Plans for grille block on Tank

[Domman56]

I'm planning on doing an upper grille block on my el camino to see if it improves mileage at all

Should I try it on the inside or the outside?
Here's a pic


and what should i use? it HAS to be black

[winkosmosis]

Looks like a good candidate for a clear plastic cover on the outside.

[moonmonkey]

that grill is huge,, i guess its only got 1 big one, instead of the more modern upper and lower. hope you have a good temp gauge or scangage to watch temps. since most of your cooling comes thru the one big opening are you going to do all the way accross at top /bottom ,or leave a gap in the middle.id do it with something cheap like cardboard/garbage bag/ducttape until i found out how much i could permanatly cover, then clear lexan,or paint it if you want. but you should see a noticeable difference with that huge hole partialy blocked.

[Christ]

Before you block the grille, make sure you seal up the radiator. Any air that is still able to get through the grille, you want it going through the radiator, as opposed to around it.

After that, just start making black strips about 2-3" wide and as tall as your grille, and fasten them to the inside so you can't really see them, starting from the outside and working your way in until you're comfortable with what you have.

Once you seal your radiator, you could probably easily block 30% of your grille and not even notice a difference in temps.

[Domman56]

Originally Posted by Christ

Before you block the grille, make sure you seal up the radiator. Any air that is still able to get through the grille, you want it going through the radiator, as opposed to around it.

After that, just start making black strips about 2-3" wide and as tall as your grille, and fasten them to the inside so you can't really see them, starting from the outside and working your way in until you're comfortable with what you have.

Once you seal your radiator, you could probably easily block 30% of your grille and not even notice a difference in temps.

THank man i think i'm gonna start on blocking the upper half of the grille but what should i use for the strips on the inside?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Domman56

THank man i think i'm gonna start on blocking the upper half of the grille but what should i use for the strips on the inside?

you could start with painted cardboard on the inside, from soda/beer boxes.

I only say to start on the inside because that way, if you don't end up blocking a large section of it, or you don't like the way it looks/functions, you won't have spent alot of time on making it work right on the outside.

[Jethro]

Any area that is not directly infront of the radiator should be able to be blocked off without any ill effects on cooling. Even at that, I'm sure you can block off more and create 'flow directors' of sorts, basically, make sure the air flowing IN the grill it going through the radiator and not just blowing around violently.

Ya know, since the rest of the car is soooo aero. (Mind you, I have a '00 Ram Truck)