Winterhawk

I'm getting ready to remove my front skid plate to install front tie in brackets and a new steering box spacer. I'm going to repaint the skid plate because one of the PO's painted white teeth over the original red (not my style, but some like it). Checking the skid plate it was definitely red from the factory, but I personally haven't seen another one painted red before. Anybody here that has a factory front skid plate, is yours red or black or? Was thinking of painting black, but then again the red on mine was original.

EvanM

I had no idea there was a skidplate there. Is it plastic?

agreen

No they're metal. Not terribly common either, but they're out there. Every one I've ever seen has been black. I wonder if a previous owner painted it to match?

Winterhawk

This one is definitely red from the factory not repainted. XJ is green so not painted to match. It's not a bright red. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it before removing it. Attaches with 4 bolts in front and 2 on each side near the anti sway bar mounts.

Ralph77

You talking about this?

I never seen one that was painted red from the factory.
That is one that I scuffed up and POR 15'ed was black.
And I know it was black new. Still had the part number label on it when I bought.
Had been probably been kicking around for 25 years or so. Was scratched up some.
Just don't remember if it was painted or powder coated.
Leaning towards it was painted.

EvanM

Ive never seen one but i to doubt it was red from the factory.

If it was mine id paint it white.

XJlimitedx99

What makes you so sure about this? I also doubt it was red from factory. I've only seen them black.

89eliminator

they were all black from the factory.

diskman

Mother Mopar painted them black. I doubt they would spend the .02c to paint ANYTHING a different color than black.

Winterhawk

Took it off this morning and cleaned it best I could for now. Front and back it's red, scraped off paint in a couple spots and under the red is bare metal. Back side looks like black spots, but that's oil and gunk I haven't cleaned off yet. Either someone stripped it completely and repainted it red or it was red from factory. No overspray anywhere under car. I find it interesting, but not definitive. If I can find a close red it's getting red again, if not black it is. Seriously though, if it was repainted red someone went through alot of trouble to do it.

robsjeep

I have only seen them in black till now. You have no chain of custody since manufactured, so you cant say for sure it was red at factory. True I dont have a chain of custody on all those numerous black ones I have seen.
But given many of us have only seen black ones, and you found only one red one, I saw the odds are highly likely that the red is not factory. Black paint can easily be stripped, so lack of black under the red does not mean it was never black.

but it sounds like you want it red, minus the teeth, so go for it. If you want originality, I go with black, as I think that being manufactured red is a very very low possibility. You'd lose points for red at a concoures type car show competition, but winning car shows for originality is not the goal, go for red white and blue, it is American made!

I have removed paint and repainted many parts, many times with a color change, it happens, and I am 99.99% sure that is what happened here.

good luck

Winterhawk

It is what it is, isn't it. One very rare possibility is the US Forest Service requested it. 99% sure they wouldn't though. Not sold on red at all, probably do black because I have black paint on hand. More interested in function over show as this is one of the least likely vehicles ever to be produced that would get a second look at any judged event. My interest is simply an **** obsession with certain details. Comes from owning too many collector cars in the past, and the hunt for rare parts and production details during a restoration process. Being a retired Mechanical Design Engineer I think details are part of my DNA. I'm trying to be normal, but there's no fun in that.

cruiser54

I worked at a Jeep dealer from 1980 to 1992. Service Manager and shop foreman.
So, I have seen a ton of XJs and MJs. Even ones we delivered to the Forest Service.
The skid plates were available in any color you wanted, as long as it's black...

Winterhawk

Back to Black it is!

diskman

Easy test.. Spray a paper towel with carb cleaner and wipe the backside of the plate. I'll bet its rattlecan paint.