"Future Heap Owner" (aperiodic)
05/30/2019 at 20:14 • Filed to: Area man believes metal is an effective substitute for ground clearance, Volvo V50, softroading, Skid Plate
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"Future Heap Owner" (aperiodic)
05/30/2019 at 20:14 • Filed to: Area man believes metal is an effective substitute for ground clearance, Volvo V50, softroading, Skid Plate | 1
| 23 |
The reason !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is because I was going to spend twelve miles on what the Forest Service labels a “high clearance” road, and I wanted a little extra protection given that my Volvo has only 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) of ground clearance. I got back from the trip last night, and given how the skid plate looks now, I’m very glad I put it in.
Above is how the skid plate looks now. You can see scratches along the entire length, and the opening on the right has been noticeably banged up. For reference, here’s how the skid plate looked immediately after installation:
It’s definitely done some work. Let’s take a closer look at the damage!
Above you can see some scratches on the passenger side, stretching nearly the entire length of the plate (the opening on the top is the leftmost opening in the first two pics, for the oil pan drain). Below are some similar scratches on the driver side. The skid plate is definitely doing its job here.
But let’s take a look at that rightmost cutout, where the bottom of the transmission bolts into its structural support:
Yikes! You can clearly see that a chunk of the mounting fin of the transmission is missing. Here are some closeup shots of that damage:
This does make me a bit nervous. How worried should I be about this? Is it gonna just crack without warning? Is it something I should keep an eye on in case it gets worse over time? Or is this what engineering safety margins are for?
Outside of the area protected by the skid plate, there was remarkably little damage. I was a bit worried about the cat, but that does benefit from being loosely suspended rather than bolted in, so it has room to flex out of the way when a rock hits it. There was a bit of damage to the heat shield surrounding the cat:
I did my best to work it back into place by hand, but it’s scrunched up pretty good:
I’ll have to do some research, but from a quick look around, replacing this doesn’t seem too hard to do. If so, I’ll probably do this myself before my next softroading adventure in a month’s time.
I’m really glad I have this plate protecting the oil pan, but the amount of damage on my first trip out does give me a little pause. I’ll certainly take it even slower next time (I was slightly cavalier in spots where I should have been more careful). My main concern right now is how bad that chunk out of the transmission really is. Let me know what you think! And if there’s anything I could do short of replacing the transmission.
sony1492
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 20:21 |
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I wouldnt worry about the chunk missing, if it were a problem there would be fluid leaking
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 20:21 |
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Your very brave. Or something...
Also “how bad that chunk out of the transmission really is”
Bad. Any transmission chunks are bad
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Future Heap Owner
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
05/30/2019 at 20:27 |
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Yes, brave is one word for it.
You seem to expect your cars to be all in one piece, working well, and looking good. I think that’s being a little picky.
Sovande
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 20:34 |
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When you replace the transmission mount get the one for the E- Focus. It’s stiffer and makes the shifts much more crisp.
And get a jeep, you lunatic.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 20:36 |
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*looks at the pool of oil.under the truck and ST*
Sure...let's say that
AestheticsInMotion
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 20:40 |
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Don’t listen to Sovande, rally on!
I wonder if you could gain some ground clearance with XC springs......
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Future Heap Owner
> Sovande
05/30/2019 at 20:52 |
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Oh, so it is a separate bracket, rather than part of the transmission. Great! This looks like something I could definitely replace myself.
I do not like driving Jeeps on the highway at all, which is where I spend 90% of my time driving on road trips (at least) . Of all the backpacking trips I’ve taken in the past few years, this road was by far the hairiest. Usually it’s just gravel.
It is making me think about lifting this an inch or two, or possibly getting an older XC70.
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Future Heap Owner
> sony1492
05/30/2019 at 20:52 |
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I like your attitude
My X-type is too a real Jaguar
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 21:26 |
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I’m impressed nice use of a soft roader
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Sovande
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 21:38 |
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You can definitely do it.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 22:17 |
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Meh. Just lift it and put some bigger tires on. You’ll be fine!
Seriously though I wouldn’t worry about that arm. It’s more or less just cosmetic damage. Just glance at it every time you change the oil to make sure it doesn’t crack.
Where was this? I'm thinking the AdvMonster might need a new challenge...
Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
> Future Heap Owner
05/30/2019 at 22:49 |
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Pr o move installing that skid plate, by the looks of it you could’ve gotten very stuck on that trail
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Future Heap Owner
> Sovande
05/30/2019 at 23:57 |
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Yeah, all of five bolts. Should be straightforward.
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Future Heap Owner
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/31/2019 at 00:27 |
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Thanks, that’s reassuring to hear from a professional. I do think I’ll probably replace it before my next softroading adventure, in part because it’s an excuse to upgrade to the stiffer mount.
If the f orest service roads to my backpacking trailheads are in the same sort of shape as this one, I might look into a lift and tires. I’ve mainly done national park trips before this, where you usually don’t even leave a paved road, but now I’m going to national forests so I can take Ravna.
This one was forest service road 4697 to Bull of the Woods wilderness, which you get to from 4696 off of 46 outta Detroit. The first three miles are pretty tame, it’s the last three where the gravel turns into rocks, ruts, and holes. The only vehicle that I saw up there that wasn’t a truck or SUV was a 90s/early aughts Outback (looked stock) . I did get a double take and smile of bemusement from someone driving a truck.
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Future Heap Owner
> My X-type is too a real Jaguar
05/31/2019 at 00:27 |
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Thanks! Glad you said “nice” instead of “dumb”
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Future Heap Owner
> Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
05/31/2019 at 00:32 |
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I was very glad to have it when I heard the rocks clanging off of it.
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Future Heap Owner
> AestheticsInMotion
05/31/2019 at 00:43 |
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I’m not having luck finding any information on the interwebs about lifting a V50.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Future Heap Owner
05/31/2019 at 00:44 |
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I should show you the underside of the factory skid plate on my 2001 VW Transporter Syncro. The transmission mount looks like it has been repeatedly battered with a ball peen hammer! And there’s a few coolant fins missing on the transmission too...
Clearly though...you need to slow down in the beefy stuff. Technique and pa ti ence is the key to getting somewhere decent in a soft roader...
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Future Heap Owner
> SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/31/2019 at 00:59 |
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Post a pic!
Yeah, I had it in second for a little bit, which was clearly a bad call. I should have left it in first the whole time, and coming back down probably never had it in gear at all . I have half a mind to drive back to this road and practice on it sometime...
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SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Future Heap Owner
05/31/2019 at 01:03 |
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The things I do for Oppo...
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Future Heap Owner
> SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/31/2019 at 01:08 |
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Thank you!
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Sovande
> Future Heap Owner
05/31/2019 at 06:17 |
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When I replaced it in my C30 (manual trans) the difference was night and day. I have read that it is the same with the automatics as well. That part and a bigger rear sway bar make a big positive difference in how these cars feel and handle. Of course, if you are going to be driving on billy goat tracks, you might want less rear sway bar, not more.
I kind of regret selling the C30 as the P1 Volvos are really fun and really easy to upgrade. While not as comfy or as well appointed as the P3 V60 I have, they are more certainly more of an enthusiasts car. If you find some money in your pocket, I would strongly suggest a Do88 intercooler - it makes a huge difference, even without a tune (which I would also encourage).
Have fun.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Future Heap Owner
05/31/2019 at 15:10 |
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“professional”
It’s not uncommon to need more ground clearance that the average car provides. I bet a small lift would be pretty easy.
Cool. I'll look into that. Thanks!