Well, I put the big mudflap between the IC and radiator today and the truck and trans both started to get hot and I had to pull over and remove it. Maybe I'll get a real winter front.......

Or I'll just put the stock stat back in for the winter. It's not like it's that hard of a job.....

I'm not sure how you guys are making this work without overheating your engines. I tried to have it in front of the IC but the hood latch hits it making it difficult to open the hood. Sliding it between the IC and Rad got me up to about 225 degrees pretty quickly so the only way I could think to make it work in that position would be to cut a big hole in it so there is still some airflow. Seems that none of you are doing this though...

 

I installed the Pizza Box winter kit and here are my results:

Normal Operating Temp 190F w/190F Thermostat
Today's OAT 61F and sunny
Current Operating Temp 195-197F with Pizza Box

Net engine coolant temp increase of 6F. Trans temp is about the same as coolant.(192F)

Driving was in and around town with 3-5 mile runs of 60-65MPH.

I trimmed the cardboard to 24"WX29"L and folded the top 4" over the top of the radiator to hold it in place.

 

You have to cut a diamond-shape hole in the center, start small and increase the size until you're temps are good.

 

It depends on the ambient temperature. Your block the whole radiator when outside is freezing. You block half of it when outside is 45F, something like that. It's suppose to be adjustable. The winter front has several opening adjustments.
I think the Pizza Box winter kit has more adjustments than the winter front. You can adjust by pulling the cardboard up and down and flip over the radiator and cooling fan.
There is a difference between the winter front and the cardboard. The winter front will block the Intercooler, AC condenser, auto trans oil cooler and the radiator. The cardboard just blocks the radiator if you put it between the radiator and the auto trans oil cooler.

 

OK, so today is a different story! OAT is mid 60'sF and the he coolant and trans temps are running right at 205F with the Pizza Box in place. I know that the temps are within "normal" ranges but I also know that heat is a great enemy of my 48RE. After reading over the other posts, some thoughts come to mind:

The Pizza/cardboard placed in front of the radiator stops almost all air from passing thru the rad. The trans cooler, intercooler, and condenser are affected more because they must now cool by radiation, without the airflow. The winterfront, on the other hand, allows more of an unrestricted, albeit reduced airflow thru all the components and when the fan clutch engages it will pull air thru all the components. The Pizza Box won't allow the fan to pull air and road speed won't matter if you completely cover the radiator, sooooooo, you may as well delete the fan in Winter! No I'm not ready to make that move, but I am going to relook the amount of area covered and the position of the Pizza Box. If I can figure out a way to cover the inside of the grille it will leave enough airspace for the fan to pull air yet when needed yet restrict the airflow at highway speed.

I'm thunkin, I'm thunkin

 

I cover the rad and will be installing a blanket under the engine to retain heat. We do get alot colder up here than the rest of you. During middle of winter i have a hard time getting heat into the motor at all, hitting the highway is the only way it will truly get to operating temp.

I don't put cardboard in until below 25F.

 

I see some think $125. for a winter front is a lot of money yet go out an spend big $$$ big tires & wheels, new exhaust, new intake, gauges ect.

 

Well, I don't like spending money on anything! I DID think I should probably cut a hole in this mudflap but I just didn't do it. I'll mess with it again as it gets colder out...

 

That's how I do it!

 

If you have to ask, then you don't need it (at least not in TX anyway). Hahaha
I must ask though, what is the purpose that all of you that don't live in sub zero winter climates use them for?
I've never had an issue with the engine in my Dodge or other diesels coming up to temp except in extreme cold (-20deg) on long downhill highway runs.
Any other time even in sub zero weather, the engine warms up to proper operating temp no problem.

 

I'm doing this because I run a 180 degree T-stat which is great in the summer but once it starts getting cooler out my engine never gets above 150 degrees or so. I took my big mudflap and cut out the entire section where the trans cooler is and blocked off as much of the rest of the radiator as I could. Seems to be working much better for me now and didn't cost me a thing... Priceless.... Really!

 

Don't know about WA state winter temps but here in the wintertime I have driven down the Freeway in southern MN for over and hour after a coffee break and the temp gauge not go above 160 degrees with my winter front totally closed off, does that help you to better understand why people buy and use a winter front?

 

I run the Mopar winter front from November through early May, completely closed off. It covers everything, IC and trans cooler too. Granted I seldom tow in the winter months, and it gets cold here. When it gets COLD ( I mean like -50°F actual temp cold, not wind chill), without a winter front you can run for 2 hours at highway speeds and the temp doesn't move at ALL and next to no heat in the cab. With the front completely closed off, within 10 minutes or so you have heat and within 20 up to normal summer temps. A side benefit is just getting up to and maintaining proper temperature helps the mileage....by quite a bit! I was shocked when I first put mine on, it went up by almost 3 mpg!

 

Alot of money for what it is. I cut a pc of lexan and drilled holes along the top to zip tie it between the two cores. It also has about a 6" hole where the fan is on the center. Works awsome. I slide it behind my toolbox for summer.

 

I took the forum advice and cut a 6" diamond in the center of the Pizza Box. Tranny temp is staying around 185 even on a warm day. Coolant varies between 182 and 195 depending on load and speed. OAT is not a factor..................so far!

Tranny temp should read 175