Winter Grill Cover

[Case500D]

Hi,



I am looking for winter grill covers for my '92 and '94 CTD trucks. I know cardboard works, but I want something that looks a little bit more like it is supposed to be on the front of the truck. I priced Dodge and they wanted $96 for a grill cover for the '94 and couldn't even find a part number for the '92. I am also looking a Lund cover and they are about $55 per truck. Anyone have something that they like or can anyone comment on the items I am looking at? Thanks for the help.

 

[EOliver]

I have had the Lund Grill Inserts for most of my vehicles for several years. The winter fronts work great in the cold, and the screen inserts work wonders fighting off the bugs and rocks that get smashed into the condenser during summer months. I just keep both sets with the truck at all times, the ones that are not in are behind the seat. When it's cold in the mornig, but warm during the day, I mix and match the winter front and screen front.

 

[Xgunfighter]

I use one from Cabelas. It has a screen for summer and a leather like one for winter. The winter one has a opening for the fan. Its my third one for several different trucks. I think it is about 45. 00. The unit is made in Canadca by I think FEY.



www.cabelas.com

 

[CharlieMiller]

I thought I saw and ad for a winter grill cover in the latest issue of TDR. I'll have to check it out and get back to ya. If I remember right it seemed to fit in the grill like the Lund's do and the price was reasonable.

 

[redneckdr]

winter covers

charlie:

your're right--p 146, eric. $20 per set--look like for non-sport. e-mail: -- email address removed --. didn't mean to butt in, but had the last tdr mag here at my desk... ... . ya know, LIGHT READING.

herb

 

[CRWilliams]

I have 1993 with the snaps around the grill for the dealer installed, I think, cold front. Of course when I bought the truck it wasnt' with it. I have just started looking for one to fit. Anybody have any ideas where I could find one, or maybe who made the one Dodge installed.

 

[illflem]

What I've found to be better and cheaper than a winter front is just removing the fan. You will be good to 85°. Only problem is you won't want to put it back on, engine is much quieter, warms up fast and has more low end power. Do a search for fanless for more info.

 

[JohnE]

I used pieces of paneling cut to match the hood grill openings. I driled 4 holes and hold them on with 2 wire ties each.



Bill (illflem);

What's involved in removing the fan?



-John

 

[RonaldLarson]

The FIA unit comes with a summer bug screen and the full coverage winter grille cover. The winter cover has two flaps which allow you pass some air through should you encounter warmer going. It's a well built unit that looks good and works well. Iv'e had mine three years, and recomend it to anyone. Got mine at a chain parts outlet.

Ron

 

[illflem]

John, all you need to remove is the fan, it comes out the top without removing anything else even though it doesn't look like it. Looking at it from the truck front, hit the large fan nut with a long drift and hammer on the right side of the nut flat, put a 1-7/16" or 1-1/2" wrench on the nut and hit it to the right. Once it breaks loose you can unscrew it by hand and pull it out the top while pushing the upper radiator hose out of the way. If the pulley wants to turn you can hold it with a large pair of Channel-Locs or use a 3/8" breaker bar on the belt tensioner to tighten the belt. Store the fan upright so the oil doesn't come out. Do this when the engine is cool. Try it, you'll love it.

 

[Case500D]

Thanks

Thanks for all of the help guys. I am going to try a setup from Eric Buckle (last TDR issue, pg 146). I may try removing the fan from the '92 as it takes it forever to warm up some days. I will let you guys know how it turns out.



Jeremy

 

[EricBu12]

Hey all,

I am the person making the winter guards that are in the TDR mag.

The E-mail address in the mag is wrong, It is -- email address removed --

I am having another member make a template for the 89-93 1st gen. trucks. I don't have any made but whoever is interested in a set, send me an E-mail and I'll let you know when I get some made.

Meanwhile here is the link to the item in the classifieds to see a pic.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...xact_match=on&photo_size=full&query=retrieval

 

[JohnE]

Bill;



I cannot get a wrench in the skinny gap between the pulley hun and the back of the fan-clutch combo. Do I have to pull the bolts holding the fan?



Is it 1-7/16 or 1-1/2 ? I have loan either from work but couldn't get it in there to size.



I'm hoping to find a bonney wrench in 1-1/2. they have a thin profile.



Eric;

Do you have a template to cut fronts to fit the Sweet Tooth grille? I'm still thinking on getting one.



-John

 

[illflem]

John, I've never had to pull the bolts to the pulley. I use a 1-1/2" wrench because I have one, the nut is really 1-7/16". The wench I use is a Chinese one , maybe it's thinner. If you have access to a welder or cutting torch you can make your own out of flat bar, it really doesn't need to be very strong if you hit the nut with a drift first.

 

[JohnE]

<blockquote><b>What he said. .

<font size=1>... the nut is really 1-7/16". The wench I use is a Chinese one , maybe it's thinner. ... </font></b></blockquote>

Sorry Bill;

Only stout stuff from the toolbox here. I'll have to pull the fan bolts to get the wrench in there. We didn't have a <em>small enough</em> Bonney at work, either.



BTW, Eric PM'd me and said he has a template for the Sweet Tooth Grille. The cost is slightly more, but considereing no one else offers a cold front for the sweet, it is worth the dollars.



-John

 

[JJW_ND]

John:



Go to Acme Electric (GF) and you should find a cheap version of a 1 7/16" cobination wrench. Or any farm supply store should have them. No need for the good stuff here. It will fit fine. If not grind a little away to make it. I bought a cheapy with the idea I would have to grind it to fit. Never had to.



Much easier to just use the big wrench. Have a good hammer as it will take several good wacks (two the right as you stand in front of engine).



It will come off and you will like how quiet you truck is now.





jjw

 

[Spaceace]

Eric's grille covers

Man, I cannot believe for $20 I got all that !



Add some fancy black bolt covers fron HD and your stylin!



Been running at 70-75 degrees all week with all four covers in place. Can't break 180 degrees accept for the first time the thermostat pops open.



Do we really need radiators?

 

[illflem]

Re: Eric's grille covers

Originally posted by Spaceace







Do we really need radiators?

In the winter I think you could just get by with the heater core, no radiator. I never had much luck with a winter front warming things up, they do look good though and will protect your fanless radiator.

 

[JohnE]

<blockquote>And He said

&quot;In the winter I think you could just get by with the heater core, no radiator. I never had much luck with a winter front warming things up, they do look good though and will protect your fanless radiator. &quot;<hr></blockquote>

A cold front works fine for me when I'm on the road and running for hours on end. But, I don't; so it don't.

I ran a cold front, cardboard between radiator and charge air cooler (intercoooler) and still wanted more. Pulling the fan is probably the final answer, except...

After sitting in the parking lot all day at work it is a bugger to run. I called and got a quote on an ESPAR today.



I already used the persuader and a drift to crack things. I'll just pull the fan bolts to get the big wrench in there. The 1-7/16" from work is free to use. BTW, The locals know it as Acme. The rest know it as <em>&quot;Tool Crib of the North&quot;</em>.



Thanks for the help, guys



-John

 

[JohnE]

I'm going to make one more attempt to pull the fan tomorrow. Don't really care it it comes off or not. I ordered an ESPAR unit this morning. I should be installing that next weekend. I'll probably have to get a new set of batteries to make sure the ESPAR will run on the cold dark days of winter.



Cheers;

-John