Simply Sunday aero work - grill block

[rfross]

It was a nice day today so I decided to partially block my grill using some black Coroplast that I had laying around. I pulled the grill assembly, cut the Coroplast to fit, cut five 3" holes along the bottom edge, cut a single hole on the top left for the battery vent, zip tied the Coroplast to the grill and reassembled it. Total time was about an hour.

[Jetta90GL]

I've never seen a battery vent before. Is GM afraid of the battery cable melting or something?

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've seen a battery vent on a 70's model Plymouth wagon. I think it was a Volare. Had a special vented battery box that was open to the grille. I forget what they called it, but it had some gimmicky name stamped on the battery box.

-Jay

[rfross]

The battery is in a box with a lid. There is a flexible tube that is probably 2" in diameter that runs from the grill to the battery box. I'm assuming that it's there to help vent any gases that build up inside the box. All three of these trucks that I've owned ('05, '06 and my '07) had them.

[lunarhighway]

some older saab's had a battery heater, similar to common warm air intake setups that collect warm air above the exhaust manifold. since these cars where designed with scandinavian winter conditions in mind that makes sence. but i had never seen a battery cooler of ventilation.

nice job on the block!

[kamesama980]

I've seen air ducts to the battery on many cars with enclosed batteries to carry off the explosive hydrogen gas generated when charging/discharging. I've also seen designs that just ran the engine air intake past the battery box as well as the ECU box right next to it to keep them both cool and surrounded by fresh air. like ultra low output HHO lol

[rfross]

After living with the grill block for a few days I can say that the engine temperature gauge reads about a tick mark higher than before in traffic and idle conditions. Freeway driving is pretty much as normal. Outside air temps have been in the low 70's so I'm a little concerned what may happen when it gets in the 80's and higher. I guess the worst case scenario is I pull the grill off again and cut a couple of more holes and over time, add holes until I'm no longer concerned!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yeah, that's why I recommended a duct tape grille block to experiment with. When you figured out exactly how much air you need, then make the permanent one. I had to take mine apart a second time to add another hole. With the holes you have I wouldn't think you'd need more, because my truck with a 350 has fewer holes in its block.

-Jay

[boofighter]

if you used something like this would it not have more of an effect at helping?


http://www.carid.com/product.php?pro...t=37336&page=1

[theholycow]

I don't think that one would work. It looks like it would break up the air just as badly as a normal one and still flow far more air than necessary. Plus, commercially made grilles will almost never be cost-effective.