Radiator Rock Guard

[ggunter]

Hello all, I'm looking for ideas for a radiator rock guard. Can you please post pics of what works well for you and where you obtained the material. Thanks.

[NAZ]

Not sure what exactly you're trying to accomplish but by the literal translation of a "rock guard", that is something the off-road racing community views as a custom made perforated metal or wire mesh shield across the coils of the radiator to protect from roost from a car in front of you. If you're not into custom fabrication, dirt track racers use a nomex honeycomb shield in front of their radiator to keep mud and debris out of the fins. The material comes in different sizes and you can cut it to fit. It can be painted black to hide it or silver like the radiator. Also keeps bugs out of the fins. Look here: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Nomex-Honeycomb-Radiator-Guard-Protector-Screen-Mesh-19-x-26,3545.html

If this is not what you're looking for, might want to elaborate on the issue you're dealing with.

Good luck.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Hello all, I'm looking for ideas for a radiator rock guard. Can you please post pics of what works well for you and where you obtained the material. Thanks.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/

They sell a Nomex honeycomb part that works for our cars. About $25.00. Needs to be cut to fit & painted, a few rattle cans of Rustoleum BBQ paint works.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/580x435/80-275s_39a7d71b144c4acae7468cedc290b2a35b14c3c4.jpg

[RoadRacer]

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/

They sell a Nomex honeycomb part that works for our cars. About $25.00. Needs to be cut to fit & painted, a few rattle cans of Rustoleum BBQ paint works.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/580x435/80-275s_39a7d71b144c4acae7468cedc290b2a35b14c3c4.jpg

Yes, +1 for this stuff. I used it behind my 33 grill and it still saved me from some gravel thrown from a truck.

Many different sizes, but easy to cut/shape.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Nomex-Honeycomb-Radiator-Guard-Protector-Screen-Mesh-22-x-31,29469.html

[toadster]

built my own, modelled after many of the folks on here!!

https://cobradreams.com/2021/03/15/protective-aluminum-mesh-for-the-radiator/

[ggunter]

Thanks guys that is exactly what I'm looking for. I just want to shiield the fins from stones, birds or large insects. Before I put the body on I straightened every fin and it was perfect. A thousand miles changed that. I assume it's bugs that bend the fins if it was rocks I'd have paint chips as well..

[magicmarto]

Here is what I did. SS mesh that sit right on top of the radiator. Neat, clean and simple to install. Plus it gives a cool sheen look to the radiator.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CB9P8WV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here is a photo with out the lower aluminum panel in place. 1550 miles no issues154369154370154371. Used the extra for the brake ducts.....more photos to come

[R. Button]

Am using the same nomex honeycomb shield over my radiator with no cooling issues

154380

Best part is I can pull it out, wash out the bugs and put it back in on top of the radiator

[GoDadGo]

I know these cars aren't supposed to sport a grill, but it seemed to solve the problem of getting our radiators stoned.

https://www.customcargrills.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Perf_GT

You need to resize the picture below to see what my pal Heath and I did to create some simple grills.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=1739&attachmentid=132869

[RBachman]

Another vote for the honeycomb products. Semi gloss black paint works well. Spray at an angle from all 4 sides. Takes 2 cans. Then follow up with a wire screen.

[OSU Cowboy]

I used stainless steel mesh from pegasus, enclosed it in aluminum angle and flat stock from Westlake (aka Ace Hardware). Had the assembly powder coated black. I suspect the honeycomb product is simpler - but I enjoyed doing what I did.

[ggunter]

All of these are good ideas, I ended up buying the honeycomb from Speedway but boy do they sock it to you on shipping. $36 for the part and $39 to ship. I hit the buy button before I caught the shipping charge or I would have done something different. I still like the stainless screen too. Might buy both and see which one I like the best.

[GTBradley]

Unfortunate, they really take advantage on shipping sometimes. I bought 2 six foot lengths of ¼" pipe insulation from McMaster Carr once and they put it in a 6 foot long box, shipping was three times the part cost.

I know you don't want to hear this now, but for others looking for the same honeycomb/nomex, Amazon has it for the same price with free shipping.

If you get some aluminum Z-bar for the top and bottom of the radiator shroud it and the sides of the radiator will hold the shield in place. This makes it easy to pull out when you want to hose out the bugs. If you're interested, I detailed the installation on my build thread. (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?30668-GTBradley-s-New-boot-lid-and-luggage-rack-finished!/page10)

[ggunter]

UUUGGGHHH! I think you did a video on your 3000 mile likes and dislikes and that is where I first saw the honey comb idea. I liked that but couldn't remember where I saw it. Old age sucks:(

[GTBradley]

UUUGGGHHH! I think you did a video on your 3000 mile likes and dislikes and that is where I first saw the honey comb idea. I liked that but couldn't remember where I saw it. Old age sucks:(
Wait...what are we talking about again? Some time ago (can't remember when) I realized that the thing I went to the storeroom for was completely forgotten about, even though I did something when I got there, so I headed down to get it again. Two days later my wife went and got it herself.

