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Does anybody know if there is a way to add a center grill to the front bumper?? Can you cut out where the license plate goes and add one? It ought to help in the engine cooling department! Does anybdy make one?
There was a company called grille mates back in the 80s. They made a plastic license plate that was finned and looked like a center grille. It looked nice on these cars. I believe that Ecklers used to sell them. Give them a call, they may be able to help you out. :cheers:
'74 was the last year for a center grille. You're essentially stuck with the front license arrangement on your '76. Personally, I've always felt a CORVETTE license plate looks good on the front, provided your state does not require a front tag.
:)
There was a company called grille mates back in the 80s. They made a plastic license plate that was finned and looked like a center grille. It looked nice on these cars. I believe that Ecklers used to sell them. Give them a call, they may be able to help you out.
Only looked like a grille, no pass-thru to radiator, zero cooling effect, looks only.
When I called Eckler's to ask about the center grill, they told me that they had never heard of such a thing. Where did you find one, functional or not?
Ask for P/N A1360 for a '75 to '79 or A1363 for a '80 to '82 either one is 39.95. This information comes from my current Eckler's catalog on page 15.
Either one is nonfunctional. The steel bumper and the air tank will block any air flow even if you open the fins up.
Mike T
I went ahead and scan the page of ecklers catalog # 2101 where you can find the center grill but i believe is only for looks you might be able to modified it to pass air thru it. and also I scan a page of mid america catalog#11F where there is a system for the c4 that might give you some ideas. I sent them to you via Email.
Let me and everyone in the forum know what you end up with.
Ray
Mike T
I went ahead and scan the page of ecklers catalog # 2101 where you can find the center grill but i believe is only for looks you might be able to modified it to pass air thru it. and also I scan a page of mid america catalog#11F where there is a system for the c4 that might give you some ideas. I sent them to you via Email.
Let me and everyone in the forum know what you end up with.
Ray
MikeT: The factory made what you are looking for in `73 &`74. But now they are scarce and won`t fit your car. You might be able to modify one to work,I don`t know.Or you could try making something yourself. Where there is a will , there is a way.
The more I think about this, the more I wonder - is the result worth it? It seems that if you managed to open up the bumper itself (where the license plate mounts) you could get one of the non-functional grills and cut it open.
But would all that add that much in the way of cooling? I doubt it.
If you are not running a under-car air dam to force air up thru the radiator - get one. They help alot.
Put an pusher electric fan on the front of the radiator if you can (depends on your options and such). Or replace your current water-pump driven fan with a puller electric fan.
Here's a better choice, I think. Get a '75 hood with cowl induction, take out the flapper door so that the cowl is open all the time. Run an open element air cleaner. You will see your engine compartment drop in temperature. I run a 180 deg thermostat and hardly ever see mine go over 200, even in traffic. Stopped traffic is another matter entirely.... for any car.
I think you want the look of one continous grille, thinking that it will help cooling and I doubt if it will.....