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Old 11-26-2019, 12:45 PM   #2 (permalink)
aardvarcus
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Evensville, TN
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Deep Blue - '94 GMC Suburban K2500 SLE
90 day: 23.75 mpg (US)

Griffin (T4R) - '99 Toyota 4Runner SR5
90 day: 25.43 mpg (US)
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Heat management is nontrivial when belly-panning a truck/SUV/Van. The biggest worry I have is about trapping heat from the exhaust, creating an oven. I don't pan under my exhaust for that reason.

In the area you are concerned with, most of these vehicles have a solid/live axle in this area. On my 4Runner, my plans are to omit the belly pan at/under the axle, restarting the belly pan immediately after the axle to cover the spare tire with a radiused leading edge. This is the next piece I need to build for my 4Runner.

I have seen some designs that plate under the axle using flexible materials, but trying to also seal that on the sides would be very difficult. Also many vehicles of this sort have exhaust traveling up and over the axle, so I wouldn't suggest putting a pan under or beside that.
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