T-100 belly pan and side skirts...

[BamZipPow]

Over at Toyota Nation, I've been documenting my belly pan and side skirt build. It's been pretty fun except fer today...it's raining and I'm trying to finalize my build, pack up stuff fer my road trip, and git on the road. Gonna see if I can git some more black coroplast to go over the side skirts...

Not sure if it's gonna pay off in the long run...we'll have to see.

Some piccies...

[theholycow]

Looks good.

Coroplast takes spraypaint well, in case you can't find black coroplast.

[BamZipPow]

I might drop the clearance on the side skirts once I git the coroplast on there. It's more resilient than the R-Matte foam board. At least if I hit it on something or scrape it on a speed bump...it won't tear away like the R-Matte.

I should be able to git black coroplast...that's what I have on the front side and the air dam lower pan. On my first try with white coroplast and black spray paint...it had a tendency to chip with the road debris/bugs...so now I just try to git it in the color I need it in.

[theholycow]

Yeah, for front-facing coroplast I didn't just plain spraypaint it. I put on adhesion promoter, then a few layers of black spray-on Plasti-Dip. I had it all around the house anyway and wasn't using it.

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

I dunno...plywood right next to a hot exhaust pipe and catalytic converter kinda scares me...

...I've kinda had visions lately of taking some tin-snips to the junkyard, cutting off tops of junked cars for sheet metal, and fabricating a belly-pan from that...trying to figure out where I'd find the time for that, though...

[theholycow]

That idea sounds like it would be really heavy and you'd have bulging odd-shaped pieces. If you were going to that effort, why not find skid plates instead? They're already the right shape and size.

Otherwise, thin sheet metal used for home construction might be decent, or it might be too thin.

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

Most car sheet metal seems to be pretty light...if you've ever gotten a replacement fender from a junkyard you know what I mean. Also, tops are pretty flat, and should be pretty easy to shape. Also, I expect they'd be pretty cheap.

[BamZipPow]

I've had the belly pan on fer over 3 weeks now...no scorch marks at all. Been checking it fer any possible damage. I'm still gonna put an aluminum heat shield when I git the chance. Thanks fer the concern!

[BamZipPow]

The trip went without a hitch and nothing fell off or got broken. Gas mileage seemed to be better at the higher cruising speed...especially with the winter gas mix and the lower temps.

Now I'm thinking about using some stretch fabric (lycra/spandex/neoprene) fer the rear section under the rear axle. Put in a support between the rear springs so there is enough support fer the solid piece that would cover up the spare tire. The stretch fabric would allow fer movement fer the suspension/rear axle without ripping the fasteners out. I did a preliminary fit with some leftover R-Matte and it seems like it would be a decent departure angle. I'll have to measure it fer sure and see how much adjustment I'll have to do in the draft fabrication.

BTW...what's the optimal angle of departure fer the rear of the belly pan?

[BamZipPow]

Finally installed the engine bay belly pan today. Just a simple 15" x 41" panel made from some leftover R-Matte. It's currently attached with some zip ties, scrap coroplast, and a bracket. If it passes, then I'll end up making a single panel that will incorporate the air dam and engine bay panels. Putting it on and taking it off will only entail 4 bolts.

I did notice it got quieter inside the truck...