I recently acquired a 86 f250 4x4.
There is what I am calling a skid plate? under the sidemount tank.
It needs to be replaced but I'm coming up empty on my search.
I looked on LMC and I don't see anything in their catalog, looked at a few other places with no luck.
What is the correct terminology for this and I was guessing it's factory, but is it?
There is an aftermarket flat bed on it so maybe it's something a PO had installed.
Maybe I looked at it wrong, I didn't spend much time under it examining it.
It definitely was not the tank itself, since it's supported with straps.

 

My F350 came with skid pates under both gas tanks as well as the transfer case (I think that's what it's from, I honestly took that piece off several years ago but I think that's where it's from) so it's totally possibly your truck had them.

I can't imagine trying to find replacements of those things outside of a junkyard, though.

 

E0TZ-9K147-A .. Fuel Tank Skid Plate - Use with mid-ship fuel tank / Obsolete

Marked: E0TA-9A148-AB or AE // E1TA-9A148-EA // E2TA-9A147-EA

1980/88 F150/250 4WD Super Cab 155" wheelbase // 1980/88 F150/350 4WD Regular Cab 133" wheelbase // 1983/88 F350 2WD/4WD Crew Cab // 1984/87 F250/350 4WD 6.9L Diesel.

No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any, none on ebay.

 

I believe the package consisted of 3 items: tcase plate, side tank plate, and rear tank plates.

If anyone knows more detail on the package, it would be interesting to hear about as Ive only ever seen one truck with them around here.

 

Correct...three pieces as you say.

Depending on the condition of the existing skid plate you might want to try to refurbish it. If you live in an area where they salt the roads the skid plate does protect the tank from some of the salt exposure. That in itself is worth keeping it in place. Is it rusting out?

BB2

 

Interesting, I believe mine was sold as the camper package, at least that was the documentation that I found in the truck.
I was very surprised to find the owners manual, and other documentation still in the truck. Including tire warranty paperwork.
I'm pretty sure it was all original since it came in a shawnee mission ford envelope. VIN shows it was produced in Kansas as well.
Yes the mount towards the rear of the vehicle is gone.
The front mount still is attached. I am thinking about getting some metal welded to it and save what is left.
Especially since there is nothing out there.
I'm pretty sure the T-case skid is still there. I can't recall if the rear tank one is or not. I don't think it is. I'd have to go out and look.

 

Depending on your trim level, base, xl or xlt different items were standard. I believe that the camper package and the skid plate package were add ons for all models though.

BB2

 

I have taken those plates off and thrown them away on all the trucks I have had. Weird all the trucks I have owned had them. The little ranger I have had them on it too, I have already taken them off, they are in the metal pile getting ready to go to the scrapper.

They get in the way of servicing the truck, they hold dirt and mud and I think they accelerate the tanks rusting out. They are very difficult to get on and off since the bolts rust so bad. I can't see me doing any type of off-roading where I would need the truck sliding over something and need protection for the tanks and the transfer case.

 

Don't disagree with your thoughts. Yes those bolts are complete rust.
I'm not doing serious off roading either.
I do end up on amish skid trails though. So it's nice and easy through those. My other truck doesn't have any but I figure it's added protection from the odd stick.

 

You do have to keep the skid plates maintained. I haven't had any problems maintaining the midship and transfer case plates. The one on the rear tank is more difficult to maintain. Keep em painted and protected with a coat of Fluid Film especially if you are in the salt zone.

BB2

 

Photos here....
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...nd-t-case.html

 

My 1986 rear tank skid plate is in two parts and the one in the photo is in 4 pieces.

Also the top straps on my tank are not of the type that could support the tank weight if switched from top to bottom. I saw a comment on that thread that swapping the straps from top to bottom could be done after getting rid of the rear skid plate. My top straps are too light to support the weight of the tank, it's there to keep the tank from bouncing up and down, it's only a hold down strap. I guess you could consider the bed as the top hold down. With a steel tank that would not be a good idea as it would probably scratch up the paint making a pathway for corrosion. Also the top strap is secured to the cross members on a downward angle making the tank secure fore and aft. I wouldn't assume that you can use the top straps for bottom straps unless that are at least 1/4" thick steel support straps. My top straps are thin gauge and even flexible, suitable for hold down straps only. I think you should have both top and bottom straps on the tank if you get rid of the rear skid plate support.

BB2

 

I used the top straps to hold the rear tank in place after I took the skid plate off. It's still under there to this day, that was about 10 years ago. The straps looked to be the same thickness as the straps holding the side saddle tank in place.

I can't remember exactly, I am talking about my 89 which should be the same, but I want to say the tank will not fit up through the hole in the frame, the straps bind it against the front and rear frame crossmembers. It was long ago and I can't remember all the details, but I do not remember the tank being up against the bed. If that were the case, you would have no room for the emissions vent and the pipes and sending unit would be very tight in the front area. I put oversized 1/2 vents on my tanks on my 89, and I barely have room for the one on the rear tank, but I do have room between the bed and the top of the tank.

 

The space between the rails and the cross framing is tight. Depending on which tank you have there can be quite a bit of slop fore and aft. The plastic tanks don't have the welded seam around and they have more room to move.The top strap has a T-end on the rear end and a T-bolt on the forward end. The T-end goes through the rear crossmember through a 45 degree angled slot and is secured by rotating the T-end back to horizontal. The T bolt on the forward end goes down through the crossmember, through the top flange to a nut for tightening. the narrow portion of the T-end is maybe 1/2" wide and the strap is maybe 20 ga. Not a lot of meat there. The T-bolt is something like 1/4" to 5/16" diameter. About half the crossectional area of the bolts holding up the skid plate or bottom strap. This is what came on my truck, but maybe you have something different? Anyway I wouldn't trust it to hold a 19 gallon rear tank up for a long period of time. You have fatigue and corrosion allowance to consider.

Check these straps:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Tank-S....c100005.m1851

These formed steel straps bolted up to the frame is what you probably want if you don't have skid plate support. I think those bolts are 3/8" diameter and they are machine grade. That t-bolt on my top straps is crap mild steel. I wouldn't trust it for a long period of time. Then you still need something to hold the tank in place and that's what the top straps are there for. If you don't have top straps your tank is not secure.

The side tank on my truck uses light guage straps but I think there are 3 or 4 of them and they are wider with a different method of securing them in place than T-ends and T-bolts.

You might want to inspect the setup you have from time to time and make sure it's secure.

BB2

 

On my side tank there is only 2 straps, and they work the same as the rear straps. There is a key-hole slot that the strap twists in to keep it from coming out on the frame side, and you have the bolts on the driveshaft side to hold it in place.

My rear tank is steel, and has a large flange all the way around. That is probably what keeps it from going up through the hole between the crossmembers.