SNOW JOB
August 29, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
BUTCH
Back in the ’60s, a youthful Barry Wallner was well known in and around Illinois for his modified ’57 sedan delivery. It was a tough competitor at the local dragstrips, but time took its toll, and most of the dragstrips have disappeared, giving way to housing and shopping-center developments and industrial complexes. But this hasn’t stopped Wallner, who was an adept restorer. So, from the late-’60s through the mid-’90s, he has gone on with other ’57 Chevys to win top show awards.
Remembering When
When Ricardo Lopez began building this 1955 Chevy he had some help, as well as a plan. In the beginning, this little Chevy pickup was to provide an excellent chance for Ricardo to spend some time with his son, Ricky, and to be able to show the boy some of the tricks that he had learned over the many years he had worked as a customizer, bodyman and painter. As owner of Paint By Lopez in Compton, California, Ricardo had hopes of his boy taking over for him in the years to come, maybe even calling the shop Paint By Lopez & Son. Unfortunately, Ricky was taken from Ricardo and his wife, Monica, in a freak accident. At first Ricardo was going to sell the truck, as the sight of it was almost too much to bear. But upon reflection he changed his mind. Ricardo thought that finishing the project was not only a perfect way to work through his grief, but it would also give him a chance to feel connected to the son he had lost. When the Chevy was completed, it would be a way to honor Ricky’s memory.
POPP TOP
“There’s no better sound than the high-winding pitch you get from a Kenne Bell supercharged 5.0L engine,” said Kevin Popp, a computer programmer and systems support specialist from Aurora, Colorado. And he should know; he owns one. We couldn’t agree more. The package makes very good sense, and we’re sure that once Popp gets to see his purple-flamed ’95 Mustang GT ragtop featured here, he’ll forgive the corny play on words for the sake of our article.
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Talon’s Garage Skid Plate Package for 2015-2025 Ford F-150
Trail Proven. Purpose Built. Made in America.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Imagers Courtesy of Talon's Garage
There’s no shortage of bolt-on parts for the Ford F-150, but very few are built with real-world punishment in mind. The Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package isn’t designed to look good in a parking lot — it’s engineered to protect your truck when conditions turn rough and mistakes get expensive.
This is serious Ford F-150 underbody protection, designed and manufactured in the USA by a Veteran-owned company that puts function first.
Built in the USA, Engineered to Take Hits
Talons Garage builds this F-150 skid plate package from ¼-inch 5052 aluminum, delivering the kind of strength you can feel the first time it takes a hit. It’s corrosion-resistant, lighter than steel, and strong enough to absorb repeated impacts without bending or failing.
No gimmicks. No unnecessary weight. Just American-made aluminum skid plates built to handle abuse.
Full-Coverage Underbody Protection
Instead of offering piecemeal protection, Talons delivers a complete Ford F-150 underbody defense system. The front engine skid shields vital components like the oil pan and intercooler. The transmission skid doubles as a catalytic converter shield, protecting against trail damage and theft. A dedicated transfer case skid completes the package, keeping the drivetrain protected when terrain gets unpredictable.
It’s full coverage from front to rear — the way real off-road F-150 skid plates should be designed.
Designed to Bolt On, Built to Stay On
This system installs using a fully bolt-on design with zinc-coated hardware and no drilling required on stock 4×4 trucks. Integrated service access points mean oil changes and routine maintenance stay simple. For drivers who push harder, optional reinforcement ribs are available to add stiffness where it matters most.
Install it once. Trust it every time.
Real-World Owner Feedback
Real protection only matters if it installs cleanly and works exactly as promised — and that’s where Talons Garage continues to separate itself from typical aftermarket solutions.
One 2018 Ford F-150 owner summed it up perfectly after installing the front skid plates:
“The fit and finish are outstanding! Everything bolted right in and fit perfectly the first time. My truck didn’t have the factory plastic skid or the hardware, and Talons Garage included everything needed to install the Ford F-150 skid plates. No modifications, no frustration — just a fast, easy install with top-notch hardware.”
That kind of feedback isn’t accidental. From upgraded nutserts to complete hardware kits, Talons Garage designs their Ford F-150 skid plate package to eliminate guesswork. No missing parts. No improvising. No bending or trimming to make things work. It’s engineered to install the way it should — clean, secure, and confidence-inspiring.
For owners used to fighting aftermarket parts just to make them fit, this level of execution makes a real difference.
Veteran Owned. Mission Focused.
Talons Garage is a Veteran-owned American brand, and that discipline shows in every detail. The materials, fitment, and design reflect a mission-driven approach — build it strong, build it right, and build it to last. This isn’t trend-driven gear; it’s equipment made for trucks that earn their keep.
The Bottom Line
If you actually use your 2015–2025 Ford F-150 the way it was intended — off-road, overland, or hard-working duty — the Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package is a foundational upgrade. It delivers real protection, American craftsmanship, and the confidence to push farther without second-guessing what’s underneath.
Click here to view details and purchase the Talons Garage Ford F-150 Skid Plate Package!
ARTICLE SOURCES
Talons Garage
Not just an off-road skid plate, not just a catalytic converter protection plate, but BOTH!
