46 replies to this topic

[bergenfelter]

Have a 2013 GT500 on the way.  Going with the clear urethane material for front end paint protection.  With the open grille would like to do something to keep the bugs and crap out of the radiator.  Any ideas or products here?

Thanks!

[TrakRat]

Went to Home Depot and bought a do-it-yourself screen kit and put it in front of the radiator of my F350 and in front of my Fiancee's Afco Heat exchanger.  Here's a pic....

[2010KonaBlueGT]

bergenfelter, on 18 April 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

Have a 2013 GT500 on the way.  Going with the clear urethane material for front end paint protection.  With the open grille would like to do something to keep the bugs and crap out of the radiator.  Any ideas or products here?

Think about how much 'protection' the egg-crate grille on a 2011 & earlier GT500 affords and then ask yourself if you really need 'protection' for your radiator.

About the only thing the current grille protects you from is a bird strike. Rocks, bugs, road debris all get past the egg-crate grille so why does everyone think they need added protection on the 2013's? (this subject was hashed over early on in the '13 release).


JMHO,
Phill

[TrakRat]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 21 April 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

Think about how much 'protection' the egg-crate grille on a 2011 & earlier GT500 affords and then ask yourself if you really need 'protection' for your radiator.

Short answer: Yes.


Unless you like your H/E to look like this...

Edited by TrakRat, 22 April 2012 - 12:07 AM.

[springer]

Sounds like an aftermarket grill for the 2013 would be a great accessory for Shelby American to look into.  They look pretty lame without a grill.

[jeredh]

the lack of grill looks really tough, but this opening begs for an unknown object to penetrate the intercooler and radiator.  just when you expect the unexpected, a pebble the size of a whopper penetrates that delicate aluminum.   make no mistake, i think the no-grill look is bad ass, but statistically it's an accident waiting to happen

[Radical08]

I honestly don't know what to put in there that would look good and it won't be from Lowes or Home Depot if it were mine.  I'm not bashing the 2013 but I personally don't like that open squared off area and sooner or later a decent size object will ram in there and do damage requiring the front end to come off to get at it and repair/replace it.  I can't believe there is that much added cooling leaving it wide open and if they were so worried about cooling they should have used a bigger H/E and added dual fans like Afco did (I have the Afco on my 2010) and no heat issues.  Also all of that would have been hidden behind the grill like the 2010-2012 are.

On my 2008 S/C Shelby GT the lower area was open too and some vendor came out with a grill that fit right in and cured the potential issue with no loss in any performance or cooling.  Neither car do I plan on being at the salt flats doing 200 in so I think I'm good.  I'm also in balmy hot ass Florida and no issues here with either car and they don't have a wide open bass mouth waiting for something to enter.

2010 GT500 just over 700HP and 595 at the wheels
2008 Shelby GT right at 600HP and 490 at the wheels

[MJN]

I like the look of the open grill but what bothers me more is the bugs in the fins.  I would just like to have like a ridgid screen insert or even something to velcro in.

[Snoopy49]

I wonder what Nascar uses to protect their radiators?

Nascar Armor

[WJinLV]

Check this out. Custom diamond grille inserts. You can get them powder coated flat black. With the right skill, Im sure you could fit one behind the grille opening on the 2013 GT500 so it protects the radiator and doesnt stand out.

http://www.customcargrills.com/

[WJinLV]

Here is a pic, comes in silver or black. Square or diamond shape.

Raw Material: Stainless Steel Wire Thickness: 0.040" / 18 Gauge Wire Spacing: 1/4" Apart Open Area: ~ 70%

Attached Files

•  scan_Woven_Square.jpg   90.26K   41 downloads

Edited by WJinLV, 20 August 2012 - 02:28 PM.

[rocky]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 21 April 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

Think about how much 'protection' the egg-crate grille on a 2011 & earlier GT500 affords and then ask yourself if you really need 'protection' for your radiator.

About the only thing the current grille protects you from is a bird strike. Rocks, bugs, road debris all get past the egg-crate grille so why does everyone think they need added protection on the 2013's? (this subject was hashed over early on in the '13 release).


JMHO,
Phill

I am always cleaning bugs from my 2012 grill but most don't get past the grill so it seems to be doing it's job.

[svt13]

People apparently shelby has found your answer in there newest super snake. Here take a look. http://mustangsdaily...e-prototype.jpg you have to look very closely at the upper grill to see the screen.

[svt13]

Radical08, on 16 July 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

I honestly don't know what to put in there that would look good and it won't be from Lowes or Home Depot if it were mine.  I'm not bashing the 2013 but I personally don't like that open squared off area and sooner or later a decent size object will ram in there and do damage requiring the front end to come off to get at it and repair/replace it.  I can't believe there is that much added cooling leaving it wide open and if they were so worried about cooling they should have used a bigger H/E and added dual fans like Afco did (I have the Afco on my 2010) and no heat issues.  Also all of that would have been hidden behind the grill like the 2010-2012 are.

On my 2008 S/C Shelby GT the lower area was open too and some vendor came out with a grill that fit right in and cured the potential issue with no loss in any performance or cooling.  Neither car do I plan on being at the salt flats doing 200 in so I think I'm good.  I'm also in balmy hot ass Florida and no issues here with either car and they don't have a wide open bass mouth waiting for something to enter.

2010 GT500 just over 700HP and 595 at the wheels
2008 Shelby GT right at 600HP and 490 at the wheels

They put a huge H/E on the 13 for cooling. Probably no aftermarket one can match its size for a while. Their downfall was as you said no putting dual fans which is baffling to me. Because then they could have kept it open. But its also open for aerodynamics. I don't know how much better aero it gets from an open grill rather than the honeycomb style but they thought it was justified. My opinion still is they ran out of money or ideas or got lazy towards the end and found this to be a easy fix to cooling and aerodynamics. Adding a H/E with dual fans would have cost more $$$. This is like a budget super car so they try to pinch pennies where they can. So how do they solve the aero/coolingproblem? Just pull out the grill problem solved .

[WJinLV]

svt13, on 21 August 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

People apparently shelby has found your answer in there newest super snake. Here take a look. http://mustangsdaily...e-prototype.jpg you have to look very closely at the upper grill to see the screen.

Thats it! now one for the bottom too. Wonder when they will make it to market?

[svt13]

WJinLV, on 21 August 2012 - 08:43 AM, said:

Thats it! now one for the bottom too. Wonder when they will make it to market?

Doubt they will

[Snoopy49]

Edited by Snoopy49, 21 August 2012 - 11:55 AM.

[svt13]

I actually questioned the need for this but when I was at my car just now taking a look in my radiator not my H/E 2 fins have been bent by a rock or something that hit it after just 2000 miles. My H/E is fine for now. But after seeing that in my radiator I would definitely want this. (stupid ford for not offering this)

Edited by svt13, 21 August 2012 - 10:39 AM.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

svt13, on 21 August 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

I actually questioned the need for this but when I was at my car just now taking a look in my radiator not my H/E 2 fins have been bent by a rock or something that hit it after just 2000 miles. My H/E is fine for now. But after seeing that in my radiator I would definitely want this. (stupid ford for not offering this)

I have the full Ford factory egg crate grilles. Both my radiator and IC heat exchanger have bent fins. And way more than 2 bent fins.


Phill

[patrickshelby]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 21 August 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

I have the full Ford factory egg crate grilles. Both my radiator and IC heat exchanger have bent fins. And way more than 2 bent fins.
Phill

SEE! You should have had a screen!