[JohnK]

I'm on the fence on this as well. I've already bought the honeycomb mesh radiator guard, but I'm planning to install Mike Everson's radiator surround and that would need to be trimmed for the honeycomb screen to fit. I believe Bradley showed this in his build thread. Not sure if I want to deal with that hassle or just use a stainless mesh instead.

[Ed Mc]

I used Mike Emerson’s radiator surround with the Nomex honeycomb shield and the surround provides a nice edge to hold the lower edge of the shield. The radiator sides hold the side edges and four z clips on top keep it in place.

[rich grsc]

I'm on the fence on this as well. I've already bought the honeycomb mesh radiator guard, but I'm planning to install Mike Everson's radiator surround and that would need to be trimmed for the honeycomb screen to fit. I believe Bradley showed this in his build thread. Not sure if I want to deal with that hassle or just use a stainless mesh instead.
So you think the SS mesh is easier to trim to fit the radiator surround that honeycomb mesh?:confused::eek:

[JohnK]

So you think the SS mesh is easier to trim to fit the radiator surround that honeycomb mesh?:confused::eek:

No, I think that SS mesh is thin enough that I don't need to trim the radiator surround to accommodate it.

[rich grsc]

Oh, going to set the surround on top. Ok

[jrcuz]

All of these are good ideas, I ended up buying the honeycomb from Speedway but boy do they sock it to you on shipping. $36 for the part and $39 to ship. I hit the buy button before I caught the shipping charge or I would have done something different. I still like the stainless screen too. Might buy both and see which one I like the best.

Most shipping company's use what they call "Dimensional Weight" or "Dim Weight" which means that any small and heavy or larger and lightweight packages are subject to "special" shipping rates.
JR

[Jstanding]

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/

They sell a Nomex honeycomb part that works for our cars. About $25.00. Needs to be cut to fit & painted, a few rattle cans of Rustoleum BBQ paint works.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/580x435/80-275s_39a7d71b144c4acae7468cedc290b2a35b14c3c4.jpg

If you dont mind me asking how did you mount the Nomex honeycomb?

[ggunter]

I think he said with some Z channel aluminum top and bottom. the honeycomb is flexible enough to arc it and slip it into the to and bottom channel. At least thats the way I'm goint to attach it.

[rich grsc]

I have the honeycomb and it just slip fits between the side aluminum, not fastened at all. It's never moved, can't go anywhere the air movement holds it against the radiator.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

If you dont mind me asking how did you mount the Nomex honeycomb?

Speedway sells zip like fasteners. Expect other places also have them. One end has a flat circle with a long stem. Push it through both the Nomex & radiator. Back piece slides onto the stem & locks it in place. Been on the car for over 6 years.

Believe the mounts now come with the Nomex sheet, used to be a separate item.

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=13527&pictureid=82228

[AtlantaCobra]

Not sure what exactly you're trying to accomplish but by the literal translation of a "rock guard", that is something the off-road racing community views as a custom made perforated metal or wire mesh shield across the coils of the radiator to protect from roost from a car in front of you. If you're not into custom fabrication, dirt track racers use a nomex honeycomb shield in front of their radiator to keep mud and debris out of the fins. The material comes in different sizes and you can cut it to fit. It can be painted black to hide it or silver like the radiator. Also keeps bugs out of the fins. Look here: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Nomex-Honeycomb-Radiator-Guard-Protector-Screen-Mesh-19-x-26,3545.html

If this is not what you're looking for, might want to elaborate on the issue you're dealing with.

Good luck.

I bought this stuff, painted it black and it works great. You can simply zip-tie it to your radiator.

[AtlantaCobra]

All of these are good ideas, I ended up buying the honeycomb from Speedway but boy do they sock it to you on shipping. $36 for the part and $39 to ship. I hit the buy button before I caught the shipping charge or I would have done something different. I still like the stainless screen too. Might buy both and see which one I like the best.

I noticed that high price of shipping when I bought mine too. It comes in a big box, so I guess that's why it costs so much to ship

[ChasNMe]

I see amazon shows one that is 18 x 22. is that big enough or do you need the 19 x 26 that NAZ posted above?

[NAZ]

NAZ doesn't know what size Nomex sheet you need, I only grabbed a sample sheet to illustrate the product and show a source. Afraid I can't help with a size for a roadster but that's easy enough to measure.

