How To Save Your Radiators

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dan1911

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How did you attach it on?

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I laid the gutter screen over the cutouts (once the honeycomb was removed) and cut about a half inch bigger than the opening. Made sure the screen overlapped the stock tabs that lock in the honeycomb, and then used some snips to create a small opening in the screen to go around the tabs.
Once I got the shape down, rattle can it whatever color you want.
When it's all dry, lay it out on the grille and use zip ties to secure. I used quite a bit of zip ties to make sure I didn't have to do it more than once and held up pretty good. At the front you can see any of the zip ties and looks pretty clean


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Limeybastard

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I laid the gutter screen over the cutouts (once the honeycomb was removed) and cut about a half inch bigger than the opening. Made sure the screen overlapped the stock tabs that lock in the honeycomb, and then used some snips to create a small opening in the screen to go around the tabs.
Once I got the shape down, rattle can it whatever color you want.
When it's all dry, lay it out on the grille and use zip ties to secure. I used quite a bit of zip ties to make sure I didn't have to do it more than once and held up pretty good. At the front you can see any of the zip ties and looks pretty clean


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Initially i was thinking about kéeping my current grill but perhaps adding a bug screen similar to those used in patio outdoor lanai on thr inside. But got disillusioned in case it came off and got tangled inside enginr bay area etc

You wouldn't happen to have the link for that gutter mesh from home depot would you? They offer a few types.

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dan1911

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Initially i was thinking about kéeping my current grill but perhaps adding a bug screen similar to those used in patio outdoor lanai on thr inside. But got disillusioned in case it came off and got tangled inside enginr bay area etc

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Mine is REALLY secure. We gravel the roads up here in the winter. "Alaska Windshield" means your windshield is cracked and webbed, and most people don't fix it because it'll just happen again. So, this thing has taken many rocks and while it has needed one readjustment since it was bowed in, it is not going anywhere.
Obviously, don't do it if you are concerned since it's not worth the stress, but I have absolute confidence in the screen as I do in the honeycomb


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Limeybastard

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Mine is REALLY secure. We gravel the roads up here in the winter. "Alaska Windshield" means your windshield is cracked and webbed, and most people don't fix it because it'll just happen again. So, this thing has taken many rocks and while it has needed one readjustment since it was bowed in, it is not going anywhere.
Obviously, don't do it if you are concerned since it's not worth the stress, but I have absolute confidence in the screen as I do in the honeycomb


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On the contrary, with it coming of and being tangled in engine bay was​ the fabric screen mesh i was originally considering. hence why i believe the more sturdier gutter mesh version is more suited now.

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dan1911

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On the contrary, with it coming of and being tangled in engine bay was​ the fabric screen mesh i was originally considering. hence why i believe the more sturdier gutter mesh version is more suited now.

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Ha! And that's why we never drink and reply. Lol
My bad man, thought you were headed in the other direction and didn't want to give the wrong impression. I am really happy with the screen man, and I know it's cosmetic but to be able to change the color in under 30 mins is a sweet perk


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dan1911

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e3d918a049456690c36cce98f1605cc8.jpg
It's dull right now compared to when I just sprayed it last year though. The color will fade eventually but in the summers we have just about 24 hour sun so it's accelerated. This pic was about a week after I first did it


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Tim7139

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Any thoughts on why this mod is cautioned against in the manual?
 

Limeybastard

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Seriously, don't drink and reply lol.... didn't see you asked for the link!
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Amerimax-H...nged-Gutter-Guard-Unpainted-85280BX/100002884
I just snapped off the hinges. They were nearly a perfect fit height wise and pretty much just needed to be cut shorter and cutouts for tabs


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Cheers appreciate it . I was looking at a spare chrome grill sitting in thr garage , i see those tabs behind it that you were referring to. Horizontal type tabs?

Ref drinking and typing and other things... The stories I could tell you about those, would be a whole days story duration wise at minimum. I think if i hadnt stopped id be , well lets just say deported. Lol

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dan1911

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Any thoughts on why this mod is cautioned against in the manual?



Is it?? I had no idea lol
I've not noticed anything suffering as a result. The only thing I can imagine is keeps their responsibility at a minimum lol


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dan1911

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Cheers appreciate it . I was looking at a spare chrome grill sitting in thr garage , i see those tabs behind it that you were referring to. Horizontal type tabs?

Ref drinking and typing and other things... The stories I could tell you about those, would be a whole days story duration wise at minimum. I think if i hadnt stopped id be , well lets just say deported. Lol

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Yup, those are the tabs. Cut cut out as much as needed to get the tabs to pass the screen so it allows it to lay flat. Then just zip tie under the "bridges" formed by the tabs and grill supports. Once you get it all together and looking at it it'll make more sense I'm sure


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dan1911

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EVFOWJK/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just put this on yesterday. Headed to Alaska. Had one on my 2009 and protected radiator and kept the bugs out.


Oh ya those are super popular up here. I dont care for the snaps that need to be installed but I havent met a single other person who is bothered by it lol
My mom's did rust after a while but the salted roads in the winter will rust just about anything up here anyway
Where in AK are you headed?
 

barr0208

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:) yep I just go about a mile from my place and pick mine up at the manufacture plant here in Winnipeg.:)
 

patchelect

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Any thoughts on why this mod is cautioned against in the manual?

Believe it or not any screening makes a pretty large difference in the airflow through the radiator. Try an experiment with a piece of screening and a fan. You'd be surprised at the difference in airflow between the screen and no screen. I understand the bug issues but remember that the screen material is reducing the opening by a substantial amount as a percentage of the opening. The finer the screen the higher the amount. I'm guessing that the cooling capacity is already well designed but I'd also guess that a drive through Death Valley with the A/C on would bring out the shortcomings, and probably a drive on a very hot day with the A/C on will also show the issues. Having a non digital temperature gauge helps hide things and I'm NOT a proponent of digital temp gauges by any means.

I own a Miata and they have zero screening plus a grille opening at ground level. Guys are always coming up with grille materials and arguments about "saving" the radiator from issues caused by flying debris. In nearly 50 years of driving all sort of vehicles the only issue I ever had with road hazards and radiators was when I hit the bottom of a hill at high speed and the engine shifted so the cooling fan (then mounted on the water pump) hit the radiator. Other than that except for the "Love Bugs" in Georgia or Florida (CRS!) one time in the 70's I never had to clean the grille out.
 
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