Grill Block for Ford Ranger

[brucepick]

I think if you put on enough grill block to get it to 200 deg F within maybe 4 miles or so, it will need the fan to keep from overheating once you get 10 miles down the road.

Does it have a belt operated radiator fan? If so, swap it out to an electric one. That will reduce air flow but the elec fan will kick in when needed.

Best way to switch it is with a temp switch in the LOWER rad hose. Set it 10-15 degrees cooler than the thermostat opening temperature and you're good to go. I experimented with every possible position and setting for a temp switch and settled on that as very workable. Then I ran into a performance car modder (Cobra!) who had done the same on his car, with never an overheating problem even with the big V8.

[oldbeaver]

You may try a 1mm thick plexiglass cover. Coarser is good if you don´t have to curve it.

It looks like it wasn´t there.

[BikerModder]

Hundred mile tape but it has to be generic? Oh. How about foam blocks that stay dry? Or Styrofoam TM . That would do the deal. You know how to make a Styrofoam cutter with guitar wire and a 12 volt? It looks like a harp with one string.

[sid]

Rangers have two fans: 1) A mechanical fan with a temperature dependent viscous fluid clutch, and 2) An electric fan. The electric fan only comes on when the air conditioning is on or extremely hot temperatures. The mechanical fan runs all the time, but the clutch has a lot of slip at low temperatures, causing it to run slower. As the temperature increases, the clutch fluid gets thicker, causing more coupling to the fan and the fan runs faster.

After I blocked the upper grill of my Ranger, it appears I picked up about 1 mpg for local driving. I haven't done any real highway driving since I blocked the grill in May to see if my highway FE is any better. The engine temp, per Scangauge, has dropped from a typical 210 in the summer to about 204 since blocking the grill. A drop in temp would indicate that the fan is running faster. But the fan speed is temperature dependent and a lower temp should be a slower fan speed. The fuel economy has improved, indicating that if the fan is working harder, the aerodynamic improvement is more than offsetting the fan's power draw.

[BikerModder]

Oh I see I know all that srry. Did not get that at first. I think the friction or fan clutch is what the other thread forum member wanted a way to add a derailleur to a motor driven pedal car. The Ranger I had was a bit advanced older car with the 8 plugs and 4 cylinders. But it was years into advancement and the development cost was in the millions of dollars and 4 or 5 years to get into produce. It is a great ride and I think the mod might benefit with velcro like the other modders have been added.