how to countersink bolts on a skid plate

[wyota]

So i was lucky enough to get a set of the All Phase skid plates from CR and they are NICE, but being that i dont have the ability to leave well enough alone i thought it would be a good idea to countersink the bolts on the front skid so the heads don't become hamburger.

here is what they look like stock

[Funrover]

Instead of counter sink what about a sheild? cover around the nut to protect it?

[Andrew]

I thought you were going to post how. Because I'd like to do that to mine. Now I just replace them once and awhile.

There was a company that made some skid plate washers but they were custom machined and not free of their own problems either.

[wyota]

so the fist thing i did was cut out the mounting slots from the skid plate using a 1 3/4'' hole saw. In the pic it is sitting on top of the 1 3/4'' tubing i will use for a "spacer"
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/016-2.jpg

next i cut two 5/16'' spacers out of the 1 3/4'' tube and welded them into the 1 3/4'' holes on the top side of the skid
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/018-2.jpg

i then welded the mounting slots onto the spacer's
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/020-2.jpg

then a quick weld around the bottom, and the bolt head is now safe
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/024-2.jpg

on the truck sorry for the poor picture quality
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/025-1.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/ddotdrawdoow/98%20tacoma/027-1.jpg

[Brody]

There are a couple of ways, ranging from cheap to expensive. Cheap: Take a regular wood counter sink bit and counter sink them. Good for about 4-6 holes. The bit will be toast. Buy an expensive mill bit...not worth the cost for what you are trying to do. If you have a unibit, you can carefully fake the countersinking with it. Keep in mind that it is a bit and is going to want to grab and go deeper. These things run about $40, but you can find them cheaper at HArbor Friegh. Just don't expect them to last very long. Research the countersunk washers. Also look into the companies that make the beadlock wheels as many of them sell the coned washers (and bolts) specifically for that reason...

Looking at where your bolts are located, if you have access to a welder, I would get a chunk of 3/8" rod stock and simply weld it in front of the bolts.

[CR]

Looks Great!

[Fordguy77]

Looks pretty good, i was gonna suggest something like that but you figured it out before i got to ya

[TxTau]

good write-up. the skid looks awesome.

[Brody]

Nice work around. Your picture just showed the front bolts way up high which is what I was thinking about....I didn't even see the two that were going to get trashed. You ended up making the same kind of rock rings that are used for the real beadlock bolts.

[1freaky1]

Nice job!!!!

[brian pleasant]

nice looking skid plate, i never done it before but i can see it is awesome..