smokinram99

I have done myself a grill guard/cover for less than 10bucks! i hope i gain a faster warm up for this cold winter

I have cut out 2 piece of heavy cardboard about 11in x 22in, coverd w aluminium tape each face.
cut out 2 angle to fit the back grill. made 6 hole w a cordless drill, used M6 pivot, rubber washers(for outside of grill) and bolt and steel washers for insede hood.
all for 8,9 bucks. I think it can do is job instead of buing expensive aftermarket kits!!..maybe not the best looking but very helpful!!!!

SIXSLUG

Looks pretty nice to me...better than a hunk of cardboard in there crooked! I have an afternoon project now, thanks!

Kurt

mx684

looks good, but with it on the grill like that doesnt that also block the air from the intercooler?

Silver R/T

good idea, guy at work did pretty much same thing, except he used tie straps to secure it on the grill.

Bluedually4x4

Does look better than just cardboard hanging there. Depending on how cold it is, will determine how much grill to cover up.

Fueling around

I found you can block the grill without any egt problems.
I used scrap paneling the first couple years and mounted on the outside of the grill. I also used leftover paint to five them a finished look. i like the idea of silver tape (the real duct tape).

In extra cold temps (-20° and lower) I put a piece of cardboard between the rad & intercoolr with a 6" hole centered on the fan to limit blade stress.

mcknight77

That looks good!

I'll do that tomorrow.

When it's -25 outside the intercooler doesn't need any air.

Tate

I've had my grille covers in on +20C days with no coolant or EGT problems. The cooling systems on these trucks are very large. Unless you are towing or in real hot temps, you don't even need a fan.

Gear Poet

eee-yup. Done that - no problems with EGT as others have stated, but my fuel efficiency went down by a mile per gallon. Guess why?

smokinram99

thanks guys! i drove the truck last night, temp below 0°C few degrees...it warm up faster w this mod!!
one thing: i'll make a hole where the outside temp probe is because now i have erratic reading from it...or look if i can move it...

now my tranny temp is in the 110 115F range on highway!! before that, driving highway, my trans gauge said 100F, but I think less(the recon doesnt go below 100F)...
I'll have to look at tranny temp when outside temp is more than 0degrees or in city driving..I'll let you know guys!!!

rob

Diesel Dave2

What a great idea....

VADSLRAM

I do mine cheaper and faster. I take a piece of the foil covered foam insulation board cut it to radiator size then cut about a 6 inch circle in the middle and slide it between the radiator and intercooler. Viola!
Only problem is since it's so neatly tucked away I forget to take it out...until early summer when my temp redlines.

klx650a2

I took my fan off and have 5 of the six vents blocked off also with no heating issues!!! I was towing my 14 foot dump trailer (4000 lbs) at 75 mph last Saturday with NO heating issues. These trucks have monster cooling systems. I read about the first dodges with the cummins and their requirements for that engine in those trucks. The first was maxed out GVW at 100 F at 60 or so mph and it shall not heat. Also, it needed to start at -18 F, no being plugged in and using #2 (summer) fuel.

Can you imagine if the first diesels in these trucks was the 6.-oh-no from international? We'd all be driving gas jobs...

mike1788

completed this mod yesterday... and boy what a difference!!! now my dad wants to know if he would have any trouble installing one on a 99 2500 gasjob. he is concerned about overheating issues. any advise fella's?

klx650a2

I would not worry too much about doing that mod on a gas job, I had my chev blocked off from October to may and no heating issues. When the cooling fan started to kick in with warm temps then I would take it off. The warmer they run, the more efficient they are.