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Has anyone with the Z51 package noticed anything getting into the side radiator? Bugs, rock, anything? Does the cars air stream tend to deflect misc objects? I added the the protective screen for the front lower rads, but no one seems to have anything for the 3rd side radiator. Yeah, Yeah, before someone gets going on the loss of airflow. I live in IL, heat isn't an issue, but pebbles from terrible roads are.
I'm kicking around having my shop fabricate a screen, not much room to fit it in, and securing may be tricky. Anyone have any knowledge or insights?
Thanks. Just installed screens over the front AC Condensers made from a 16 inch X 48 inch sheet purchased from Custom Car Grills. Have plenty of material left to make side vent mesh protectors so just looked at my vents.
On the driver's side there is already a grill stopping "stuff" from entering that fan, which is only to blow air over the engine. Only have heard that on a very hot day when I pulled into the garage. It ran for a short time then shut off. That mesh is deeper in the vent opening but any debris would fall out the bottom of the car.
On the driver's side, where the extra coolant rad is on Z51s, only thing I see to attached the mesh is a screw on the bottom I could make a Bracket to use to attach in that spot and a bolt holding a wire and ring on the top where I could do the same with a fabricated "L" bracket. One is visible in the circle I made below and one out of view in your pic. There I used a dotted circle on your pic.
But yours is not attached that way. There is something I note with a Box and ??? that looks like it may have been used but don't see how it was attached, if it was used. How Did You Attach The Mesh?
PUt over 1500 miles in a month and Im of the belief the vehicle is just fine as designed by the corvette team. If it needed screens the engineers would have put them there.
im sure its nit a popular opinion for those concerned yet you asked for opinions so I gave you one that says for all the things Ill keep in the back of my head ...bugs and other debris ruining the various radiators isnt one of them.
ill oeave the vehicle as designed by the corvette engineering team. If they suggest to put a screen in to protect the various radiators then Ill do it. Same respect for my service techs advice.
Im flexible. I just dont at this time see the need.
I amd curious how the packed snow will look in these various inlets as I do daily drive my corvettes in all sorts of weather for fun.
the design team for corvettes really amazes me as they make our corvettes putting them in a 300k validation process to be durable as daily drivers.....and that makes me laugh on a daily basis compared to some of the more exotic like competition.
i was going around a twistie this past weekend in town and coming in the other direction was ferrari 458....
PUt over 1500 miles in a month and Im of the belief the vehicle is just fine as designed by the corvette team. If it needed screens the engineers would have put them there.
im sure its nit a popular opinion for those concerned yet you asked for opinions so I gave you one that says for all the things Ill keep in the back of my head ...bugs and other debris ruining the various radiators isnt one of them.
ill oeave the vehicle as designed by the corvette engineering team. If they suggest to put a screen in to protect the various radiators then Ill do it. Same respect for my service techs advice.
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May not be a big issue with the side vents BUT a piece of debris, small rock etc can damage the AC Condensers, especially since they are low and cover a lot of the front. This is my experience with my C6:
My 6 month old C6 had AC coolant and some lubricating oil coming out of my car! Had just driven into town and was close to the dealer. Pulled in and the Chevy Service Manger said yep you have a small hole in the SC Condenser and GM will NOT cover on warranty as it was probably caused by a rock etc. Paid $800 and had a new one installed.
Did not believe it could have been a rock etc so asked for the old Condenser back! Sure enough with a 10X magnifier it was obvious to me the hole was caused by pressure from the inside. Then saw the Condenser was bent right near the hole! I postulated the Condenser was dropped prior to it being installed. Wrote a letter with pics and also quoted the tech who installed the new one saying he never dropped the old Condenser. Asked the Service Manager if I could talk to his area GM Service Rep when he visits and bring the Condenser to show him. No need, he sent my letter to the area rep and I got all my money back!
Here are some pics of what occurred AND the aftermarket stainless protector I installed (that GM did not see a need of installing, as it's not their problem, it's yours IF a hole occurs!) PS: Someone sells something similar to my C6 AC Condenser protector for the C8 costing ~$350 but most of us installed a less obvious mesh from Custom Car Grills etc for much less! Your Car Your Risk!
I get to pick up my 3lt blade silver HTC tomorrow.
Are the radiator screens you purchased pre cut and ready to install? ? ?
I bought the 16" X 48" sheet BUT you can buy precut parts from Custom Car gills. This is my PDF: http://netwelding.com/CF_Splitter.pdf
Install of the precut would be about the same. If willing to see small black wire ties (as their install video's shows) is easier to don't have to remove the Grill Bar and Bezel but you have to remove the lower parts as I show to have access to insert the mesh. I'd also suggest using a posterboard protector below inserting the mesh to protect the AC Condenser fins as they bend easily. It's just removed when finished.
Z51 side radiator
