Plastic Gutterguard as radiator protector.

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 21:04
ThreadID: 85500 Views:5640 Replies:6 FollowUps:5
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My Ford Ranger has a metal guard across the oil cooler which is below the level of the bumper bar but the grill in front of the radiator has gaps in it wide enough to slide your arm into. To reduce the chances of a flying rock damaging the radiator but without drastically reducing air flow I have cable tied strips of black household roof leaf gutterguard across the grill. Fits neatly and even seems to improve chunky appearance. Has anyone else tried this or other home made invention successfully. Thanking you in advance for your responses.
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Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:16

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:16
Gday Farmboy
Sounds like a good idea. What you have to know is how much the gutter guard is restricting the air flow. You have to measure the width and length of the mesh bars and work out the surface area of mesh. You could find that you are cutting out 25% of the radiator air flow.






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AnswerID: 450623

Reply By: David B (wa) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:18

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:18
I also have a Ford Ranger

If you go to a screen door manufacturerand get some Aluminium fly wire normally used for widows this stops a lot of debrie getting thru and blocking air flow.
Its fairly tough
AnswerID: 450624

Reply By: The other Norm C (WA) - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:49

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:49
G'Day
I replaced the standard grill in my PJ Ranger
with some perforated mesh.It stops most things from
getting to the radiator The low mounted cooler
you mentioned is the inter cooler on mine
Norm
AnswerID: 450628

Reply By: Hairs & Fysh - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 06:45

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 06:45
Hi Farmboy,
Every vehicle I've ever owned I have always attached a piece of fly screen in front of the radiator just behind the grill, whether it be Aluminum or fiber glass flywire.
Never had a problem. with overheating. The main reason for it was to stop bugs and seeds clogging the fins. which it did really well, and I could just hose it out without put water pressure on the fins.
If you travel a lot of dirt roads, maybe some 5mm x 5mm mesh, 900mm wide, from a hardware store I think they call it mouse wire, or as suggested some Crimesafe. This might not allow enough air flow.
Cheers.
AnswerID: 450643

Reply By: vk1dx - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 10:51

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 10:51
I had a few rocks break the headlights covers years ago so when I got the Toyota I made a stone guard. 3/8 rod shaped to the bullbar and 2/2" square chicken wire secured to the rod with cable ties and then some garden hose over the rod to cover any sharp bits and just tidy it up a bit. For the locusts I just secure a bit of fly screen to it over the chicken wire.

I had to change the wire after a Kimberley trip. It saved the lights and the radiator as well. Its secured to the front side of the bullbar also with cable ties with cable ties. I take it off when home.

Cheap as chips and has saved the front of the car several times.

A couple more photos here

Phil

Stone guard:


Stone guard on car:


AnswerID: 450671

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 10:54

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 10:54
Whoops typo #1. That was supposed to be half inch (1/2") chicken wire.

Phil
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FollowupID: 723133

Follow Up By: Hairs & Fysh - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 12:34

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 12:34
How simple is that?
Great job Phil.
Cheers
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FollowupID: 723143

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 12:37

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 12:37
I was lucky also when I got a new steel bar. It fits it as well.

Phil
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FollowupID: 723145

Follow Up By: BuggerBoggedAgain - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:18

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:18
Its simple things/ideas/inventions is why i love this site, what a brilliant idea

Another idea bookmarked into my favourites

Good on ya Phil
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FollowupID: 723192

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 21:23

Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 21:23
It has one problem.

We put it on the Ghan to Darwin. As you can see from the photo it is the first one on the top row. As it turned out the car carrier was immediately behind the engine.

It does not stop oil from train exhausts.

We had about 1/2 inch of diesel on the front when we got it at Darwin. And the stupid clown had turned the wipers on. Talk about "L" signs.

Phil

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FollowupID: 723438

Reply By: member - mazcan - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:32

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:32
hi farmboywa

i have been using fiber glass fly screen behind my vehicle grilles for neary 20 yrs and have never had any overheating problems when towing

its so easy to poly tye in place and super easy to wash or brush the bugs and grass seeds off

prior to fiber glass i did have some brass fly screen mesh on another 4wd but it eventually rubbed a hole in one of the aircond pipes
so if your putting any mesh what so ever behind the grille be aware of how and what you secure it to and with what as with corregation it will eventually rub through pipes etc tryed aluminuim flyscreen but it like the brass i used can cause prolems
cheers
AnswerID: 450765

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