SSI Skidplates

[bakergtt]

I have to give SSI two HUGE thumbs up for the skid plate they made fit my BD. The reason I bring this up is because it protected my oil pan and header from any damage over the weekend.

Here is the low down.....driving out by my parents in the country, on my way to meet up with a friend cuz he just had made a tee time for us, a kid half ass pulls out in to the road. The road he is coming off of is right after a little hill so he couldnt see me but once he did he just froze. I slam on the brakes and the ABS kicks in but I am still not stopping quick enough to avoid an accident. So my options are to either go left and hit a car head on, possibly, go stright and t-bone this kid right in his driver door which might have killed him or go right try to avoid any accident and take my car off road by plowing in to a ditch and black berries. Needless to say I took the right route. While still on the brakes I turn right, get at about a 45 degree angle so that the front of my car is going to miss him but the back end wont and then let off the brakes which brought my ass end around missed the kid totally but still couldnt avoid the ditch. slam into the ditch with the right side of the car, plow throught a bunch of black berries and then roll up onto the road.

So I back up to the road this kid was trying to pulled out of and get out to check for damage. To my surprise no body damage at all except some scratches and black berry juice all over the right side of the car. I however did get a right flat front tire do to crap getting under my rim lip (the rim is ok too!) So I put the spare and drive to my parents which is just down the road. Wash the car off and try to get my tire to hold air by gettign the crap out form under the lip, which I did after a couple of tries. So as I am about to put the tire back on I thought to myself I wonder how much damage my skid plate took and glance over there. Its been hit and hit hard. Almost smashed up into the oil pan. no more then probably 1/8in of gap if that.

I thank you guys at SSI for making a great product!!!!!!! You saved my car form a lot of engine damage but can you fit up another skid palte for me...lol

[Huffer]

That's great to hear!

[Wiscon_Mark]

I need a skidplate. Where'd you get yours?

[bakergtt]

Here is the plate new
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

And after this weekend
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/VoodooAdam/skidplate.jpg

[phi11]

I've been thinking about fabbing one of these up!

[bakergtt]

The plate is from SSI (Suby Solutions Inc) here in Portland, OR

[Huffer]

The plate is from SSI (Suby Solutions Inc) here in Portland, OR

Do they have a site?

[bakergtt]

http://www.subysolutions.com/

I dont care what type of driving you do with your car I say anyone and everyone should have one on!!!!!

[SubiFlow]

www.ipdusa (http://www.ipdusa) dot com

[Huffer]

this one:
http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx? ... ootID=1414 (http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx?CategoryID=1672&NodeID=5262&RootID=1414)

Models Years Engines Description Part # Price Sale lbs.
Legacy Outback 2000-04 aluminum skid plate WS60-001 $189.95 $170.95 30.0000 BUY
Forester 2002-05 aluminum skid plate WS60-002 $179.95 $161.95 30.0000 BUY
WRX 2002-05 aluminum skid plate WS60-002 $179.95 $161.95 30.0000 BUY
WRX, STi 2004-05 aluminum skid plate WS60-002 $179.95 $161.95 30.0000 BUY
Legacy GT, Outback* 2005-06 *Turbo only aluminum skid plate WS60-006 $199.95 $179.95 70.0000 BUY

NOTE: Skid plates ship at 30 lbs. due to double oversize box dimensions. They are very large items, but worth the investment and protection they provide!

http://www.ipdusa.com/Images/categories/Subaru/skidplatessubaru.jpg

[bakergtt]

They really dont make one that works prefect for the BDs. The cut outs for the oil filter and drain aren't lined up right and you have to drill holes for the back mounts to screw into your jack plate.

They didnt make a production version because they didnt think they would get enought sales for our kind of cars

[Huffer]

I just submitted a catalog request stating I heard from them from www.sl-i.net (http://www.sl-i.net)

Adam- you should write to them and tell them to come visit the site, and see the pics as a customer testimonial - perhaps they will provide a modified 2000 Legacy plate for BD/BGs...

[Wiscon_Mark]

Adam- you should write to them and tell them to come visit the site, and see the pics as a customer testimonial - perhaps they will provide a modified 2000 Legacy plate for BD/BGs...

Considering how many outbacks there are in BG form in the US, they should definitely make some BD/BG/BK style plates.

[bakergtt]

Well If ALL you guys write in asking about one they might change their minds

[phi11]

well good news and bad news,

I can make these, (won't be for awhile, still in prototyping)

bad news, so far I've only done a Impreza one. ('01 & up)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/IMG_1880-1.jpg

it was a EASY install.

[blackgtbeauty]

well good news and bad news,

I can make these, (won't be for awhile, still in prototyping)

bad news, so far I've only done a Impreza one. ('01 & up)

it was a EASY install.

well lets chop chop big guy, we have needs! :grin:

[Wiscon_Mark]

I wouldn't mind helping you out with this Philip. Like, test it on another 2nd gen type testing :twisted:

[GT Wagon]

If you guys are seriously interetsed one of the guys in the Subie club has been making skid plates for the WRX crowd and they're turned out quite well. Since I'm pretty much the only Legacy in the club its not worth his while but if several of you would want one that's a different story. I can provide pics of his work if you're interetsed.

