@WhiteBronze392 Build

redbeard719 · May 26, 2023

Haha, got to spend money to save money! Did you order anything yet?

@WhiteBronze392 · May 26, 2023

redbeard719 said:
Haha, got to spend money to save money! Did you order anything yet?

No I am going to percolate on it and narrow down the list over the weekend. Looks like the sales are good though Monday

@WhiteBronze392 · May 26, 2023

Reading about skids on another forum, interesting. He is wheeling in stuff I would never do

Think we talked about these before as I had a customer with them. As these will work, I personally hate aftermarket skids for multiple reasons,
A) Waste of money
B) Stock skids that come on the Jeep work very well.
C) They make inspecting/repairing parts, especially on the trail, a nightmare
D) They trap and hide leaks you might have.
E) They trap a lot of heat

Honestly save your money and apply it elsewhere such as drivetrain/suspension.
The only skid I would even consider would just be an oil pan skid.

Jgc650i · May 26, 2023

@WhiteBronze392 said:
Did they give you any idea on weight? didn't see anything listed.

No, nothing directly from Rusty’s. There is a YouTube vid (below) where they did a comparison of the Rusty’s skid package vs the Metal Cloak. It’s for the JL and not 392 specific, however I would assume weight are similar with reasonable variance. They weighed it out as 183 lbs total for Rusty’s with a resonator skid and 167 lbs without.

@WhiteBronze392 · May 26, 2023

Jgc650i said:
No, nothing directly from Rusty’s. There is a YouTube vid (below) where they did a comparison of the Rusty’s skid package vs the Metal Cloak. It’s for the JL and not 392 specific, however I would assume weight are similar with reasonable variance. They weighed it out as 183 lbs total for Rusty’s with a resonator skid and 167 lbs without.

Thanks I will update. So the only one without a known weight is Artec

@WhiteBronze392 · May 26, 2023

Updated. I am also going to add a column showing if its modular or not so you can add as wanted or determine its needed

@WhiteBronze392 · May 29, 2023

So I narrowed it down to the Rusty’s and MORE oil pan/ trans skids. I decided I wanted more of a modular system which I could add to if I decided i wanted and or needed more instead of a full “system”. I chose the steel MORE because it looks like it protects the exhaust crossover, which is the lowest most vulnerable point, better than Rusty’s. Taking advantage of the Memorial Day deal it was $461 shipped. (Rusty’s was $469) I just couldn’t bring myself to spend north of $3k on the NVM system or add 235 pounds for the Motobilt system.

Buttt…..I also ordered bumpers.. I went with Genright ultra clearance front (no hoop) I have liked this bumper for a long time and it will reduce some of the weight added from the winch and Warn plate and the Genright right rear as well. The front will require cutting off the “fangs” and I’ve gotta figure out mounting for the Fox reservoirs and rotate the sway bar disconnect motor which looks simple and have no idea why Jeep didn’t do it to begin with. I am going to leave them bare AL to begin with but may Steel-It or powder coat them black later.

Tank2112 · May 30, 2023

@WhiteBronze392 said:
So I narrowed it down to the Rusty’s and MORE oil pan/ trans skids. I decided I wanted more of a modular system which I could add to if I decided i wanted and or needed more instead of a full “system”. I chose the steel MORE because it looks like it protects the exhaust crossover, which is the lowest most vulnerable point, better than Rusty’s. Taking advantage of the Memorial Day deal it was $461 shipped. (Rusty’s was $469) I just couldn’t bring myself to spend north of $3k on the NVM system or add 235 pounds for the Motobilt system.

Buttt…..I also ordered bumpers.. I went with Genright ultra clearance front (no hoop) I have liked this bumper for a long time and it will reduce some of the weight added from the winch and Warn plate and the Genright right rear as well. The front will require cutting off the “fangs” and I’ve gotta figure out mounting for the Fox reservoirs and rotate the sway bar disconnect motor which looks simple and have no idea why Jeep didn’t do it to begin with. I am going to leave them bare AL to begin with but may Steel-It or powder coat them black later.

No aluminum skid, for weight savings?

redbeard719 · May 30, 2023

@WhiteBronze392 said:
So I narrowed it down to the Rusty’s and MORE oil pan/ trans skids. I decided I wanted more of a modular system which I could add to if I decided i wanted and or needed more instead of a full “system”. I chose the steel MORE because it looks like it protects the exhaust crossover, which is the lowest most vulnerable point, better than Rusty’s. Taking advantage of the Memorial Day deal it was $461 shipped. (Rusty’s was $469) I just couldn’t bring myself to spend north of $3k on the NVM system or add 235 pounds for the Motobilt system.

Thanks for the update. Do you have the sale code from M.O.R.E?

Now that I've had the weekend to think about these skids some more, along with how we'll probably be using the Jeep, I also think that full belly skids will be more than what I need.

My biggest concern is the oil pan/crossover/transmission. I've been strongly leaning towards just adding that piece for now, and over time adding on if needed.

@WhiteBronze392 · May 30, 2023

Tank2112 said:
No aluminum skid, for weight savings?

I was leaning that way but it was a 38 pound difference between the two and decided I felt better with steel

@WhiteBronze392 · May 30, 2023

redbeard719 said:
Thanks for the update. Do you have the sale code from M.O.R.E?

