Show off your Grille Block

[aerohead]

This was my 1st foray into streamlining,with the Karmann Ghia,back in 1974.

The accessory wheel rings and hubcaps would have helped.Cutting the rear wheel arches was a stupid thing to do.
She was only 40-hp and returned 41-mpg tank mileage on round trips between Edwards AFB and Woodland Hills,California.It was during the 1st Energy Crisis,and I could fill up on base,make it out for the weekend,and get back on the same 10-gallon tank without breaking a sweat.The 325-hp El Camino got parked almost permanently.

[aerohead]

Here is the cardboard mock up for the '62 Dodge mods in pre-T-100 days

Then pre-painted Masonite panel took the cardboard's place

Crude but effective.

[kach22i]

Richard Petty - 1978

Photo called: 1978 Michigan Chevy Debut

Looks like an aluminum grille block for better aerodynamics.

MORE random pics...... - Page 3972 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

[ThermionicScott]

*bump*

I've run an upper grille block for a while, just recently started experimenting with a lower block as it got colder outside.



The lower one is hard to see because of the light, but it's a section of *cough* kitty litter box that I trimmed to fit. There are a couple of bolt heads or something toward the back of the top that allow me to "snap" it in place. There is a little duct tape at the top anyway, and I cut out the corner for the block heater cord.

The car is just old enough not to support a ScanGauge/UltraGauge, so I'm admittedly running blind on engine temps. I keep an eye on the stock temp gauge, and haven't seen anything unusual in the trips I've taken so far. I'll no doubt remove some of the tape and open up one of the blocks once spring rolls around.

My commute to work is only 5 miles, but the temp gauge gets up to the midway point and the heater can blow warm air by the time I get to work on days below 15°F, so I *think* it's helping.

P.S. Just for the sake of my engine/FE, though, I don't actually use the heater unless I have passengers.

[kafer65]

I'm confident that the full kitty litter block is safe at those outside temps for your short commute. I need to be below 50 outside for full block to be safe at 10 mile commute. At 50-55 its getting hot the last two miles. I can pull 10 degrees out if I turn the heat on full inside. If you look at the first pic in my build thread below my fuel log you can see the two slits I have on my lower grill block. I just stick two pipe insulation noodles on them to close it off.

[ThermionicScott]

I like what you've done there, kafer65 -- I'm thinking about getting some Lexan now! So no overheating issues if you leave those little slits open?

I forgot to mention/show that there is a rectangular hole in the upper center of my lower block, behind the license plate. Maybe I'll start treating myself to a very low level of warm air from the defroster when the temp gauge gets to the mid level, just to be on the safe side.

I hadn't been super worried about it before, as it seems like there are lots of other ways for fresh air to come around to the front of the radiator on this car. There are decent gaps around the headlights, between the grille and hood, to the sides of the radiator, underneath...

[19bonestock88]

I'm embarrassed that my not having gotten one picture of the finished products of my grille block system on the Malibu... Was painted to match and everything...

[kafer65]

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

So no overheating issues if you leave those little slits open?

It will get hot in peak summer temps if I don't have the air conditioning on since the fans come on automatically with AC. If its stop and go waiting at lights that is the worst of it, but if I'm moving enough to be in second gear I get enough air moving in there to cool. Since I did more city driving last summer I just took the bottom cover off. I can't tell when the cooling fans are on and causing more alternator draw and I didn't want to tax my head gasket with excessive heat cycling if I missed watching it get too hot. It normally registers 185f when no air is blocked. I removed the hot air intake so I could let the engine have more room for timing and power for in town stop and go. I need to put that back on now that its cold.

[divedaddy03]

Originally Posted by whatmaycome14

Here's my "Upper Grill Block"... if you can count it as that??

What material is that?

[deejaaa]