 5/16" bolt and fit a 1/2" diameter hole.

They are also available in both steel and aluminum. As much as I worry about galvanic reaction using steel bolts in aluminum threads -- GET THE ALUMINUM. Ain't no way you're going to collapse the steel ones using the hand setting tool. Just be sure to use anti-seize on the bolts when you put things together.

Damn, I hate it when that happens...

[banderso]

Thanks everyone for the info. I think I should be able to find these semi-locally. I found some info about installing them without the special tool - seems easy enough.