How To Install a Teraflex HD Oil Pan Skid Plate on your 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Installation Note: Installation was done on a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ with a manual transmission 

1. The front arms of the skid plate will mount to existing holes in the engine block. Most TJ’s will have 3/8-16 threads on both sides, but some engine blocks from 1991-1999 will have a metric thread M12-1.25 on the driver side of the block. If a nock sensor is present, remove it and reinstall it through the arm of the skid plate.

Note: The automatic transmission cooler lines will have to be temporarily moved to allow access to the engine block bolt on the left side. Just remove the clip or bolt from the hanger and then put them back in place once the engine skid is installed. 

2. Line up the back of the skid with the bell housing. Using the bolt holes on the skid, remove the corresponding factory bolts and move the skid up into place.

Note: Manual transmission models may have a small bolt in the bottom center of the bell housing holding on the inspection cover. Remove this bolt 

3. Choose the correct size flat washer and put one or two flat washers between the bracket on the back of the engine skid and the bell housing inspection plate. Do not remove the inspection plate. The washers will keep the new engine skid from bending the inspection plate against the flywheels. Put in the 5/16-18 x 1-1/4 bolts for automatic transmissions or the M12-1.75 x 55 mm bolt with the original nut for manual transmissions.

4. On 2003 and newer Jeeps the addition bell housing bracket is used. Hold the bell housing bracket up to the bell housing to see which bolts need to be removed. Remove the 2 factory M10 bolts, install the bracket to the bell housing just finger tight using the supplied M10-1.50 x 25 bolts with flat washers. Put one flat washer between the new bracket and the bell housing to space the bracket away from the thin inspection cover.

5. Lift the skid plate up into place and bolt it to the bell housing bracket using the 3/8-16 x 1 1/4 bolts with flat washers, split locks and nuts. Just finger tight at this time. 

6. For Final tightening, tighten the side engine bolts to 35 ft. lbs, then tighten the M10 bell housing bolts to 25-30 ft. lbs, then finally tighten the skid plate to bell housing bolts to 35 ft. lbs.

7. Installation Complete

Installation Instructions Written by ExtremeTerrain Customer Jake Wall 12/7/2015