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sageandspirit Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Taos,NM
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Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 12:06 pm Post subject: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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According to our local quick oil change shop, the bolts that hold the "skid plate" - that's what I call it anyway, it's the metal piece underneath the engine that needs to be removed in order to get at the oil filter & drain plug...these bolts I was told are stripped, and if they were to remove the plate, they would not be able to reinstall the plate using the same bolts. This is a 1993 Eurovan MV with the 2.5 and AT. The shop said that if I can bring them the correct replacement bolts to install after they did the oil change, it would be no problem - they did not do the oil change yesterday, or remove the plate entirely, because of the stripped bolts.
Can someone here tell me the correct size bolts that I need to get for this skid plate, so that it can be removed and reinstalled properly after getting an oil change? The shop also said that they could likely get the bolts locally themselves, if I wanted to leave the van with them for awhile. They would do the oil change, leave the plate off temporarily, get the right bolts and reinstall the plate later that day. But I would prefer not to leave the van with them, and just bring them the right bolts myself...
thanks,
Harold
'93 Eurovan MV w/112k miles
'87 Vanagon Wolfsburg Ed. weekender, w/pop top |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:47 pm Post subject: skid plate |
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The "belly pan" is held on by 4 (or more) metric thread bolts-socket 13 mm. On the head it has a 4 and 10.9. I hope that helps. _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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shepherdsond Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2005 Posts: 439 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hmm,
That will work if the bolts are striped but in my experience it is more likely that the threads in the van chasis are stripped, in which case you will need a helicoil or something. If I was you and I did not want to fix it myself I would probably take it to a real mechanic and have them fix it when they change the oil. On the other hand it is no problem to drive without the belly pan so you could give the bolts to the quick change place and if they cannot put the pan back on you can carry it back home in the back (it could be oily so bring appropriate rags etc.) and then have a mechanic fix it... |
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GMByers Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 642 Location: Retired in NW PA
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snowsyncro Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009 Posts: 1557 Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: Re: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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sageandspirit wrote: |
According to our local quick oil change shop, the bolts that hold the "skid plate" - that's what I call it anyway, it's the metal piece underneath the engine that needs to be removed in order to get at the oil filter & drain plug... |
I call that the "diaper pan". I have four of them stacked up, because they come off at the first oil change, and they stay off. I think their purpose is noise suppression, maybe some miniscule aerodynamic advantage, but nothing you would ever notice driving a breadbox down the highway.
I have not noticed any difference with the pan on or off. The biggest PITA for me is that, whenever I drop anything in the engine bay, it seemingly never makes it to the ground. It gets stuck in that oily diaper mess, and then you have to remove the damn pan to get it back.
Around here, you just end up with a flimsy hunk of rusty sheet metal after a few years, supporting a sodden oily diaper.
RonC |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:45 am Post subject: |
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I agree with that. I leave them off for good. |
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James 93SLC Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 937 Location: NE Ohio
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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xoo00oox wrote: |
I agree with that. I leave them off for good. |
X2
Our Passat had one and I replaced it once after it broke off on the highway. Scared the poop outta me it was so loud grinding on the road.
After the second one cracked and started to come apart, I just left it off. No ill effects for 3 more years. _________________ -------------------------
91 Vanagon Carat
93 Corrado SLC
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Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/slc.corrado
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tencentlife "Sometimes a pooka is a problem and sometimes it's just a pooka" |
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r.e.wing_fc3s Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2010 Posts: 591 Location: Vanagon Capitol USA: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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the undertrays have many purposes. aerodynamic/sound accoustics and helping to keep spray/road grit out and engine protection on some, and im inclined to think the manufacturers wouldnt spend money on them for nothing. Vw/audi have by far the most convuluted breakeasy design. they could really take some notes from bmw and mercedes. people who park by braille often hang them up. not great offroad either. rivnuts work well for reattaching the eurovan undertray. |
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Vanielcraig Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2017 Posts: 2 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:22 am Post subject: Re: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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Just as an update. The bolt is an 8mm 10.9, with a 13mm head. Most hardware stores have them. My internal threads where messed up but I was able to re-tap them to clean them up and the bolts held fine. You could probably retap to 9mm without re-drilling if they were really bad. |
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tds3pete Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2004 Posts: 914 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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r.e.wing_fc3s wrote: |
