How much air restriction can I do?

[k_williams1982]

With the colder temperatures my heater isn't working too well. The truck will reach operating temp after awhile, but I'm hoping to make to heater blow warmer air by restricting some of the air flow that's hitting the radiator. Is this a wise idea or will I casuse damage to the radiator or engine? I was thinking it might just be better to go buy a 12V heater from Wal-Mart for $14.95 and use it in the cab. Now that I have the air flow directional issue solved, I'd like to have some heat with that air flow. What is the best way to do this, and how much can I restrict the air flow without damaging anything an without spending a lot of money to do it? I've seen the big rigs with covers on the front of their trucks and guys around here putting cardboard between the grille and radiator of their pickups , but when road spray and moisture hits the cardboard, it's going to become useless and soggy. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[suv7734]

Papa John's and Dominos both make great products for your problem (I prefer Nancy's in Schaumburg, IL but hey I'm not headed that way this week and to each their own). Just order a large of your favorite and once all the goodies are gone cut a hole (about 4"x12" horizontally) to line up with the center of the radiator and slide that unit down in there. You'll have heat in no time and won't damage a thing (if you only have an aux. trans cooler with the stock one bypassed make sure it gets lots of air). They also last amazingly long even with some water etc. hitting them. Worst case, it gets waterlogged and you have to do it again; I don't mind pizza once in a while
If you want to go high tech the units the big rigs use are available for our trucks usually being called "cold fronts".

 

[typ4]

suv, that is really funny, I know where nancys is, great pie. I worked at o'hare a few times.

 

[k_williams1982]

Papa John's and Dominos both make great products for your problem (I prefer Nancy's in Schaumburg, IL but hey I'm not headed that way this week and to each their own). Just order a large of your favorite and once all the goodies are gone cut a hole (about 4"x12" horizontally) to line up with the center of the radiator and slide that unit down in there. You'll have heat in no time and won't damage a thing (if you only have an aux. trans cooler with the stock one bypassed make sure it gets lots of air). They also last amazingly long even with some water etc. hitting them. Worst case, it gets waterlogged and you have to do it again; I don't mind pizza once in a while
If you want to go high tech the units the big rigs use are available for our trucks usually being called "cold fronts".

Looks like I'm doing dinner tonight. I don't have an aftermarket trans cooler (just the stock), so I'll just do as you advised. I can either spend $15 at Wal-Mart and be hungry and warm, or $15 at Papa John's and be warm and full tummied... Hard choice.

 

[RLDSL]

Just make sure you cut a hole in the center so some air flow goes across the center of the fan clutch because that will allow the fan clutch to kick in if needed and that sucker will draw enough air from under the grill and bumper in cold temps to take care of business in all but mountain situations ( i.e. real mountains , not little midwest molehills )

 

[ghunt]

I put a big piece of cardboard in front of my radiator, probably covers 85-90% of the front of the radiator, and I cut about a 7x7" hole in the middle.

Truck doesn't run any hotter than it was before the cardboard

 

[Ironman03R]

This is what I run. It will hold 190 on the gauge in 20 degree weather. I thought about covering the bumper cutouts too because I'd like to see 200-210 on the gauge.

 

[jdchristian3]

you really dont want to be over 190... take off you bug shield and see if that helps. the 70's and 80's models sometimes didnt git enought air into the heater intake with a bugshield on the truck... just a thought...

 

[Mont91]

k_william is it possible your heater core is partially plugged restricting the amount of hot water? Do you have an after market temp gauge installed? Do you have sufficient air flow through the heater and it is the air temp that is not warm enough?

 

[Papabear]

i just use astro-foil (silver bubble wrap) and zip ties and i cut out 1" all around my ford emblem in the grill and i find that is about right for -15c on down the scale to Brrrr it only costs me about $3 but than again i do 80% highway miles maybe cut 2" all around the emblem if you are mainly dowin city miles. and believe it or not i have actually had people approach me to ask about my aftermarket winter front and i usually get a good laugh out of the deal once i explain what it is.

 

[4x4TruckinGirl]

I have the same issue with my truck...... even in not so cold temps (45/50*) my temp gauge rarely gets to an operating temp, now when it was 3* that truck ran so dang cold, I let it idle about 20 minutes, still on high idle I had to get going, heat never really got too warm ie: I never took my jacket off or 2 hoods or hat it was sooo dang cold. I've run some cardboard in front of it but didn't see much improvment, maybe I need to block up a little more?

 

[RLDSL]

I have the same issue with my truck...... even in not so cold temps (45/50*) my temp gauge rarely gets to an operating temp, now when it was 3* that truck ran so dang cold, I let it idle about 20 minutes, still on high idle I had to get going, heat never really got too warm ie: I never took my jacket off or 2 hoods or hat it was sooo dang cold. I've run some cardboard in front of it but didn't see much improvment, maybe I need to block up a little more?

That kind of sounds like you need a thermostat, i.e. one from the dealer and not a aftermarket one. Make sure you have the little check ball in the upper water neck piece and it moves freely

 

[Diezel_Cowboy]

That kind of sounds like you need a thermostat, i.e. one from the dealer and not a aftermarket one. Make sure you have the little check ball in the upper water neck piece and it moves freely

What's wrong with an aftermarket thrermostat?

 

[RLDSL]

What's wrong with an aftermarket thrermostat?

It's been covered countless times, they just don't work right in these things, there have been factory bullitins on it as well. I had a stant in mine when I first got it, didn't work worth a flip. Went with the collective wisdom and got one from the International dealer, no more problems

 

[k_williams1982]

k_william is it possible your heater core is partially plugged restricting the amount of hot water? Do you have an after market temp gauge installed? Do you have sufficient air flow through the heater and it is the air temp that is not warm enough?

I don't think it's clogged or restricted in the core. I haven't installed an aftermarket temp gauge yet, but intend to due so soon. I'm getting lots of air out of the heater ducting, but it's just not really warm. It only starting doing this after staying in the negative and single digits. The last couple nights have been in the low 30's, so I will see if it does any better tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to even add cardboard because punkmechanic and I have been doing a transmission swap in a Volvo and just finished it tonight.