What is the best way to protect the radiator from bug and road debris damage. Thanks for the tips?

 

Black "plastic" house gutter screen. Cuts with ordinary scissors. Black all the way through so there is no flaking or chipping when stones and large bugs hit it. Looks stock if applied neatly. Inexpensive - a roll costs around $5.00. I just did the front of my GS. Will do the bottom inlet as soon as the weather permits me to lay on the concrete driveway. Compared to putting a rock through your radiator or air conditioning condenser, this is by far the best mod I have ever devised for all my vehicles.
Best wishes.
Glen

 

This is a great idea Glenn. How do you attach it? I amnot all that handy so good instructions would be most helpful. Do you have pictures you could post?

Thank you so much.

 

I just put a strip of black plastic rain gutter screen behind the grille. It will stop rocks and slow down bugs enough so that they don't get stuck in the radiator fins. Got a roll of it at Home Depot for a few bucks.



Took a while for me to find a pic online...same idea as related above.

 

RaceMesh Grille saved my radiator from sudden death!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...d-the-day.html
Must have product for me!

 

with olefam....mount a fine mesh screen (metallic or plastic) in front of the radiator. Doing this can help but it's not something I consider necessary.

 

Great! Does anyone have apicture of it installed? And how would I clean the few bugs off the radiator before installing this gutter guard. Not easy to reach the front of the radiator?

Thanks!

 

This stuff is easy to install. Take a bit of time. Use ordinary sheers to cut the plastic screen to fit. Use small black nylon zip-ties to attach it directly to the black plastic grill. (Bend the zip-tie so it has a "fish hook" shape. Thread it through from the front and catch an end as it comes back around. Be patient. It takes a few times to get it to come around where you want it. Use several zip-ties per section so the screen stays in place.) I didn't bother trying to get in behind the grill with the Grand Sport as I couldn't see an easy and quick way of doing that. But honestly, it blends so well with the stock black plastic grill that it really isn't an issue for me. Remember, it's plastic so it may rip or tear of a bigger stone hits it. But if this happens pat yourself on the back for your time and energy spent putting it on - it just saved your radiator from that same missile.
Glen
P.S. I'm a dunce when it comes to posting photos on forums.

 

Thanks! I will give it a try.

 

I made mine with 1/4 spacing 304 stainless wire mesh, attached with homemade bracket to existing oem mounting holes behind the egg crate grill:



Mounted behind oem egg crate grill - by the way, the two center studs are for my homemade removable license plate bracket:



The bottom air inlet:



It will protect the expensive C6 ac condenser and radiator.

 

How did you get behind the OEM egg crate grill? Did you take it off.

 

You can do a great job of protecting your radiator by mounting an A&A supercharger intercooler in front of it. The A&A intercoolers are made by Griffiths Radiators.

 

Can you give me more info on the intercooler?

 

You can, if you want.

For me, I raised the front end. My cres mesh serves double duty as pre filter for my Callaway.

FWIW, without mesh protection, an supercharger intercooler will not fare any better than oem condenser and escape incoming flying missiles.

 

I reached up through the bottom opening. On the GS front end, this is blocked by a plate but it's only a couple of screws that hold it on...easy to remove for access then replace. On the base front end, the bottom opening is just that...open.