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Front and rear gap guards
Topic Started: Oct 11 2006, 10:41 PM (1,097 Views)
Alta Boy
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Quad Squad site owner

I know you can buy gap guards off ebay or even from Performance Accessories. They are great for keeping your engine bay clean on a body lifted Dakota or even on a non-body lifted Dakota. 2wd or 4wd. I made my own from a couple of pieces of matting and some interior "christmas tree" plugs. The plugs can be bought at any automotive store and come in different sizes. Different size diameter heads can be had on them too.

Before: Whole side of the engine is exposed to anything flying off the tires. *you can see the exhaust manifold in the shot*
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After: Everything in the engine bay is protected after the gap guards are installed.
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This installation was on my body lifted 4x4 so the gap was considerably bigger. I have the same setup on my 2wd Dakota, Sully. Just not as big though. They were really simple to make and install. First thing I did was to cut the matting to the approximate size and shove it up on the underside of the wheelwell opening. I drilled one hole at the top of my wheel well and stuck a 1/4" bolt through it and the matting. Then spun a nut on the bolt to temporary hold it in place.

This is a view of the pass. side wheel well opening. The green circles indicate where holes were drilled and the plugs were installed. That first hole would have been the one drilled right over the brake line.
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Hold the matting up on the ends and tuck it up to get it reasonably straight and flat along the opening. Get a tire marking crayon pencil and trace out the contour of the opening.*You can see that yellow marker outline in the 2nd and 3rd pics*

Once you have the outline traced take the matting out and cut along the traced contour leaving about 1" extra all the way around. Put it back up into place and reinstall that 1/4" nut and bolt. Double check everything for fitment and then start drilling the rest of your holes and installing the plugs from the backside one at a time to hold it in place.

Be carefull when drilling the holes. Don't drill into your airbox or any electrical components mounted on the fender wells. Double check!!!!

I've seen a pair of PA ones and they were not nearly as big. They were mounted on the outside edge of the fenderwell and had an exposed lip that would catch dirt. Didn't like that at all. Thinking about the installation I did on mine the only thing I should have done differently was to install the plugs with the heads exposed to the outside. In simplier terms the plug should have been installed through the drilled hole in the fender well, then through the matting, then through a flat washer to hold it all in place. That way all you'd see from the outside is a flat plastic head and not the serrated edges of the plugs. If that makes any sense to anyone.

Oh ..... And I did my rears basically the same way.*Wouldn't need these on a non body lifted Dakota*
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I'll get a pic of the plugs posted in case someone doesn't know what I'm talking about. If your real curious, lift up the hood on your Dakota and look at the underside of it. Next to the hood catch mechanism there should be a rubber strip that runs from side to side. Take a look at what's holding it on. Those are the plugs but a smaller version of what was used for this. I'll get the particulars on the size of plug I used along with the approximate size of matting needed for this also.
Peter

Posted Image
Sully..............................................The 4x4
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saxnbass
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Looks a lot cheaper than PA Gap Guards, not looks wise, but cost wise. You know what I mean.
Eric

Real convo with my friend:
Me:"You don't slam trucks" (slam as in lowering to the max)(I don't like slamed trucks)
Friend:"You do some trucks"
Me:"Name me on truck you slam"
Friend:"A Ford Ranger"
Me:"Yeah, you slam a Ranger.......into a brick wall"

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Alta Boy
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Quad Squad site owner

If any of you want some of this matting for this mod I get it at work for Free! Pay for the shipping and it's yours. $20 US shipped anywhere to the US There will be enough mat to do both front and rear on both sides.

You'll still have to purchase the "Christmas tree" plugs.
Peter

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Sully..............................................The 4x4
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y2kota
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Just an old fart.
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What a deal! I'll order a set next week. How do you want the $20?
Posted Image

Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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saxnbass
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Wow, the Performance Accesories Gap Guard are $85 for the set. :o
Eric

Real convo with my friend:
Me:"You don't slam trucks" (slam as in lowering to the max)(I don't like slamed trucks)
Friend:"You do some trucks"
Me:"Name me on truck you slam"
Friend:"A Ford Ranger"
Me:"Yeah, you slam a Ranger.......into a brick wall"

Posted Image
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Alta Boy
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dak_n_bass
Oct 13 2006, 11:09 AM
Wow, the Performance Accesories Gap Guard are $85 for the set. :o

Yeah, exactly. Why pay $85US + shipping when you can do it yourself for about $30 when you factor in the cost of the plugs which aren't included BTW. This is just for the mat.

