Since I bent the crossmember on the Tracker,

http://www.eye-irritant.com/august2004/bent%20x-member.jpg

I am going to replace it and maybe do a belly pan.

Has anyone done this or have any idea's on how to do it?

Cwkick

make some thing like this

That looks very well built.  I was think more along the lines of a 3/16 or 1/4 inch plate that went from frame rail to frame rail and front bumper to the last tubular crossmember.

Cwkick

make some thing like this

wow is that for a tracker?

and i think you need to look for some pics of Mikes tracker, he has FULL(nose to tail) underbody protection.

stu

My 4-dr stuff got bent up real bad last ride too.  I was thinking the same, But I don't want the extra weight.  Any suggestoins or Actual Belly pan users with good weight guesstimate.  

   I was thinnking of modifying an S-10 aluminium belly pan.   Light weight, cheap at the U-pull it, and 80% for the fab is already done.

I use a Bronco II skid on my little sammy.  It was free and works great for T-case protection in the rocks with the 29" TSL's.

I got a Ford Ranger gas tank skid plate. Goes from just in front of the front differential, all that way back about 6" behind the T-case. 3, 3/4" bolts, 2" long and 3 holes drilled in the skid plate, and 3 holes in crossmembers, and I got everything vital covered. Works great!!

I think once I get started working on the Tracker again, it's gonna get most of the underbelly covered... from the front bumer, covering the IFS, and going to about the rear of the passenger doors, then having smaller plates for the t-case and gas tank. It won't be 'plate' either, but rather a heavy guage sheetmetal, for lightweight purposes... possibly aluminum.

I did consider a heavy duty crossmember as I trashed mine everytime I went out (only replaced it twice though) but then I looked at the mountings on the frame. Reinforce the xmember and they will bend instead. I fitted the Calmini skid plates (eventually -what a waste of money!) under mine and that seems to spread any impact enough to stop any bending.

When adding a skid plate at length, consider the work necessary to remove to replace something which would breake, ie axles. Rarely would a ds go out.
Beware of covering any exhaust especially the converter due to heat generation. Make sure there is available air flow to keep it cool.

I was wondering about covering the cat.  The belly pan would box the cat in and I'm guessing that would be bad.

Would drilling a series of holes in the cat area work?  
I could just cut that area out and roll the lip up so it doesn't hang up on anything.

Cwkick

I was wondering about covering the cat.  The belly pan would box the cat in and I'm guessing that would be bad.

Would drilling a series of holes in the cat area work?  
I could just cut that area out and roll the lip up so it doesn't hang up on anything.

Cwkick

Solution to that problem: gut the cat!

It's a 1997 with OBD II.  I don't think the puter would like that very much.  Otherwise I would.  

Cwkick

Aren't there modules that can be made to fool the computer into thinking there's a cat, when there really isn't one?

Yes there are, but I would rather adjust the belly pan than mess around with the electrical stuff.  

Cwkick