the undertrays have many purposes. aerodynamic/sound accoustics and helping to keep spray/road grit out and engine protection on some, and im inclined to think the manufacturers wouldnt spend money on them for nothing. Vw/audi have by far the most convuluted breakeasy design. they could really take some notes from bmw and mercedes. people who park by braille often hang them up. not great offroad either. rivnuts work well for reattaching the eurovan undertray. |
Agree that the belly pan has several purposes. The body metal is undoubtedly
stripped out here, not the bolts. Rivnuts are an easy solution. I would also consider cutting off the rear third of the belly pan as others have said to make it easier to handle and also make oil and filter changes doable without removal. The rear third offers no protection for the engine and serp belt from water and dirt. _________________ '58 Westy camper-come and gone
'73 Westy-bought new in Holland,now gone
'86 Syncro weekender-come and gone
'79 Westy...Oscar
'95 Eurovan Camper/5 spd...Marsha Mellow |
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57 Zwitter? Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2003 Posts: 418 Location: Boston, Mass.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:11 am Post subject: Re: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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I go on Ebay and buy stainless steel (NEVER RUST) 8mm x 1" long bolts. I use them on Bugs for bumpers, fenders etc etc. They also fit my Eurovan front pan, there are 2 on each side. If your holes in the frame are no good you will have to drill larger, tap and use a helicoil. There is also a different setup on the rear that have the 2 metal fingers that hook into slots on the frame and are secured with studs/ nuts and rubber cushions. Mine were seized and broke when I tried to remove the rusted nuts. I never repaired them and just rely on the 2 bolts on each side to hold it in place |
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57 Zwitter? Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2003 Posts: 418 Location: Boston, Mass.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:21 am Post subject: Re: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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GMB yers, I followed your link and just got someone wanting me to send them money to join a service page! I know I saw a Rialta page somewhere that showed the exact specs on where to cut the hole in the belly an for changing oil filter. Anyone know where to find it? |
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DenverB Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2012 Posts: 704 Location: Denver, Colorado
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:44 am Post subject: Re: '93 Eurovan "skid plate" bolts |
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that trick of cutting an access hole in the pan doesn't work on the 93-95 models. the oil filter is way too tucked up above the pan to reach without removing the pan itself.
I also don't like that modification because you don't get a good view of everything else under the van because you never remove the pan. an oil chnage is the best time to loook up under the hood for leaks, cracks, etc. _________________ -------
'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)
www.RockyMountainCampervans.com |
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DenverB Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2012 Posts: 704 Location: Denver, Colorado
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:45 am Post subject: |
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tds3pete wrote: |
r.e.wing_fc3s wrote: |
the undertrays have many purposes. aerodynamic/sound accoustics and helping to keep spray/road grit out and engine protection on some, and im inclined to think the manufacturers wouldnt spend money on them for nothing. Vw/audi have by far the most convuluted breakeasy design. they could really take some notes from bmw and mercedes. people who park by braille often hang them up. not great offroad either. rivnuts work well for reattaching the eurovan undertray. |
Agree that the belly pan has several purposes. The body metal is undoubtedly
stripped out here, not the bolts. Rivnuts are an easy solution. I would also consider cutting off the rear third of the belly pan as others have said to make it easier to handle and also make oil and filter changes doable without removal. The rear third offers no protection for the engine and serp belt from water and dirt. |
How would it hang if you cut out the rear 1/3? it literally is supported by two brackets out the backside... _________________ -------
'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)
www.RockyMountainCampervans.com |
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tds3pete Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2004 Posts: 914 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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DenverB wrote: |
tds3pete wrote: |
r.e.wing_fc3s wrote: |
the undertrays have many purposes. aerodynamic/sound accoustics and helping to keep spray/road grit out and engine protection on some, and im inclined to think the manufacturers wouldnt spend money on them for nothing. Vw/audi have by far the most convuluted breakeasy design. they could really take some notes from bmw and mercedes. people who park by braille often hang them up. not great offroad either. rivnuts work well for reattaching the eurovan undertray. |
Agree that the belly pan has several purposes. The body metal is undoubtedly
stripped out here, not the bolts. Rivnuts are an easy solution. I would also consider cutting off the rear third of the belly pan as others have said to make it easier to handle and also make oil and filter changes doable without removal. The rear third offers no protection for the engine and serp belt from water and dirt. |
How would it hang if you cut out the rear 1/3? it literally is supported by two brackets out the backside... |
Once the rear is gone, the front four bolts hold the remaining pan up just fine.
It is also much easier to manage when it is smaller. I always drop it when I change the filter, but I have cut enough out that it is not necessary. _________________ '58 Westy camper-come and gone
'73 Westy-bought new in Holland,now gone
'86 Syncro weekender-come and gone
'79 Westy...Oscar
'95 Eurovan Camper/5 spd...Marsha Mellow |
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