**STEALTH** Grille block installed in THE BEAST!

[Jay2TheRescue]

I took the grille off The Beast today and blocked the grille with a flatened out black plastic trash can. (http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=8907) I took a 4" hole saw and made a hole right front & center of the auxillary transmission and oil coolers (lower corner of the grille, passenger side). Unfortunately I had taken it apart before dinner, and finished it after dinner. It was too dark to take pics after dinner... I will post pics of the completed job tomorrow morning.

-Jay

[GasSavers_BEEF]

that is such a tease!!!!!!!

also on a related note...my airdam is messing me up. there is an opening in my bumper right in front of my radiator. now all the air that is deflected by the airdam is going right into my engine compartment. I used some coroplast (got a sheet for my B-day) to cover that today. I should have took pics before and after but I was feeling frisky and just did it. my temps were much lower before I did this so hopefully they will come back up.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Ok, here's some pics of the completed job...








The local auto parts store didn't have as many of the black push-on trim fasteners as I wanted, so I will add more when they get in stock. Its fine for now though.

-Jay

[theholycow]

[Jay2TheRescue]

Ok, I drove back from Mom's today. Here's my results. The grille block has definitely raised my under hood temps. As explained earlier I've removed the cover off of the air cleaner box and duct taped the factory air intake to force the engine to draw warm air from the engine bay. My IAT ran in the range of 140 - 160 depending on speed and a/c usage. Ambient air was ~80F. This is a 60 - 80 degree increase from simply blocking the grille. My engine temps hovered around 198 most of the time, but did spike to 208 once or twice for a moment.

I definitely noticed that it took more throttle to do things than before. I did notice though that my SG spent a lot more time reporting instant MPG's in the 30's and 40's though. I really can't use the trip mileage back because I was not driving for FE. I tried the block at 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 MPH along the route. @70 I also tried the a/c on MAX to see what it would do to my water temp. The a/c was not as ice cold and responsive as I'm accustomed to. Because I hit 208 water temp on an 80 degree day @70 MPH with the a/c on max I will make another hole. This of course will lower the fantastic temps I was getting on the IAT, but I do not want it to overheat. I do quite a bit of city driving and I do not want to ruin the engine overheating it.

One thing I was thinking of though... another reason grille blocks may be good for FE. The thermostat stayed open a lot more. My theory is that the water pump is not pushing against a closed thermostat.

-Jay

[bowtieguy]

the grill block is so clean, it's essentially invisible!

the airdam extention gives the look of a snow plow.

super job!

[Jay2TheRescue]

The goal was to have an invisible grille block. If it wasn't invisible I would not have installed it. The airdam looks better now. I buffed it with some #0000 steel wool till I got bored with it. The color matches a lot better now.

Drove in city traffic today. The truck warmed up to full operating temperature in just a few minutes. Max temp reached was 207 water temp and 170 intake air. A/C was cold, but not as cold as I am used to. I will take the grille block apart tomorrow and add an additional hole to allow more air in. I am just cutting it too close and I'm afraid if I spend time in a traffic jam or other type of extended stop that I might overheat.

-Jay

[snydertalon]

That is really really clean looking. I unfortunatly live where its too hot to do all that (summers always in the 90's and hovers near 100 for 2 weeks) to block it all the way. But during the winter blocking everything off is def FTW.

I just did it to my Accord and averaged 47.8 first trip (miles/gallons purchased) and second trip was 62(which was weird) but every purchase ever is from the same pump, so I cannot figure out the varience.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Well the temps have been in the 80's and 90's the past few days since I've installed it. I haven't overheated, but I feel uncomfortable with my water temps hitting 208 in city traffic, plus my a/c is not as quick & cold as it was. I will be adding another 4" hole in the morning. I can't argue with my intake air temps though. I've hit as high as 170 without doing anything special but taking the lid off my air cleaner and blocking the factory air intake with duct tape. I'm sure the additional hole will lower my IAT some though.

-Jay

[Jay2TheRescue]

Ok, I added an extra hole. Just for curiosity's sake I calculated the area of a 4" circle. Comes out to 12.6 square inches. Right now the air I'm getting is from (2) 4" circles, and the 4 narrow slots right above the bumper. I'll take it in some city driving in a little bit and try it out. Also in these pics you can see the airdam extension looks much better. I buffed some of that grey oxidized plastic off the other day with some #0000 steel wool (Until I got bored with it)

-Jay