Grill material

[ptegler]

what are people using as a grill material to stop possible radiator rock eating events?
Options I'm looking at:
1- heavy welded s.s. #5 mesh, behind 1/8" s.s rod supporting the '7' s.s logo/emblem. (mesh probably powder coated black
2- round hole perforated s.s. sheet behind a wire and '7' logo structure as defined in #1 above.
3- other options? suggestions? considerations?
tia

ptegler
 

[FE07]

I used this when I did mine:

 

Medium Mesh Stainless, #6 x .035 Wire (6 openings per inch).

Bought at Pegasus auto racing.   Made a template of the opening with cardboard then used that to trace onto plywood and used that as a buck to bend it over.  Used aviation snips to cut the wire. Sits behind the 7 grill and held in place with small zip ties.  Works well to keep bugs, tire rubber and stones out of the radiator.

 

I’m in Owings Mills if you want to see what mine looks like.

 

jim

[MV8]

Can also use rubber edge molding to help prevent woven wire from unravelling. "Hardware cloth" is another option. % open area is important for cooling. Perforated usually has much less open area, restricting airflow. Screen has been used to protect radiators from stones and rubber thrown up that can clog the fins. It clogs the screen instead but much easier to clean.

[papak]

I did the same as FE07. I made a buck out of 1" particle board ( had a remnant) by tracing the outer dimension of the inside of the nosecone. This allows the formed screening to wrap forward around the inlet. I fasted it with 4 small SS buttonhead screws with large washers on the back of the screening. Where I to do it again, I would fabricate a bracket in front of the radiator and just rivet the screening to that. I would advise to leave it unpainted. The small pebbles and such that hit it will just chip the paint.

[ptegler]

power coating planned.... btdt have had good luck to date.  tnx all

[7Westfield]

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Nomex-Honeycomb-Radiator-Guard-Protector-Screen-Mesh-18-x-22,29432.html

 

this is what I use on a formula ford   just cut a piece and hang it on the front of the rad with small zip ties

 

edit---put it against the rad, not spaced away

Edited August 25, 2023 by 7Westfield

[ptegler]

now that is interesting
tnx

[3-Pedals]

#6 is pretty small.  At high speeds the smaller screen can begin to block airflow so #4 is the minimum we use.  However, hexagon mesh has the highest free area of any screen (the 1/4" hex mesh has  a free area of 77% compared with 63% for #6 screen).  I have used it at very high speeds and seen no degradation in airflow to the coolers.  The 0.065" thick hex screen is great for radiators and coolers, is light, and strong.  I get it from:

 

https://www.customcargrills.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Perf-Hex

 

in the large sheets and cut it to each opening.  You can also get it powder coated black.

 

Just a thought.

[ptegler]

how it ended up   (three vert rod holes pre-existed so they got used.
same edging around my cowl above the dash, wraps the expanded metal. I can just barely (big hands) get my little finger in a hole

[3-Pedals]

That came out nicely!  Looks great!

 

I just finished up the grill for my 7 late last night:

 

 

And on the car:

 

 

[pethier]

On 8/24/2023 at 4:14 AM, MV8 said:

Can also use rubber edge molding to help prevent woven wire from unravelling.

I slit an old round power cord and used it for edge molding.  

 

I had previously made a slitting block out of plywood and a box-knife blade to slit PEX for various reasons.  It was a simple matter to drill a smaller hole in it to slit the power cord.