Valhalla’s Shield theft deterrent/skid plates info and ordering post

I looked at my service history with this mechanic and it was last done roughly 40k miles ago. If I could drop the rear plate I would so they wouldn't have to deal with it, but I wonder if it would be possible to add a cut out to allow the drain of the diff, transmission and transfer case? If not, I'll have to remove them in another 40k miles (which for me is every 2 years), or pay them an extra hour or 90min to remove and reinstall.

 

The cutout would need to accommodate entry and exit to the diff, and that might mean a bit too much space too easily accessed to maintain deterrence.

[Edit]: but I'd wait on Tyler for the best response...

 

Ok. it's a trade-off and doesn't happen as frequently. I'll either drop the plates or pay the mechanic extra. Not a deal-breaker for me. Although I might time these fluid changes to be in warmer weather months going forward

 

I love visiting California! When I was oil and gas I spent ALOT of time there, mostly San Diego, LA and north of San Francisco

 

So, I am working on spending time to finally make the rear cat plate revisions I have been wanting to do for months. There will be a 2wd plate that will be almost identical to what is already there, but I will come up with some kind of guard to block access for the people without the transfer case (this would be optional). Then there would be the 4x4 version that will have a window for access to service the transfer case. This version will also have an option for a spine to increase the strength of the plate and very likely gusseted Z brackets.

 

I just installed my plates for the first time on a 7” BDS lift! The adapter worked well! And in Longhorn Orange too!

I am torn if it would be worth it to make a one piece plate for the BDS lift or just run it with the adapter I already have designed, thoughts?

 

Once the craziness dies down & you get to the point where you have plates in stock waiting for orders, you’d prob be better off with one style plate that you add an adapter to for the “every once in a while” BDS order, rather than having a few large bds-only plates on hand that just sit there & take up space. Also, the BDS plates will stay current as you make improvements to your design.

 

I agree with that. I doubt I will sell very many of these, so maybe I should aim at staying with the adapter

 

I would definitely like to order the 1/4" plate. What's the lead time? I ordered the other 1/4" plates couple weeks ago (R632977464), and would like to do it all at once.

 

I am waiting a few more days to get some more orders in with the new aluminum front skid plate before I start another order

 

That orange looks so good.

 

Ok! I have added the BDS adapter plate as an option for the “lifted” plates. All those who have been waiting for it, here it is!!!

 

Hook 'em!

 

Do you have any other future modifications in mind in addition to the t-case access and spine option? Just trying to figure out if I should pull the trigger now or wait a bit. Do you have an idea on how long till you’ll have the t-case access/spine option? Last ?, does your front skid work on the 7” BDS with its lowered crossmember / existing BDS skid plate?

 

I am going to be changing the rear cat plate, it is something I want to knock out in the very near future, it adds strength, protection, and serviceability. I am designing a lifted front skid plate. I am going to cut up my oldest front skid plate I never welded up and make an ugly prototype that I can test fit on as many different lifts as I can. I need to make sure it clears the sway bar and it doesn’t come in contact with any components of the lifts, whether it is BDS, Readylift, procomp, rough country or any others I can get my hands on. Once I have something that I have ironed out all the little things to fit to all the lifts, I will get it drawn up and into production, for both steel and aluminum

but my current front skid plate will not fit the subframe lifts

 

Finally got time this weekend to install the 2 plates on my Tundra. Everything was quite simple except, of course, the TRD Pro plate and front cat plate 2x bolts point. I spent 2 hours scratching the back of my hand and barely got the driver-side nut and bolt hand tightened. I threw in the towel after that and just took it to my mechanic. He said it was impressive you even got that one nut in and it would've taken a miracle to get the passenger side. Either way, everything is installed and I'm quite happy that I don't have to be paranoid while park somewhere now.

 

I don’t try and sugar coat installing plates on the PRO plate, it sucks

 

Oh boy, I don’t want to tell my mechanic this how hard it is to attach the Pro skid!! He always busted my ass about doing mods to my Toyota’s. He says leave them alone. lol.

 

When I mentioned the new front skid plate to my mechanic he wanted to know if it was the TRD one. I said no. "Oh good, those TRD ones are heavy as fuck" Then he wanted to know if there was an access for the oil filter and I said yes. He seemed happier.

 

@Classy63 I know I ordered fairly recently but wanted to check and see if it’s slated to ship within the next month-ish? Reason being, I’ll be in your neck of the woods around the beginning December.
Order: R556640827

 

I can’t remember when my cut off was for the aluminum order, but assuming it is in the batch I am getting later this week or next week, this would ship in the next week or so. Assuming it isn’t, it might get close to December. I am putting another aluminum order in soon, I wanted to get some more aluminum front skid plate orders in first

 

Hey @Classy63 just wanted to get an eta on R412911166

 

I want to say I should have this ready in the next few days. It is at the edge of the batch

 

Don't know if you've seen this, but Toyota is offering MillerCAT shields for Tundras on their website as an accessory... It was in the "Build" section. It's 3/16 thk aluminum, and only covers the front cats?

I received my fedex delivery today from Valhalla's Shields. I am highly stoked, and looking forward to installing the full set of skids and plates. Thank you again, Tyler.

 

My MillerCAT shield arrives tomorrow.

 

Just installed mine today. Took an hour since i was using hand tools. In hind sight i should have fired up the impact. Holy smokes the directions aren’t kidding, those lock nuts take some serious effort to tighten!!!! The design is super smooth, they fit on the well together.

i got a steel front plate which is pretty heavy given the width to fit in there laying on your back. Use a floor jack with a small section of plywood on it. This will hold the plate steady, then the jack can roll backwards to slide the plate onto the bolts. Super duper easy

also, I did a double drain/fill of the transmission before installing, I’d do this regardless of mileage since the armor will make it impossible to change.

 

Update on production. The remaining steel Z brackets should be ready tomorrow. The 3/16 steel front skid plates were not bent enough, that is also supposed to be fixed tomorrow. There is a lot of steel at powder coat that I will be getting back this week.

The aluminum order is getting bent now, I expect to get it this week and send all the plates that need to be powder coated off to get that knocked out.

I am putting a new order in for steel and I will put a new order in for aluminum soon, but it is currently too small of an order

 

Any idea on the aluminum that needs to be powder coated, what the cut off order wise might of been?

 

I want to say it was right around the 1st of October.