[warrior]

If you guys are seriously interetsed one of the guys in the Subie club has been making skid plates for the WRX crowd and they're turned out quite well. Since I'm pretty much the only Legacy in the club its not worth his while but if several of you would want one that's a different story. I can provide pics of his work if you're interetsed.

Definately! And where in Ontario are you.. I want to join this club!! :oops:

[GT Wagon]

Definately! And where in Ontario are you.. I want to join this club!! :oops:

We're in Ottawa, and you're welcome to join. You're not too far away and there's always someone going to/from Toronto. The skid plates are 3/16 thick with 5053 aluminium. Francois who makes them, work on a rally team so he knows what it takes to make one that actually protects the car. He can make it thicker if desired, the thicker plates obviously cost more. A lot of the guys in the club run night rally events and have put these plates to the test with great success.

Oh, and someone else in the club builds the light bars. There's lots of people who are talented in this club. :smile:




Here's some pictures of his work

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[phi11]

If you guys are seriously interetsed.....

yes, I'am serious, which is why i'm making prototypes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wiscon_Mark]

Philip, my offer stands :twisted:

[Jonathan]

I would love a proper skid plate for the 2nd generation (95-99 USDM) Legacy. However one might encounter difficulties with the pictured plates that, while well made and durable appear to lack proper access to the oil filter and drain plug.

The grease monkies at my local "Jiffy-Lube" would be totally baffled by this. Either there needs to be some form of quick-disconnect skid plate fittings, or some other means of access to the filter and drain plug areas which vary to some degree between the EJ22 and EJ25 motors.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks !

[Huffer]

Cut some holes. Geez.

[Wiscon_Mark]

NEVER take your car to the jiffy lube. Problem solved.

I honestly don't think it'd be that hard to drop the plate every 3-5,000 miles.

[d1giPhux]

How are the plates held to the body of the car? I know this sounds kind of dumb, but what i mean to say is, would you need to drill any holes on the car, or is there already "stock" mounting holes on the car? Would be cool if there was some type of oil drain / hole or what not, as dropping the plate EVERY time you do an oil change could get annoying. I think if you made some holes for the oil filter / drain area, you could use another piece of metal welded to the plate to make it more stable / tough around the drain areas. Just my .0003 cent.

[phi11]

"stock holes" yes,


actually its super easy to take off/on. we have thought about it though. i just dont think the cost(less protection) is worth the benefit(easier oil change). if it was harder to take off i think we would definitely make an access but its just so easy.

from http://www.awdaddicts.com/forums/showth ... 3#post4573 (http://www.awdaddicts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4573#post4573)

[badbasser98]

I wonder how well the SSI plate fits with aftermarket headers? :razz:

Namely the Borlas...

[Wiscon_Mark]

I can't see the aftermarket ones being worse than stock, considering how stock's heatshields are so obtrusive.

[rougeben83]

I need one for my BE. The last rallycross I went too, I found dirt hanging out *on top* of the plastic side shields- thing mine has...and I already got a couple of tears on my header wrap on top of that. And that was me avoiding the big stuff the other cars and trucks were digging up that day :lol: :lol:

MMM SKIDPLAAAATTEEEE :drool:drool:

[Strakes]

I've got a SSI skid plate. On a lowered car it is really nice. I've pulled into a parking spot, hit the curb by accident, and lifted the car on the plate with only a scratch left on it.

[redlegacygt]

thought id bump this for a questin i have... does anyone know if this skidplate fit with the aftermarket headers? i wasnt sure if there was much difference in range of clearance from the stock headers and the borla replicas...

[Strakes]

Call ipd and talk to Chris Delano or email him. He is the head of all the Subaru stuff there. I bet some customer has done this and ipd should be able to tell you if that customer had any complaints. You can go to their website and use the contact form as well...but make sure you request a response from Chris:

http://www.ipdusa.com/company_contact.aspx

[Wiscon_Mark]

Outbackwbeer said he had to dent his a bit for his borlas.

[redlegacygt]

yeah i was planning on getting ahold of someone at IPD and asking them but figured id check here first.... it wont be a problem when the new motor is put it, but i just wanted to make sure before i get one while i still have the aftermarket headers..

[rougeben83]

thought id bump this for a questin i have... does anyone know if this skidplate fit with the aftermarket headers? i wasnt sure if there was much difference in range of clearance from the stock headers and the borla replicas...

In most cases, including the Impreza guys, they have to modify the plate little with the borla headers. Just the way the header curves to the front of the oil pan, usually right behind where the skidplate would bolt onto the front. It's nothing major; most either dent the plate or just use some washers to mount the front part lower.

I have the opposite problem with my TWE headers - they hang very low at the bottom, past the firewall, I haven't bothered tinkering with a way to fit my big skidplate back on it since it's too cold (I just bent up a piece of sheetmetal as a temporary splashguard right now :D).