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Im looking for the best fit intake grills for the least amount of $, naturally. Having said that I've seen clown pricing at 200.00 and all the way down to 20.00 on eBay .
Need some opinions based on experience if possible on what set is good quality and reasonable pricing.
I like this better than the "BILFARRO" side guards that I just received from Amazon (they do not fit well, in my opinion). Where did you source the materials for your homemade guards? I will make some myself based on your good idea.
Lot of air restriction on those. I paid the idiotic corvette tax (with GM Mastercard reward points) for the scrape armor front and side Eray grills. Both front and side kits have GM part#'s and were tested to not impede airflow into the front radiators or create turbulence in the side air intakes. They also look similar to the OEM mesh screens on my Ferrari and McLaren.
When I bought the McLaren last year, both carbon fiber side scoops had some dings, and the black paint on the front and side screens was flaking off. I ordered a complete set of new L/R oem carbon fiber side scoops, screens, + front screens....total cost....$1,200.....and it took McLaren 5 months to deliver them because they are HAND MADE in England. Compare that to the $1,400 I paid for two sets of screens that should be included as stock equipment.
In my opinion, on a car priced like the Corvette they should be standard equipment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that it is necessary to protect radiators that are as vulnerable as those are.
In my opinion, on a car priced like the Corvette they should be standard equipment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that it is necessary to protect radiators that are as vulnerable as those are.
I agree....but at least on the C8 Corvette the radiators are reasonably priced, and getting to them is not a complete nightmare. The rear radiators are the same on all C8 models......they cost $250, and the fronts are about the same cost. Not sure about the A/C condenser, but the radiators on a McLaren are ridiculously expensive and a nightmare to get to......so they come with bird screens.
From: Early 2020 Z51 Coupe, Original Owner, Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
Originally Posted by Uskcjk03
In my opinion, on a car priced like the Corvette they should be standard equipment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that it is necessary to protect radiators that are as vulnerable as those are.
Rocket scientist already know that the radiators are protected by the A/C condensers.
Rocket scientist already know that the radiators are protected by the A/C condensers.
An AC condenser is a radiator.
"A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics."
From: Early 2020 Z51 Coupe, Original Owner, Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
Originally Posted by Andybump
An AC condenser is a radiator.
"A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics."
Cut with the crap answer. The radiator is behind the AC condenser.
Regarding the radiator being located behind the AC condenser, why don't you regurgitate something useful, like why didn't GM put the radiator in front of the AC condenser? I'm positive you could Cut and Copy your brains out with that one!
Cut with the crap answer. The radiator is behind the AC condenser.
Regarding the radiator being located behind the AC condenser, why don't you regurgitate something useful, like why didn't GM put the radiator in front of the AC condenser? I'm positive you could Cut and Copy your brains out with that one!
At their current and dangerous copy/paste post rate, Andybump and JerryU could in the next couple of years, consume all available system capacity at Cloud Flare and Amazon Web Services. The internet would crash as a result. Dogs and Cats would be living together. Corvetteforum.com would be a permanent 404 error. A "Book of Eli" world would soon follow.
Rocket scientist already know that the radiators are protected by the A/C condensers.
Originally Posted by ArizonaZ06
Cut with the crap answer. The radiator is behind the AC condenser.
Regarding the radiator being located behind the AC condenser, why don't you regurgitate something useful, like why didn't GM put the radiator in front of the AC condenser? I'm positive you could Cut and Copy your brains out with that one!
Originally Posted by gsvette
At their current and dangerous copy/paste post rate, Andybump and JerryU could in the next couple of years, consume all available system capacity at Cloud Flare and Amazon Web Services. The internet would crash as a result. Dogs and Cats would be living together. Corvetteforum.com would be a permanent 404 error. A "Book of Eli" world would soon follow.
Wow! I got nuthin' to cut and paste to refute these two!
