Protect your radiator....grill mesh

[Cruiserhead05]

I just got through a big problem with an aftermarket radiator company. as soon as i got back from CMCC my 2 month old aftermarket radiator got a small crack in the bottom. B/C there was some dirt and crap build up in the fins they said they would not cover it at all.

I was just wondering if anyone has throught of putting some type of fine mesh behind the stock grill to catch some of the big stuff before it get caught up in your fins.

BTW, sorry if this is a repost, i searched but nothing really tunred up.

Brandon

 

[loquito]

I used welded wire and attached it on the inside of the grill to protect the radiator. I also used it to protect the headlights from rocks by attaching it to the Manik (damage multiplyer) brush guard. I lost a headlight the one and only time I have been able to go wheeling
The radiator guard catches lots of bugs, and the headlight guard had a deprestion which I assume was caused by a rock. I used 1/4 mess, I suppose you could use something finer.
hope that is some help.

 

[TLC42TD]

I used a piece of rolled up flywire when I lived in Australia. That's like a fine metal mesh that is normally used in window frames to keep mozzies out. It worked a treat and everybody who saw it said what a great idea it was.

 

[alia176]

I have the protection you're referring to. This is primarily to catch huge bugs on Steroids that seem to live only in Nebraska and Wyoming! This screen started out as a fence to protect your garden from rabbits with a square hole size of 1/4" x 1/4". This hole size was a tad too large so I folded it over itself to come up with an approx hole size of 1/8" x 1/8". Installation was quite simple and straightforward.

Cheers,

Ali

 

[mot]

Something like this has been available (sorry for the poor pic):

 

[turbocruiser]

Something like this has been available (sorry for the poor pic):

Ooo Ooo, I want one!!! Is that JDM only or is it available here? If it is JDM can I send some moolah and have you hunt one out for me mr. mot??? Seriously that is terrific! That would protect the rad and the intercooler. Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[mot]

turbo,

It's not OEM and I "think" it was made/sold for/in the OZ market.

Yes, I have a couple that I got on clearance here for the 91-94 and 95-97, but who knows, there "might" be some that are available in the US.

If you get desperate, let me know.
I'll show you how easily you can spend money on some junk you don't really need.

Mot

 

[turbocruiser]

turbo,

It's not OEM and I "think" it was made/sold for/in the OZ market.

Yes, I have a couple that I got on clearance here for the 91-94 and 95-97, but who knows, there "might" be some that are available in the US.

If you get desperate, let me know.
I'll show you how easily you can spend money on some junk you don't really need.

Mot

Okay, I waited a while (30 seconds) and I acknowledge desperateness! Tell ya what, either let me know the manufacturer (if you dont really wanna sell one) and I'll try to track the thing down, or (if you do really wanna sell one) DONT tell me the manufacturer but DO tell me how much to paypall you!!! I'll wait a while (say another 30 seconds or so) for you to tell me!

 

[mot]

turbo,

You impatient man you!

I've been trying to find how much I've paid for them so I can rip you off, but come up empty-handed so far.

Give me a little time and I'll also check my HUGE warehouse and see how many sets of which kind I have available. I will also check to see if I have the manufactureer info (was in English and am pretty sure that it was for the market down under). But I might have thrown it away then for the fear that if I left it on, the person might tell the forum that I was a con artist or something.

Anyway, I'll let you know if I find the tag or the manufacturer info. And even if I don't (and someone from the list doesn't either) I think I can sell you one. I'll let you know.

Thanks for your business in advance.

Mot

Okay, I waited a while (30 seconds) and I acknowledge desperateness! Tell ya what, either let me know the manufacturer (if you dont really wanna sell one) and I'll try to track the thing down, or (if you do really wanna sell one) DONT tell me the manufacturer but DO tell me how much to paypall you!!! I'll wait a while (say another 30 seconds or so) for you to tell me!

 

[Rich]

Keep in mind, if you are operating in very hot environments, that a screen will reduce airflow to the radiator.

 

[LX_TREME]

Keep in mind, if you are operating in very hot environments, that a screen will reduce airflow to the radiator.

Yes, AMEN i was goin' to say exact samething.

 

[SteveH]

I used black nylon grille screen - replace it when it gets nasty. Also, leaking PS cooler lines will gunk up the screen and then it collects dirt and blocks airflow.

Check frequently, replace as needed - costs $2.00 or less. Being nylon, it won't scratch or poke you when you cut it, and easily fits around and through (when punched) grille mounts.

It won't stop large flying rocks, but I haven't had an issue with that.

