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Is it worth the trouble to open up the blocked-off area of the grille?

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#1
I will be open tracking my FIST next month and want to avoid the limp mode overheating as has been experienced with tracking these cars in high ambient temperature days. Is cutting the backside off the grille to open the airflow to the radiator going to make a noticeable difference in how the car manages temperature?
 


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#2
I don't track my car. The only thing it did for me is make me stare at the stock crash bar instead of the blocked off portion. lol
 


Chuckable

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#3
You can only open up the top portion of the grille. As kjohn09e said, most of the grille actually covers the crash bar. Check out Dead Hook Motorsports for their full crash bar/intercooler set up.
 


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riverbank
#4
I will be open tracking my FIST next month and want to avoid the limp mode overheating as has been experienced with tracking these cars in high ambient temperature days. Is cutting the backside off the grille to open the airflow to the radiator going to make a noticeable difference in how the car manages temperature?
I Drilled holes in the covered part of the grille in hopes to free up some airflow. I haven't noticed a difference toting around town, and like others have said, it basically covers the crash bar. I learned that After I drilled haha.
 


Sourskittle

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#5
Dhm crash bar is reasonable priced. That opens it up a ton. Even if your not going to use the bigger intercooler.
 


OP
W
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Thread Starter #9
So, I'm taking this all to read: not on a stock vehicle without an aftermarket crash bar.

I guess I'm just going to dilute the factory coolant with some more distilled water and add in some WaterWetter for now.
 


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#10
Well you can do it on stock like I did. Once I saw one with an opened up grill I had to have mine look like that. Now all i see is crash bar. lol Once I get my other mods paid down I might get a different crash bar. I still think it looks better now opened up with the crash bar in the one than it did stock.
 


BlueBomber

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#11
I will be open tracking my FIST next month and want to avoid the limp mode overheating as has been experienced with tracking these cars in high ambient temperature days. Is cutting the backside off the grille to open the airflow to the radiator going to make a noticeable difference in how the car manages temperature?
unless you are replacing the crash bar, it is not worth it to open up the closed off section of grille for improved cooling.

Opening up the duct that feeds the intake helps reduce intake air temp (and consequently air charge temps by virtue of a lower starting temp) which contributes to cooler operation but really, these cars need a bigger radiator for autocross, and an oil cooler isnt a bad idea either.

Mishimoto's going to get a ton of my money this xmas.
 


mishimoto1

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#12
unless you are replacing the crash bar, it is not worth it to open up the closed off section of grille for improved cooling.

Opening up the duct that feeds the intake helps reduce intake air temp (and consequently air charge temps by virtue of a lower starting temp) which contributes to cooler operation but really, these cars need a bigger radiator for autocross, and an oil cooler isnt a bad idea either.

Mishimoto's going to get a ton of my money this xmas.
Thanks BlueBomber! Unfortunately that crash beam location will indeed limit the benefit of drilling/opening up the front grille for more airflow. Replacing the factory piece with a tubular beam may provide some additional front surface area for bumper modifications and airflow. We are working on an aluminum radiator for the FIST, which is currently in the early prototyping stages.

http://www.fiestastforum.com/forum/...-Cool!-Mishimoto-s-Fiesta-ST-Radiator-R-amp-D!

This piece will be much larger than the factory heat exchanger and should help the ST stay cool during long duration lapping. On top of this, we are also working on an oil cooler solution which is a bit further along in the R&D process. Check out the details on that project below.

http://www.fiestastforum.com/forum/...Stop-The-Fiesta!-Mishimoto-Oil-Cooler-R-amp-D!

By using both of these components, we hope to create a bulletproof cooling setup for stock and modified ST's hitting the track.

More details on both projects will be released as we progress.

Thanks!
-John
 


jayrod1980

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#13
Is there a guide to HOW this is done? I hear people say grinding, but I wish there was a step by step? I'd hope I could get a factory replacement if I messed it up.
 


westcoaST

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#14
Just get an angle grinder (electric or air) and start hacking away at the backside of the front clip where the grille is housed. I guess you could remove the front grille. Otherwise tape up the outside of your front end, after you remove it, so you don't scratch it, and start grinding away. I thought this was too tedious so I went a different route

I made a router template out of aluminum that fit inside each of the honeycombs, and used a step drill, then a dremel to finish off my grill. I recently hit a large chunk of semi truck tire that wiped out my front end, including my grille, so the dealer used my template to get the new front grille looking like the old one did. They did a real good job. I'll take pictures and post them later.
 


PhoenixM3

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#15
Is there a guide to HOW this is done? I hear people say grinding, but I wish there was a step by step? I'd hope I could get a factory replacement if I messed it up.
I believe RodMoe had a decent write up on it. I went my own way after not having a variable speed sander. I simply drilled holes in all the hexagonal openings requiring it, and used a Dremel tool with a small steel cutting head to remove about 85% of the rest of the plastic. For the final stage, I used a hobby knive (#15 blade or #11). Be careful, take your time, and it should go smoothly. It is tedious work, but not difficult. I highly recommend using a battery powered LED headlamp too. Good Luck
 


RAAMaudio

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#16
If keeping the stock bumper you could remove a few rows of the upper blocked off part and get some gain there or better yet make part to direct the flow of air up over the bumper a bit better.

Or, open up the grill all the way, drill 3" holes in the bumper, slide in some tubing, tack weld....rectangular tubing even better but more work.
This is mentioned for those wanting to keep as much of the stock design possible and make a bit improvement in air flow to the coolers.
 


Siestarider

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Stuart
#17
The function of grill blocking is to increase aerodynamic efficiency, hence gas mileage. But taking the grill blocking off will accomplish nothing if the pressure differential between front and rear of radiator/condenser is not increased at the same time, thereby increasing air flow rate through heat exchangers. Loosing more air from the engine bay is not necessarily an automatic function of increasing pressure in front of it.

We assume reducing blockage in grill will increase air flow through radiator, but does anyone have any pressure differential measurements? Without them, we assume blindly.
 


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