Topic: DIY: Skid Plate for your Down pipe ~ $10

[Catalyst]

I got tired of always repairing my heat wrap on my down pipe after the winter season..... so this year I went to town and figured a way to stop the snow and gravel from destroying my nice wrap

step one:
I went to Lowes Hardwear department and got myself one of those Door strike plates 3" wide and 15" long in the Satin finish aluminum. Satin because it sounds sexy!

IMG00715-20110816-1413 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

Step Two:
I then used a rubber hammer and bent the strike plate in thirds down the long way to make it into a U shape to contour against the round pipe

IMG00708-20110816-1334 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

IMG00709-20110816-1334 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

Step three:
I used my sheet metal scissors and cut some relief cuts to allow it to bend

IMG00710-20110816-1337 (1) by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

IMG00711-20110816-1337 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

Step four:
I held it in place and bent it to the shape of my downpipe and used some metal straps that i had left over from when i wrapped my downpipe

DSC_0158 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

DSC_0157 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

DSC_0156 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

these were the metal zip tie things i used. i got them from mopac

IMG00719-20110816-1436 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

step five:
Install your now protected down pipe and rest knowing it will no longer catch on anything!!!

DSC_0168 by tjloewenwrx, on Flickr

[blame]

looks hardcore man.  i'd maybe drill a couple holes in the lower portion to let water out, but i'm silly like that, and the downpipe heat would probably just burn any water off anyway

-sean

EDIT:  i see hankook ventus v12 evo k110's on your car,  how do you like them? been looking at getting a set for a while now

[Griphard]

That's a really good idea! Finished product looks great to!

[Rapier46]

U. R. So. Good.

Nice job dude very innovative.

[THE EDJ]

Only comment I would make is that the bent tabs on the bottom section are sticking out and could catch on something or collect salt, gravel, etc. To fix that, you could unbend it a little and then have the middle section tabs go over the bottom section tabs, like fish scales. This would ensure that the open edge is "down stream" of anything you might hit and would allow any water, salt, sand, etc to flow over the bottom tab.

I also second blame's suggestion to drill a few more holes for drainage, maybe a couple on the side tabs as well to attach some more metal ties.

I like it though, looks good, if my DP was wrapped I would definitely do something similar.

[honz]

Nice. I will be wrapping my downpipe today and will throw something like this on to help protect the wrap.
I have not had good use with those SS ties, I understand they require a tool to tighten them, instead I found safety wire effective.