[R. Button]

I bought a nomex honeycomb radiator guard 19x26 from Speedway motors. I also have Mike's Roadster Radiator aluminum panel.
I got Mike's panel installed first. Then cut the nomex to fit inside the aluminum panel. I worked at making the nomex a tight fit but not so tight to keep it from not laying flat on the radiator. The nomex is just laying on the radiator as I did not use the optional fasteners. My thought was the fasteners would be helpful for a vertical radiator not the angled one we have on the FFR cars.

Since it was installed the car has been on long road trips as well as a lot of around town idling in traffic, with no issues. No over heating, no issues with it coming loose, just a few more pics of it, as people noticed it. :)

https://external-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQHsV2RJyIelcMk4&w=500&h=261&url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.pixieset.com%2F88290383%2 F89c7577114bd3441554c1c82ebf17dcd-cover.jpg&cfs=1&ext=jpg&_nc_oe=6edbe&_nc_sid=06c271&ccb=3-5&_nc_hash=AQFDsgqgdPHaYVoc

The picture is from the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival 2021 weekend taken by https://allstylesproduction.pixieset.com
The nomex is painted black - as noted above it's honeycombed so I had to spray it a few times from different directions.
Not sure when I got it but I had a FFR logo laser cut metal plate hanging on the wall that I taped to the nomex and sprayed the logo on the nomex.

[J R Jones]

I have no experience with the honeycomb discussed in this thread, I have never seen it beyond the thread photos.
I have used SS mesh for similar cooling applications, and trumpet horns and velocity stacks. In some instances pressed to a dome shape to increase cross section and airflow.
In all cases the mesh choice was based on airflow. Industrial mesh specification is based on wire diameter and "thread count" resulting in the amount of mesh obstruction to airflow usually expressed as a percentage.
It can vary a great deal. The other factor to consider is the pass-through size and impact resistance.
I wonder how honeycomb compares?
jim

[egchewy79]

FYI, the smaller size nomex is enough to cover the fins of the radiator, but if you want to cover the sides as well, you'll need the larger sheet.
I also have Replicapart's nose aluminum and needed to buy the larger sheet to fit all the way to the edges of the panel.
My original/smaller sheet I painted black, but it shows all kinds of dust/debris. I think I'm going to paint my next one silver to see if it hides the debris a bit better.

[NAZ]

I have no experience with the honeycomb discussed in this thread, I have never seen it beyond the thread photos.
I have used SS mesh for similar cooling applications, and trumpet horns and velocity stacks. In some instances pressed to a dome shape to increase cross section and airflow.
In all cases the mesh choice was based on airflow. Industrial mesh specification is based on wire diameter and "thread count" resulting in the amount of mesh obstruction to airflow usually expressed as a percentage.
It can vary a great deal. The other factor to consider is the pass-through size and impact resistance.
I wonder how honeycomb compares?


jim

Speedway doesn't advertise the open area so it's hard to compare to perforated or wire mesh. The honeycomb opening are ~.125" and the wall material of each hexagon is ~.001" - .002" so it appears this material is around 90% open. Way more open area than the commercial bug screens you buy at the local auto parts store and the pass-thru size of ~1/8" is augmented by the 1/2" thickness of the material so anything that does make it through will be so small as to not be of concern and anything that is near the opening size will likely be deflected by the thickness of the screen and at least the velocity will be reduced.

I use this screen on my 33HR as a bug screen. Painted silver it blends in with the aluminum grill and radiator.

[Alan_C]

Although others have had good luck with the honeycomb products, they looked too restrictive IMO. I went with expanded stainless steel. I used screen door frame around the edges for a more finished look. The protector is then held on with high strength Velcro.

[AC Bill]

The FFCars.com forum has several threads on builders ideas for making protective screening for rads.
Before the nomex product was revealed a few years ago on the builders forums, it was very common for builders to use an aluminum framework, with a mesh screen attached to the the rad. It meant for a little added work, but was fairly inexpensive, and seemed to work.

Initially, I chose to use extruded aluminum, and make a grille. I figured it would prevent gravel, and/or heavier debris, from damaging the rad, as it had a lot more strength to it than mesh screening material did. It was inexpensive, and only took a little inventiveness to attach it to the car. I never installed it after I finally had the roadster painted, but it worked great.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

FWIW or Not. Have the Nomex Honeycomb from Speedway. Normal operating temp for the Coyote oil & coolant in a 12 month a year car is 180*F. Highest seen in heavy traffic @ 98*F was 205*F coolant standing dead stopped for a very long time due to an accident up the road.

Car has FFR supplied radiator & Fan, Eversion's sheetmetal, Breeze Radiator cowl cover & no shroud.

NC has long hot summer so the cooling system needs to be very effective. The Everson & Breeze parts force 100% of the incoming air to go through the radiator.

