The part sits low enough that any water/mud event will put it into the drink. Is this a hopelessly bad placement or is there some answer?

Go around! That's what the 4wd is for! There's no such thing as high enough, watch this video!

Wet Jeep <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thats just nuts!

You really can't protect it very well,your best bet is to hose the alternater out with contact cleaner or brake clean after it gets dunked,it's the dirt that kills it not the water <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Either a front skid plate or the rubber splash guard thing should be under the front end of your engine. If you look behind the radiator and see the ground your missing something.

Won't do much to keep water out if your fording 3 foot deep steams but it will will help keep water and dirt out of your alt.
Dielectric grease in all of your eletrical connectors will help keep it running when dunked.

Keep a can of WD40 handy if you go deep. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

That is a really cool video. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Makes me want a snorkel! By the way, anybody put a snorkel on a carbed 258? If anyone has I would like to know how.

Hey brown... In that video what you watched was a complete trashing of a good Jeep! He was lucky to get it out. What do you think the seats and gauges look like today? How about tail lights, wiper motor and lots of other parts..
Insurence companys TOTAL a Jeep that has been in less water than that.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Big Jim, I will have to show you a pic of my Jeep. It's not a piece of junk 'cause no Jeep is, but mine is definitely a beater. I bought it from a guy who obviously did not take care of it(I had to pry the oil pan off with a 3 foot crow bar 'cause the gasket was fused when I first got it. I even hung my whole body from the damn thing first). I don't believe my Jeep will ever be totaled, it will just need some rebuilding every now and then(when I get it running again, I am replacing the rear main seal). Water is never good for the electrical system, but when none of your gauges work, and you already have to rewire everything, I figure I will get pretty good at it. I don't ever plan on going that deep, but it's cool to know you can.

My oil pan has a built on skid plate. That's where I pryed it off with the crow bar.

Also, I hate insurance companies. What do they know. I also own a 97 honda prelude, which I'm sure most of ya'll don't care for, but I was blamed by an insurance company for stealing my own SRS airbags!! This was one week after someone had stolen my sideskirts. Someone was parting my frickin car out!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />