My try at a partial grill block
 

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.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0597.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0598.jpg

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.

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.:thumbup:

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

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. :thumbup:

RH77

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

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.

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 :thumbup:

bhazard's grille block
 

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!

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.

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.

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

What's up with the license plate? Is that legal?
I would do the same if it was, but I thought that they are not supposed to be obstructed in any way.
I feel that there is no need for radar guns to have any more reflective surface than necessary!:D
Yours seems to simply be missing the bottom portion.

I don't think most cops care. maybe the state cops and state sheriffs, but local cops usually won't care, as long as they can see the letters and numbers.

I dont see how it could matter, theres no information or anything on the part I bent, it just goes into the little crack between the bumper cover and grill. Helps hold in in place.

Good call. Short fills (less than half a tank) can give some silly MPG numbers. You're best off waiting till you've gone through most of a tank, you'll get a lot more accurate number that way.

I did the same thing -- on the front plate, there's nothing on the bottom portion folded on either state except for maybe on mine "The Show-Me State" :p

You can ID the State and Tag Number, so it shouldn't be a problem.

RH77

If I did that the most I'd block out would be Abraham Lincoln! :D