Forum Consensus on Front Bumper/Fascia Skidplates
 

I am looking for a forum recommendation on what it thinks is the most appropriate skid plate to install under the front bumper/fascia on my 2016 Z51. I have seen a number mentioned on the forum. Most, if not all require drilling holes in the car to install. I am not keen on that. It sort of defeats the purpose of a skid plate: to reduce scraping damage. I did a thread on bras and the forum consensus is go with XPEL. I am good with that. But I don't believe the XPEL is robust enough to mitigate scraping under the bumper/fascia. What is the forum recommendation on skid plates? Which brand? Drilling required or is there a bonded version? Or is there a true bolt on with no mods to car? Or will XPEL do the job in most cases? Please advise.

Protekt skid plates. Do drilling required.

I might be wrong but I believe the Z06 does not require drilling. The base stingray and Z51 require drilling.

SacCity also makes the "fangs", which protect the radiator supports (aka "skid bars") from minor scrapes but won't help with serious impacts. With the front cameras, the fangs are good enough for us.

The front cameras work when you pay attention. And they won't work on steep driveways. Also, you are going to forget eventually or misjudge. Either in parking or going down a steep driveway. I will check out the fangs. But if they are what I think they are that is probably not going to do anything to protect the bumper. I will check out the SacCity Fangs.

I reviewed the fangs and watched the installation video. I think that is a good idea for the skid bars. I will probably get some although it was not what I was thinking about for the bumper/fascia. The only problem I have with the fangs is that I need to lift the car up to install them. That is going to be a problem for me.

We went 102k miles on the 2009 and paid enough attention that our fangs were unmarked when we traded the car. And that was with no front cameras.
Our 2017 has the cameras and I use them. But there have been 2 or 3 instances where a steep driveway did barely kiss the skid bars, but did not mark the underside of the front bumper. This, on a stock 2017 Z51, it was just barely below the ride height shown in the Service Manual and so I raised it up to stock height after that.
Based on our experience with the 2009, I was going to skip putting fangs on the 2017 but will now put them on.

Scrape Armor for C7 Corvette Stingray
 

Scrape Armor for C7 Corvette Stingray


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...4620df56e0.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...679a57d009.jpg

:iagree: Two different things can scrape! First the carbon fiber Stage 2/3 splitter or the OEM bumper. Scrape Armor has kits that fit both. They use OEM bolts.

Then the next thing to scape after the rubber air dams are what GM calls radiator supports or I call skid pads (the serve both functions.) Forum Vendor SacCity sells those and I installed on my 2014 Z51 and have on my Grand Sport.

Here are pics, the Scrape Armor is shown mounted on my Stage 2 splitter. Shown with one half being installed. They also sell them to fit the OEM "bumper." The FANGS fit all C7's.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...255dce4bf5.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2e0227bb08.jpg

I'd be interested in a skid plate since I've already nicked mine. The drilling is probably necessary to keep the skid plate in place. I dunno. Color-coded to your C7's exterior paint color instead of black. Again, I dunno.

^^
It fits under the bumper, assuming you don't have a splitter. Mine only sticks down 1/4 inch ans is about 1/4 inch back so from the top can't be seen.

Below is one installed on a C7 without a splitter. Just put Scrape Armor in google for details.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d07737083a.jpg