I have a paypal account if that works Don. Paypay address is lowquad@hotmail.com.
Peter

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Sully..............................................The 4x4
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y2kota
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Just an old fart.
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OK I'll let you know when.
Posted Image

Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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y2kota
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Just an old fart.
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PM sent.
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Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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y2kota
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Just an old fart.
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Got mine in the mail today. Thanks! Will work on them soon. Buts its time to go get some sleep. Working 3rd shift tonight :angry:
Posted Image

Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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saxnbass
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Don "Just An Old Fart" Mallett got them. We will appreciate pics once installed. :)
Eric

Real convo with my friend:
Me:"You don't slam trucks" (slam as in lowering to the max)(I don't like slamed trucks)
Friend:"You do some trucks"
Me:"Name me on truck you slam"
Friend:"A Ford Ranger"
Me:"Yeah, you slam a Ranger.......into a brick wall"

Posted Image
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Alta Boy
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Quad Squad site owner

Glad to hear you got the mat Don. If you need any further help or have any questions about the install hit me up.
Peter

Posted Image
Sully..............................................The 4x4
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y2kota
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Just an old fart.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Alta Boy
Nov 4 2006, 11:22 PM
Glad to hear you got the mat Don. If you need any further help or have any questions about the install hit me up.



OK, But I don't your the one I want to hit up at the moment [fart]







J/k
Posted Image

Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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Alta Boy
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<_< Har dee har har ..... Funny guy


One thing I should mention is on the pass. side of the fenderwell there is heat shield material. Mine was fastened on with staples. It's there to protect the plastic fenderwell from the heat of the exhaust manifold. Sandwich the matting in between the heat shield material and the fenderwell to maintain that heat shield protection.

Be mindfull when you start drilling holes through the fenderwell for wire harnesses and such and take note how the mat will hang from your anchoring points. If you do it right there won't be any wrinkles or binds and the mat will hang perfectly straight. If need be you can cut a notch for the brake lines and the upper A arm mounting points on the frame to mold the mat better around these irregular points.
Peter

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Sully..............................................The 4x4
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saxnbass
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y2kota
Nov 5 2006, 05:01 PM
Alta Boy
Nov 4 2006, 11:22 PM
Glad to hear you got the mat Don. If you need any further help or have any questions about the install hit me up.



OK, But I don't your the one I want to hit up at the moment [fart]

HAHAHAHAHAHA That was funny :lol:
Eric

Real convo with my friend:
Me:"You don't slam trucks" (slam as in lowering to the max)(I don't like slamed trucks)
Friend:"You do some trucks"
Me:"Name me on truck you slam"
Friend:"A Ford Ranger"
Me:"Yeah, you slam a Ranger.......into a brick wall"

Posted Image
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y2kota
Member Avatar
Just an old fart.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Alta Boy
Nov 5 2006, 01:29 PM
<_< Har dee har har ..... Funny guy


One thing I should mention is on the pass. side of the fenderwell there is heat shield material. Mine was fastened on with staples. It's there to protect the plastic fenderwell from the heat of the exhaust manifold. Sandwich the matting in between the heat shield material and the fenderwell to maintain that heat shield protection.

Be mindfull when you start drilling holes through the fenderwell for wire harnesses and such and take note how the mat will hang from your anchoring points. If you do it right there won't be any wrinkles or binds and the mat will hang perfectly straight. If need be you can cut a notch for the brake lines and the upper A arm mounting points on the frame to mold the mat better around these irregular points.



Now you tell me!


Na, I know better! What needs to be done is to install the heat shields back on my stock manifolds before installing the gap guards.
Posted Image

Don Mallett, Fort Worth, TX
Home of the Y2KOTA
Modifications listed here.<a href='http://eapr-1/@3@2000@4@SLT%20Plus@5@2WD@6@4.7L@7@Link%20in%20sig.@-2@@' target='_blank'></a>
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