Bug Screens vs A/C Head Pressures?

[Jetson]

Thanks Drawson

for taking the time for a real test. Is your screen a run of the mill window screen, or larger?

 

[Forrest]

Don't they make different screens? If they have them with slightly larger 'openings', more air would flow thru & still keep out those little organic clogs. The goal would be to maximize airflow & pinch their little necks at the screen.

 

[Doc Tinker]

How do you guys attach the screens? Do you ever notice any wear from your attachments?



Doc

 

[Mundgyver]

Mine is wrapped. Meaning that I have it attached to the body frame cross member at the top of the radiator and on the frame below and under the radiator. It sets about 1/2 to 3/4 inch infront and has some rubber nodules on it to keep it from rubbing on the fins. Works real good at keeping out the rocks and breaks up the bugs real nice too. I used self taping screws and a little rubberized roofing compound/sealant

 

[The patriot]

I've been running the standard household (steel) screen.

I figure if I let the bugs get weged into the fins, it would be about the same restriction that the screen provides.

Eric

BTW Bugs arent a big problem here.

 

[drawson]

My screen is some SS (higher priced) window screen. Regular sized.

 

[SteveH]

You being a mechanic, Doc, I can see why you would not recommend using a screen but would you advise a customer against using one? A finfan full of bugs has to produce quite a restriction. I use the nylon (or whatever the construction material) and not the metal screens. It easily folds over the top of the bracket area for the finfan and goes down until it can go no further. The one factory bolt from the finfan sticks through this material and it holds perfectly, has never tried to come out. Simply shaking it knocks off the dead bugs. My truck's finfan area looks new with nothing stuck in the finfans so I think whatever air restriction there is, is offset by the better ability of the finfans to transfer heat because of how clean they are. But, who knows?

Steve H

 

[SnoKing]

Face the facts guys, anything that you put in front of the radiator is going to make the cooling system work harder. If you do not tow and/or tow in the Mountains, the cooling system most likely has the capacity to handle cooling with less air flow. Its your choice if you want to run closer to the upper limit of your cooling system.



I tow a medium size 5er. 9K and we have a lot of Mountains in the NW, so nothing is going in front of my radiator.



Its your choice! Snow King

 

[illflem]

A little off subject here. Anyone remember the canvas water bags for hanging in front of the radiator? The water soaked the canvas and acted like a swamp cooler in front of the radiator. Plenty of air restriction but they worked great for keeping your temps down. Haven't seen one in twenty years.

 

[SteveH]

Originally posted by Snow King

Face the facts guys, anything that you put in front of the radiator is going to make the cooling system work harder. If you do not tow and/or tow in the Mountains, the cooling system most likely has the capacity to handle cooling with less air flow. Its your choice if you want to run closer to the upper limit of your cooling system.



I tow a medium size 5er. 9K and we have a lot of Mountains in the NW, so nothing is going in front of my radiator.



Its your choice! Snow King

I live in the Rocky Mountains and tow up here everytime my 31' 5ver goes out. I guess it is the worst of two worlds, mountain towing and grossing a little over 20k with the tow. The cooling system is grossly overbuilt for these pickups. I also take a trip of around 5000 miles each summer to south Texas where it also gets a pretty good work-out. Still have NO cooling problems. How many miles of towing should I experience before a problem shows up? The bigger problem up here is getting the engine to warm up during the winter. If you guys are having a problem with your cooling system, maybe you should have it checked out because a screen in front of mine certainly hasn't caused any adverse conditions.

Steve H

 

[Doc Tinker]

LOL - illflem, quit showing your age! Next you'll be telling us of how you used to patch tires by tying a cloth through the rim and around the tire. LMAO



Doc

 

[Jetson]

OK, OK I'm convinced

that having anything in front of my radiator will adversely affect cooling. So, I'm going to remove the honeycomb from my grill so it won't obstruct the airflow. I'll have a really cool truck.

 

[SnoKing]

You guys are taking this way too serious. Like I said it your choice to debug or not debug, or is it to bomb or not bomb.



I was up playing in the snow in my 54 Plymouth in the early 60's and my buddy ahead of me, spinning his tires through a rock through my radiator. That day I wished I had had a screen in place. Oh yea, 54 was bombed. 230CID Two stromberg 97's chrome plated on zepher intake, fenton headers, 4:10 gears and custom home made floor shifter. Push down and forward for first, straight back for second and then straigh forward for high. It was fairly fast to about 70MPH. Same buddy painted all white at HS auto shop. PA, Wa. 1963 We were buddies with Eric (Eric's RV Sequim) back in those days.



Snow King

 

[Bob Cochran]

illflem~Yea i remember those bags My Dad used them. Awhile back in a town here in Arizona called Jerome I actually seen some in a shop for sale. They where new too!!!

 

[illflem]

Here's the grandaddy of bug screens #ad

 

[PZicha]

How many of you have washed your radiator/condenser and folded over a whole row of fins , so what now... you just lost 10% more air flow. I don't know how many times i've done that and then spent an hour straightening them out , A week after you wash your rad if you do any hiway traveling your probably at your 25% restriction with all the headaches having to wash it again , No thanks I will always run a screen. If air restriction is such a big deal why not remove the whole front grill and run it like that