Steve

 

[hoser]

I'm using this radiator shield on my NSX. The radiator is low to the ground and prone to rock hits. It is from an HVAC vent. Just look up at the ceiling of any office and you'll find a donor. I've notice no significant heat problems under track conditions. Some vent manufacturers have larger holes than others.

 

[mot]

Not because I'm trying to sell something here, but I believe there's never been issues (that anyone ever reported of) with overheating when the vehicle is in motion, but it is more of an issue when it comes to stop or stop and go traffic.

I've seen a solution to that that has been performed by some Japanese 80 folks, but will not go in to that here (gotta take my son to kindergarten ;p )

turbo, I'll PM you with my findings, but if you want to make something yourself and are no longer interested, that's cool, too. I'll try to take some pics so you would get an idea of what it looks like up close to determine its built/quality, and also to maybe assist you (or anyone) who would like to fab something similar.

Yours,

Mot

Keep in mind, if you are operating in very hot environments, that a screen will reduce airflow to the radiator.

 

[Rich]

Mot, lots of folks have reported problems with too high temps in hot weather while on the road. Anything in front of the radiator is going to exacerbate any existing problem.

 

[mot]

Mot, lots of folks have reported problems with too high temps in hot weather while on the road. Anything in front of the radiator is going to exacerbate any existing problem.

Shows you how much I know.

Yeah, any rigs that are having (pending) heat problems might suffer from such an addition.

I think in its stock form, the radiator should be getting hit by more than enough air than it can handle/designed for at speed, that adding a large set of fogs or meshed grill "should" not post any problems, as long as the vehicle is in good working order.

But I'm not an engineer so like what I said above... what do I know?
Any performance-enhancing mod (these screens would add 2.8bhp, btw) you do on your vehicle it would add strain on the system.

I apologize for not catching all the thread(s) that have covered the heat problems underhood. I think as long as the vehicle has adequate amount of air moving under the hood, from the radiator grill(e) opening toward the base of the windshield, this type of addition/mod should not cause any air-flow/over-heating problems. But if the vehicle is poorly maintained, as stated above, then I could imagine that it could cause a problem.

Didn't someone (turbo?) report underhood temp being greater while sitting at the intersection than at speed? Does "on the road" mean while stopped or while driving, or both? Do most people suffer from heating while driving (towing?) or at idle?

I guess if adding these screens does cause heat problems, as with many other mods, it's a trade-off; Do you want to keep your engine from overheating sometimes or keep your radiator/intercooler dent-/insect-free.

I remember driving back from Yellowstone NP one summer evening and splattering a butt-load of Box Elder bugs. I could careless about my Montero then (and luckily it didn't overheat), but I would hate to have to pick them out from radiator/intercooler now.

Anyway, let me go home and upload the pics I've just taken for those who care. ;p

Sorry for the long post.

PEACE!

Mot

 

[IdahoDoug]

Box elder pictures!! We want 'em!!

DougM

 

[turbocruiser]

I've got no problems with overheating either at stop or at speed, in fact, i'd venture to guess that my rig runs substantially cooler than most. I am interested in the screen because by the time that the rig runs up and down some of the gravelly granite roads I run I frequently get good sized stones in the fins of the rad and/or the intercooler. They have never harmed anything but on the other hand, they cannot help anything either. I also frequently get good sharp sticks of evergreen in the grill when going wheeling. In fact yesterday I had a hunk of pine poking into the toyota grill and no i did not down a tree, it was lodged in loose embankements of gravel that i pushed and plowed the ARB through to get to the top of one obstacle - the short stick shot upward and lodged luckily short of the intercooler but it had me thinking as recently as yesterday that something that protected the intercooler and rad would work wonders for my peace of mind. My friend mr. mot, I was sort of purposely pushing the impatience thing with you with the first three posts (partly for fun and partly as work wont allow access to mud) but I am interested in the screen as long as it is reasonably priced and reasonable quality. Again however i hope to emphasize that if this is not really something you want to dick around with i totally understand and would simply want the manufacturer and/or source. Meanwhile, I hope all is well and I will await word PATIENTLY

 

[mot]

Box elder pictures!! We want 'em!!

DougM

Errrrr, I meant the screens Doug.



OK, so I just shrunk some pics that I took... I can only post three at a time. Drum roll PLEASE!!! ;p :

These are for the post '95 models.

The second pic shows the hole where the locking/tying thingy goes through (there are four ofr them).

And the last pic shows the mounting hardware.

 

[mot]

More

For 91-94 models with "detailed " instruction:

Note: Please ignore the aluminum roof rack in the background.