Car has been on the road since early 2015

[jrcuz]

I trimmed the Nomex to fit between the side tanks (just covering the fins) and used the fasteners Bear shows above. Also used Mike Eversons sheetmetal and the Nomex fits under Mikes sheetmetal just fine. Not on the road yet so can't say about cooling.
JR

[SourceLee]

I purchased a stainless steel mesh from Pegasus Racing: Medium Mesh Stainless, #6 x .035 Wire, 18" x 24" Sheet ~$35. Then I mounted it to an aluminum window screen frame kit from Home Depot. For easy removal wing nuts were used to hold it onto the frame. As the photo shows it needs to be cleaned. I only bother to clean it on three different occasions. Before a car show, end of the season or when I have nothing else better to do. Even with the insect toppings there’s zero issues with air flow and/or cooling. However the superb air flow is undoubtedly a function of Breeze’s shroud kit. Sidebar and in hindsight, I should’ve cleaned it before posting this photo.154523

[boat737]

I'm kind of late to the party... I used both stainless mesh and the Nomex honeycomb. Go to my graduation thread, post #21 . https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?30120-Pomp-and-Circumstance&p=343998&viewfull=1#post343998. It's all removable and fits full width between the frame members/alum. panels.

[GTBradley]

If it helps, I detailed the honeycomb installation some time ago on my build thread (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?30668-GTBradley-s-build-Intermittent-wipers-and-washer/page10) post 370. I bought the 19 x 26 inch sheet from Amazon and trimmed to fit.

As far as restriction of air flow goes, I would say with the honeycomb it’s almost nonexistent. You can tell when you swing it back and forth at arms length. I do this after I’ve cleaned it with the garden hose. It’s really kind of crazy too how well the sheet will redirect the flow of water, even at almost a right angle. I think this makes a very effective grill guard as it’s impact resistance is very good.

[NAZ]

If it helps, I detailed the honeycomb installation some time ago on my build thread (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?30668-GTBradley-s-build-Intermittent-wipers-and-washer/page10) post 370. I bought the 19 x 26 inch sheet from Amazon and trimmed to fit.

As far as restriction of air flow goes, I would say with the honeycomb it’s almost nonexistent. You can tell when you swing it back and forth at arms length. I do this after I’ve cleaned it with the garden hose. It’s really kind of crazy too how well the sheet will redirect the flow of water, even at almost a right angle. I think this makes a very effective grill guard as it’s impact resistance is very good.

Agree, it's stronger than it looks. And agree that it's more open than most other radiator guards I've seen or used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_DBsf0N8z8

[zilverx]

Are you using any fasteners to hold the Nomex in place ?

[AtlantaCobra]

Are you using any fasteners to hold the Nomex in place ?

I just used normal black zip ties. You can feed them through the radiator fins and back around again. Works great.

[GTBradley]

The sides of the radiator, where the fins stop and the tanks are creates a lip which holds the nomex in place side to side. I added z-bar aluminum channels to capture the nomex top and bottom. This eliminates the extra effort it takes to remove and clean when using fasteners. But as mentioned, you might not even need the z-bar channels.

[magicmarto]

154584
154585
154586154587154588

more photos
Rally Lights. Mounted with 7" x 1/2" x 3/4" aluminum bar mounted to the lower quick jack bolts
Used the extra screen to make "molded" brake screen ducts
They are held in place with a brake duct scoop, which is mounted to the body with stubs, just like the side vents.
Martin

[txboiler]

154584
154585
154586154587154588

more photos
Rally Lights. Mounted with 7" x 1/2" x 3/4" aluminum bar mounted to the lower quick jack bolts
Used the extra screen to make "molded" brake screen ducts
They are held in place with a brake duct scoop, which is mounted to the body with stubs, just like the side vents.
Martin

Very clean install, looks great. To prevent “sagging” of the rally lights, Did the aluminum bar used to mount the lights pick up both the upper and lower quick-jack bolts?

Also what is the “stubs” used to mount the brake duct mesh and side vents.

Thanks

[David Hodgkins]

Hey guys extremely late to the party like others.

I found a local source for nomex honeycomb which I cut to fit and painted. I made my own upper and lower fan shrouds. The lower is stainless steel and the upper is aluminum:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=58313&d=1473287134

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57119&d=1470327504

I ran it (the nomex) up as far as I could, and the upper shroud prevents debris from entering the engine compartment. I'll try to get a pic of that. Here it is from the other side.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=153732&d=1632539707

The nomex is pinched on all sides by the shrouds or the radiator. I don't "hold" it in.

:)

[ggunter]

Hi Dave, that is really a unique look to make a surround out of the honey comb. I like it:D

[AC Bill]

So what is the recommended method for cutting the nomex product? It was mentioned the trimmed edges can look pretty ugly.

[NAZ]

So what is the recommended method for cutting the nomex product? It was mentioned the trimmed edges can look pretty ugly.

A razor knife with a new blade and a straight edge as a guide.

[rich grsc]

Band saw or jigsaw with fine tooth blade.