Over the summer I bought an 89 F250 XLT Lariat Extended Cab with a 351 V8 and a C6 transmission. I did a bit of cosmetic damage (bumpers/exhaust) to it the other day when I buried it in some horrible mud. I am making custom HEAVY DUTY bumpers for the front and back, putting 3 Inch body lift in, putting 2 inch leveling kit in the front, and putting skid plates on. This is all to avoid breaking stuff for the next time I get in a pickle (and to keep out of pickles). I want to put skid plates under almost everything in between the axles so that it will cover up everything in between the frame. I am also going to be making my own exhaust system because the factory exhaust came off when I pulled it out as well. I want to put the exhaust above the skid plate in between the transmission and the frame. With the skid plates covering everything up (transmission and Exaust) I am a little concerned that It will create a lot of heat that will be trapped and cant get out. I will be creating the most heat when I am not moving very fast because of off-roading. Will this create a problem for say the transmission and transfer case and will it cause any fire hazards? all input will be very helpful and very appreciated.

 

You could get a plate and have it bent so you have a flat surface that matches up with the frame, then drops down at an angle (imagine it matching the T case skidplates angles if you have one) then is flat on the bottom, angles back up and into another flat surface for more bolts on the other frame rail.

If it was me...I would just build some exhaust out of some good thick tube/pipe, have it tucked up nice, routed out infront of the rear tire. Everything else venerable like brake lines can be ripped off near the axles where you have no skids anyways.

 

I think I see what you are saying with the transfer case skid plate idea. I more or less want it be completely flat so that if I get to a log I can just goose it and slide over it. I am going to be putting the exhaust out in front of the right rear tire because I don't want to have to play with going over the axle with dual pipes. I am putting true-duals in. I was also thinking that to get rid of some heat I could cut a 2 or 3 inch wide by maybe 2 feet long strip out of the skid plate underneath the exhaust a couple times so that it would have a little bit of circulation. I would put small rod going across the slit so that nothing could go up through. would this be a danger for sticks or debris?

 

would the engine's fan be moving a little air through there or would it not come back that far?