smykowski
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2010
- Posts
- 481
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- Pacific, MO
- Ram Year
- 2010 SLT
- Engine
- 6.7L Cummins
Not sure what else to call it...
I've been reading more and more stories about people (diesels in particular) having to replace transmission coolers and intercoolers because of rocks. So I figured I could either buy one (about $100, depending on manufacturer) or make something up for a whole lot less...so I went with the latter.
Step 1: Go to a Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. and buy a small section of metal gutter guard. I've heard the plastic ones don't hold up to extreme heat and cold real well. I also went with black as I felt that a regular stainless steel one wouldn't look right with the horizontal slats in the oem grille. Just my preference.
Step 2: Cut the guard so it measures just a hair under 31". I cut mine at 31" and had to trim half a row off ( maybe 1/8"). A dremel tool makes quick work of something like this. Start too big, you can always make it smaller.
Step 3: Once you're satisfied with the fit, I took 4 black zip ties to hold it in place. 1 around the inside arm of the tow hook on each side, and then I put 2 towards the top and used an existing hole in the chassis. The grille will want to slide forward a little bit, the top zip ties prevent it from creeping. Make sure the zip ties are snug. You don't need to make it really tight, a screen with some flex will take most of the energy out of a flying object.
Step 4: Admire your work and thank yourself for saving $100 or more. It's a stealthy mod, you can't really see it unless you're within about 5 feet.
This is what it looks like close-up (disclaimer: this is NOT my truck, but this is the truck of another user on another forum who did the same thing)
I bought 2 sections of 3' gutter guard (in case I screwed the first one up), cost me all of $5.xx
Enjoy!
I've been reading more and more stories about people (diesels in particular) having to replace transmission coolers and intercoolers because of rocks. So I figured I could either buy one (about $100, depending on manufacturer) or make something up for a whole lot less...so I went with the latter.
Step 1: Go to a Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. and buy a small section of metal gutter guard. I've heard the plastic ones don't hold up to extreme heat and cold real well. I also went with black as I felt that a regular stainless steel one wouldn't look right with the horizontal slats in the oem grille. Just my preference.
Step 2: Cut the guard so it measures just a hair under 31". I cut mine at 31" and had to trim half a row off ( maybe 1/8"). A dremel tool makes quick work of something like this. Start too big, you can always make it smaller.
Step 3: Once you're satisfied with the fit, I took 4 black zip ties to hold it in place. 1 around the inside arm of the tow hook on each side, and then I put 2 towards the top and used an existing hole in the chassis. The grille will want to slide forward a little bit, the top zip ties prevent it from creeping. Make sure the zip ties are snug. You don't need to make it really tight, a screen with some flex will take most of the energy out of a flying object.
Step 4: Admire your work and thank yourself for saving $100 or more. It's a stealthy mod, you can't really see it unless you're within about 5 feet.
This is what it looks like close-up (disclaimer: this is NOT my truck, but this is the truck of another user on another forum who did the same thing)
I bought 2 sections of 3' gutter guard (in case I screwed the first one up), cost me all of $5.xx
Enjoy!
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