winter fronts (grille covers)

[formula]

I have a couple of questions about winter fronts. Currently, I have the top two installed, mainly to block off air to the trans cooler, which is working well. It will actually warm up relatively quickly and maintain a decent temp (up to 180 deg). But for the colder weather I'd like to try running with all 4 fronts installed to block off the grille completely. This should provide warmer intake air temps and make the engine happier when the temps drop below freezing. I have a couple of concerns regarding the fan and cooling air... ..... Is there a danger of the fan flexing forward and eating the radiator if the fan clutch engages? Or, given sufficiently cold temps, will there be enough air coming in through the bottom of the grille to provide cooling? I will not be towing anything under these conditions. Any other comments?



Cheers,

Sean

 

[skobylenski]

Sean, I have the Mopar canvas/white furry felt-like stuff winter front (wow, that was descriptive wasn't it?) that I put on for winter about 2 weeks ago, and I usually run with it closed up tight, there are 2 mesh vents that let some air through. So far, I haven't seen any problems, so I'd assume you'd be okay to run a closed front. Of course, when I do any long highway runs I unzip it and unsnap the snaps on either side of the zipper and fold the flaps back under the rest of the front, just to let a bit more air flow through. You don't need to be told, but for other people - these engines are designed to stay cool under normal conditions, so the less air available shouldn't matter that much.



I'm sure someone else will jump in here and tell me I'm wrong, so let the war begin



Anywho - stay warm on the right coast

Scott

 

[JFitzgerald]

My experience with the '93 I used to have - in winter I'd have all four of the grill openings closed and the fan off the engine, and be fine until the temps climbed back into the upper 40's or lower 50's. Then I'd have to open up two of the openings. With all closed, I'd notice slightly higher EGT's, from the I/C being closed off I guess. If I towed in the winter, I'd open two, and put the fan back on.



Now, I need to find a winter front for the Chevy. And put in the new thermostat that's still sitting on the workbench.

 

[cguthrie]

Does anyone make any of the plastic winter inserts for our pickups? If i remember right the ones that i've seen snap into place.



Chris

 

[sparks57]

Where do you get these things, which one works best, and how much does it cost?



I try to be nice and brief!



Personaly, I have never blocked any part of the grill during the winter. I better get one of those.

 

[PaulG]

well i bought a set to cover all four holes of my 2000 grill and LUND makes it. Now there are two type i could have bought one set was just a solid piece of plastic (black can be painted) but the other is what i chose which is a mesh style but the holes are very small so "some" air gets thru which i think for new england is nessarry (i live in CT) and they seem to work good. Now i'm sure the solid set works a bit better but when nights are in the high 20's and days in the low 40's with the mesh i just feel better i think it cost me under $50 but you can prolly find them on the net for cheapier.

As for the instal it's a snap they have this double prong type thing for lack of a good discription that you squeeze together and the go into the small honeycomb holes in the grill takes 2 mins to put on or take off very very easy and havn't had them even budge either and i've tested them up to 90MPH not that i drive that fast but wanted to make sure they were there to stay.



Paul G.

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by cguthrie

Does anyone make any of the plastic winter inserts for our pickups?

Chris

eric buckel, [tdr member eric bu12] makes the winter fronts for the 1st gens. they are the same as he makes for the 2g and 3g

 

[RGT]

I ran the Lund 4 piece inserts last winter, all four below freezing and pulled the bottom 1 or 2 when the temps went above freezing... . I noticed faster morning warmups and much less temp variation/swing of the gage when driving along, on the highway running 70 or so for any extended time my temp gage would be perfectly still just above the second hash mark, I never had any trouble with the fan clutch but was concerned about blocking all air to the intercooler and trans cooler, which is why I unplugged some of the holes when above freezing, I may trim/drill the bottoms to allow some air through... ...

 

[formula]

Thanks guys

Looks like it'll be getting cold enough here soon to try all 4 fronts. FWIW, I'm running the snap in black ones from Lund.



Cheers,

Sean

 

[JFitzgerald]

Originally posted by muddymess

eric buckel, [tdr member eric bu12] makes the winter fronts for the 1st gens. they are the same as he makes for the 2g and 3g

I have a set of Eric's winter fronts, but no Dodge to put them on. They attach to the grill with j-bolts, and work well. They have a hole cut for the block heater plug to go through.

 

[tugboatphil]

I've just used a piece of very thin, flexible plexiglass. Slide it between the grille and cooler. Sometimes I run without anything, but I do get the drastic swings as the thermo keeps cycling.



Fitz, what happened to your truck???

 

[JFitzgerald]

Hi Phil,



I sold the Dodge and bought the crew cab in my sig. The kids are happy with the roomy back seat.



Fitz

 

[JLEONARD]

I still don't understand why you guys use those things... . my heater blasts me out of the cab even on the coldest days.....

 

[formula]

Well, I'm not particularly concerned with the cab heater. Mainly trans temp and intake air temp. Although it would be nice to get good heat sooner than a 20min drive on the highway.



Sean

 

[PaulG]

Originally posted by JLEONARD

I still don't understand why you guys use those things... . my heater blasts me out of the cab even on the coldest days.....

well honestly i drive 18 miles to work (25min) it takes me from manchester by the buckland hills mall to the other side of 291 to get the engine temp to full so as in for heat heck ya i use it freeze my butt off with luke warm heat for the first 5-6 min of my ride. just got them for these lower than 25 mornings guess i don't like to be cold while driving my truck

 

[sparks57]

Seems like a few of you have ones made by Lund. Can anyone post a link or some pics?

 

[formula]

I bought mine here: http://truckspecialties.com/lund_grille_covers/plastic_cold_front.htm I don't have any pics. But the covers are basically 4 pieces of 1/8" black lexan that snap into the grille openings.



Sean

 

[jwilmoth]

Originally posted by cguthrie

Does anyone make any of the plastic winter inserts for our pickups? If i remember right the ones that i've seen snap into place.



Chris

I got mine from Sears Automotive accessories catalog, I got the ones with holes instead of solid. They look good I leave them in year round unless I go on long trip in hot weather.

 

[RGT]

J. C. Whitney for me... .

 

[bflood]

I'm sold

Just ordered Lund Winter Grille Guards via J. C. Whitney. Tried to purchase online but had trouble with Whitney's site so I called them and ordered.



$47. 94 delivered ($39. 95 + ship & handling). "Factory order" item will take up to 3 weeks.