Forum members frequently say the front inlet screens are protecting the radiator, and in fact, if you go to the Scrape Armor website, you will find that they call those things they sell "Scrape Armor Radiator Guard" - go figure! (I'll refrain from pasting it here). And, when that happens someone invariably feels compelled for whatever reason to point out that what is directly behind the inlet screen is the AC condenser - something just about everyone probably knows. This time it was in the form of a sarcastic comment about what a rocket scientist would know. I simply pointed out that the AC condenser is a type of radiator (its a fact, and something a rocket scientist would know - I am not one). I did not intend it to be as offensive as it apparently was taken.
Oh what heck - I can't resist( - this doesn't refute anything but it does explain why forum members refer to them as radiator guards.
In my opinion, on a car priced like the Corvette they should be standard equipment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that it is necessary to protect radiators that are as vulnerable as those are.
Hmm, no more need in the C8 than my C6! Folks have been making for years, CCG has been in business for probably 20 years and makes them for Cars, Trucks. You can buy precut for all 4 front opening IF you want 100% protection. BUT is you just want what you get with the GM approved Scrape Armor (less than 100% protection) coving two openings can buy those Precut as well. If you are a decent DIYer can go what many of us did and but their aluminum powder coated mesh that is thin width and deep to make ridged. They sell two openings, one most of us used that is 1/4 inch hex mesh or their twice as large similar to Scrape Armor if you Track on a hot Texas summer! I have zero coolant temp increase in aggressive street driving no tracking on 95+ NE SC summer days.
This is a Doc PDF with details of mine and member Blaun install. He bought the same 16" X 48" mesh I did and shows how he made 4 for the front and two for the side fender scoops: http://netwelding.com/CF_Splitter.pdf
They also sell precut for 2 or 4. US Company, Made in US not cheap Chinese copies.
Here are a few Pics of the ~50 in the Doc. Don't panic it's Pics with long captions. Look at Pics and only read what you need. IMO my C6 with bottom feeder rad was worse that C8. Trucks and some cars worse than C8. CCG sells two mesh sizes. Most of us used the 1/4 hex mesh that lets thru half the size bugs of Scrape Armor!
I like some other installed without any wire ties showing. Requires removing the grill bar but that is only 3 bolts to remove same bolts as Scrape Armor requires be removed. Then hide ties behind grill bar. BTW all cut edges are behind the OEM grill NOT Visible.
Member Bluan use his 16" X 48" mesh to make 4 screen for the front (two more than Scrape Armor) and two for the rear fenders.
Both side coolant Rads are covered by an AC Condenser. C8 Z06 and E-Ray add center coolant rad with no AC Condenser covering!
Both 1 & 2 are AC Condensers. Number 5 is the AC Compressor on engine.
Both side coolant Rads are covered by an AC Condenser. C8 Z06 and E-Ray add center coolant rad with no AC Condenser covering!
Both 1 & 2 are AC Condensers. Number 5 is the AC Compressor on engine....
Of course. Its correct that the AC condenser sits in front of the radiators in the front inlets in the Stingray, and its been pointed out over an over in discussion about the front inlet grille screens. In the Chevrolet Build and Buy tool, the option is called."Front radiator grille screens". And on the Scrape Armor site they are also called Radiator Guards. So, its no wonder folks refer to them that way sometimes. I see folks "correct" other forum member's use of that "misnomer" so often, I thought I would just point out that technically an AC condenser is form of radiator, so its really not that much of a misnomer. Of course in automotive vernacular radiator usually refers to the the one for the engine coolant, and the condenser is for cooling refrigerant, but in broader technical terms, its a device used to transfer thermal energy from one media to another. I regret doing that now - it has caused nothing but aggravation. I did not mean it to be confrontational, but apparently it was taken that way. For the record, the AC condenser sits in front of the radiators in the front inlets.
Last edited by Andybump; May 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM.
Intake mesh grills
- this doesn't refute anything but it does explain why forum members refer to them as radiator guards.