Now that I've had the weekend to think about these skids some more, along with how we'll probably be using the Jeep, I also think that full belly skids will be more than what I need.

My biggest concern is the oil pan/crossover/transmission. I've been strongly leaning towards just adding that piece for now, and over time adding on if needed.

There wasn't a code it was just marked down 20% for Memorial Day

@WhiteBronze392 · May 31, 2023

Well the Kraken is now on end of June orders and still no pressure control available and the price for it has increased $200 so just hit place order for the InnovativeAt system. There are things I like better about the Kraken (under seat mounts) but not $400 better for essentially the same system

redbeard719 · May 31, 2023

A buddy of mine just ordered the Kraken system last week. He got it today, and it was showing pre-order as well. And somehow, he managed to luck out because he was able to pre-order the pressure control kit too.

As for the pricing, if you scroll to the bottom of the product page, I would bet you're set up to see prices in Canadian currency.

Either way, you got yourself a good kit on the way! I'm still waiting for Epic to release the next batch of the pressure control kit before I do my install.

@WhiteBronze392 · May 31, 2023

redbeard719 said:
A buddy of mine just ordered the Kraken system last week. He got it today, and it was showing pre-order as well. And somehow, he managed to luck out because he was able to pre-order the pressure control kit too.

As for the pricing, if you scroll to the bottom of the product page, I would bet you're set up to see prices in Canadian currency.

Either way, you got yourself a good kit on the way! I'm still waiting for Epic to release the next batch of the pressure control kit before I do my install.

Holy crap you are correct when I tried to checkout it was showing CAD for some reason. Oh well maybe it was meant to be lol, wouldn’t install the kraken then go back and install the pressure controller later.

edit and good luck

@WhiteBronze392 · Jun 2, 2023

I am having withdrawals with nothing to work on the Jeep this weekend so gonna catch up on the house stuff. Just going to get out and enjoy driving it. I have a trail run Sunday morning with a buddies Bronco/Jeep group so it will see dirt for the first time. Just wish I had the AAL inner fenders already installed but oh well They are still in powder coating.

Next week will be busy. I’ve got bare aluminum machined rings for the Innov8’s, GenRight bumpers, Innovative AT ARB, MORE skid, ACE engineering swaybar motor rotate kit, MOPAR half door uppers bag and possibly GenRight steel rock guards being delivered. I am not sure how I am going to hide all of the boxes from the wife

Also ordered a EVO license plate bracket that puts the plate where the 392 is on the back like the JK and requires not drilling etc but doubt I will leave it there. Was the cheapest I could find other than zip ties while sorting through the many spare mount kits and not crazy about any of them thus far.

Electrified · Jun 2, 2023

@WhiteBronze392 said:
I am having withdrawals with nothing to work on the Jeep this weekend so gonna catch up on the house stuff. Just going to get out and enjoy driving it. I have a trail run Sunday morning with a buddies Bronco/Jeep group so it will see dirt for the first time. Just wish I had the AAL inner fenders already installed but oh well They are still in powder coating.

Next week will be busy. I’ve got bare aluminum machined rings for the Innov8’s, GenRight bumpers, Innovative AT ARB, MORE skid, ACE engineering swaybar motor rotate kit, MOPAR half door uppers bag and possibly GenRight steel rock guards being delivered. I am not sure how I am going to hide all of the boxes from the wife Also ordered a EVO license plate bracket that puts the plate where the 392 is on the back like the JT and requires not drilling etc but doubt I will leave it there. Was the cheapest I could find other than zip ties while sorting through the many spare mount kits and not crazy about any of them thus far.

Must be nice! I have to inch my way forward to your already great results. By the time I reach your spectacular results you will be way ahead of me again!

@WhiteBronze392 · Jun 2, 2023

Electrified said:
Must be nice! I have to inch my way forward to your already great results. By the time I reach your spectacular results you will be way ahead of me again!

Haha thank you no I just get addicted. I had planned to take it slow with this build unlike my Raptor but i should lol

Ted392 · Jun 3, 2023

I've gone 3 weeks without spending money on the 392. Painful.

redbeard719 · Jun 3, 2023

Haha, I am almost ashamed of the pile of boxes I have stacked waiting to be installed on the 392. Almost! I’ve been buy parts since December!

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel - yesterday I trailered the 392 to drop it off for full PPF, tint, and ceramic coating. It’s scheduled to be done Thursday!

It’s been a painful month since May 1 when I got it home and haven’t driven it at all. Still sitting at 31 miles! But that’s about to change real quick…

Time to get a game plan of what to install first…

@WhiteBronze392 · Jun 3, 2023

redbeard719 said:
Haha, I am almost ashamed of the pile of boxes I have stacked waiting to be installed on the 392. Almost! I’ve been buy parts since December!

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel - yesterday I trailered the 392 to drop it off for full PPF, tint, and ceramic coating. It’s scheduled to be done Thursday!

It’s been a painful month since May 1 when I got it home and haven’t driven it at all. Still sitting at 31 miles! But that’s about to change real quick…

Time to get a game plan of what to install first…

Man that would kill me! Not sure how you do it!!