Skid plate fabrication questions

[Ray Dunakin]

I have a MetalTech front bumper, and recently got RCI skid plates. Unfortunately there appears to be no commercially available filler plate to fit the gap between the front skid and the MetalTech bumper. I've been told my only option is to have something custom fabricated. I've never had anything like that done before, so I have some questions:

1. Can anyone recommend a good shop for this in the San Diego area? Barring a specific recommendation, what should I look for in selecting a shop?

2. Same as above, but in regards to finding a place to have it powder coated.

3. The bumper has a separate piece, called a rock guard, below the bumper itself. The rock guard is the part with the horizontal slots:

The easiest and cheapest way to go is to simply make the filler plate fit up to the rock guard. But I'm wondering if it would be better to remove the rock guard and get a filler plate made big enough to fit the entire space between the bumper and the skid?


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[techno]

Can't recommend a shop since I've never been to San Diego, but I would keep the rock guard and make a filler plate. You could save yourself a few $$ in design time by coming up with a design first. It's easy and fun to make the shape of what you want using cardboard, then simply give the cardboard version to the shop to make out of steel.

 

[fourwd1]

Moved to Offroading section.