Any reason I shouldn't cut open the rest of the grill?

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crash68

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I bought a new Rebel back in 2017, and remember reading on a Rebel forum something about Rebels not having AGS. I can't confirm this, just that I remember reading that.
You remember correctly, the Rebel trucks did not have the AGS from the factory.
Similar to the EcoDiesel that was missing several slats that would have covered the intercooler.
 

mikeru

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Another thing to consider when opening the grill more or installing hood vents - now water (rain, snow, etc) will get into new places that could rust because the engineers expected no water in those places.
You bring up a good point about the hood vents, but I doubt there's anything behind the grille that would be sensitive to water. Everything in the engine bay is pretty well protected from water. Water gets into just about everywhere just from driving on wet asphalt and in rainy conditions. I'm sure you've followed a semi on the highway when it's raining.
 

pacofortacos

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Paco's implied there was some downside to the delete, which I was not aware of. Only thing I can think of is it might take longer to get warm in the cold. Which it never has... Heat starts blowing in like 30s if I just release the brakes, but the engine never seems to get more than maybe 2 degrees above the thermostat. (IE like 205, on the stock 203). The 5-30 I have in it now I have seen hit 210 once. Tranny hasn't gotten much above 200 either. (Dungrees Frankenstein to clarify!)

But again, bought my Rebel new off the lot, just after they hit my dealer, and it came with out shutters. It has the frame, but...
If yours is deleted from the factory then there's no downside.
If it came with it, then you have to do something to stop from throwing a code - unless you leave part of it still in and working.

Other than that, I don't know if it even helps with highway mpg - if it does it certainly isn't much.
 

ThunderMug95

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My ‘17 came with the shutters. Currently only the very top and very bottom ones are still there. The system still actuates as designed, just the center sections are missing as they are slaved to the ones that are geared. So cheapie way to avoid codes. Only reason I did it was too feed the Vararam intake. Otherwise, no need to mess with them.
 

GTyankee

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My Ram was built on December 18, 2015
It was at the dealership on January 16, 2016
These images were taken less than 2 months later

When you ZOOM IN, you can almost every nut, bolt, & screw
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PaleFlyer

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IMG20220402165909.jpgIMG20220402173307.jpg

My '18 when I was doing the headlights. You can clearly see the shutters are missing, but the frame exists. I did not delete the shutters. Got it new off the lot, with like 270 miles on the ODO.

Edit: I washed it after I reassembled it...

No idea what is going on with the bottom of my bumper where it is losing the paint. That's spreading... Think they screwed up some prep.
 
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