My try at a partial grill block

[bhazard]

Since from what Ive read, Dodge shadows and plymouth sundances have pretty bad aerodynamics, 0.42 drag coefficient from most sources, I decided to try a partial grill block. Im kinda wary of blocking everything due to engine overheating.




The plastic is plastic wrap from a delicious Digiorno stuffed crust pizza. It seems fairly durable. I taped in on with clear packing tape. I then moved the front license plate up to the other side of the grill, need to get another ziptie for it.

Depending on how hot it runs I may block more of the grill. I also have that bottom opening to work with, though that may someday provide airflow for an intercooler.

[FX2.3]

Your paint looks really good for your car's age so I would be worried about vibrations of the license plate eating away at your paint. Maybe the soft side of velcro or something to cushion it.

[RH77]

The clear plastic is an easy solution. I did the same with my front plate

I'm having trouble fabricating something for mine (I just have the area similar to the bottom of your Shadow). Turns out, I can't fabricate crap. The plate provided a middle 1/3 grille block.

RH77

[DifferentPointofView]

clear to me is the way to go! stretch it good and it looks almost like it's not there!

[cerdmier]

I used plexiglass on mine. It was 10 for the sheet size I needed at Home Depot. It works and looks great. You have a easy shape to cut so it shouldn't be that bad.

[COMP]

i have a 92 3.0 5sp to do ,,i may be able to block the whole grill and pull air from the lower facia ,,looking at a fan up-grade maybe to

[aerohead]

bhazard, at Cd0.42, the Shadow's got a lower Cd than what Corvette's had when I was in college.Your slow approach will protect that Mopar powertrain from Btu overload.Good engineering!

[bennelson]

I just completely covered the grill on my Shadow with duct tape. Then I spray painted it to match.

The whole car is Rustoleum Metallic Blue anyways, so the color matches perfect.

No problems what-so-ever with that. When I stuck some coroplast down the front, I DID have to cut some slots in it to keep the car at the right temperature.

Now if only there is something I could do about the crappy 3-speed automatic transmission.

[bhazard]

Well, the car was just over 3/4 tank and I topped it off. Tripmeter showed 101mi, multiply by 1.036 to correct it for oversized tires and get 104.636mi. Divide by 2.74 gallons which is where the pump shut off and I got 38.188 mpg. What? Can a partial grill block seriously give you 10 mpg?

Im skeptical, I dont think Im gonna enter this into the fuel log. Ill run it down a bit and do a real fillup first and see.

The leaky transmission was also a quart and a half low on fluid so that makes things even harder to believe.

[DifferentPointofView]

yes, I low fluid=less pickup and power. so more losses at the drivetrain. also have the slipping problem in cold weather.