Just not true for most cars in the summer. The problem is not getting the air flow thru the radiator.
My research has lead me to believe that the single most important factor in reducing engine coolant temperatures is reducing engine bay temperatures. A taller-than-stock air dam is the cheapest, fastest way to see cooling improvements. Boxing the radiator is more involved, perhaps as involved as a radiator install, but not near as messy or expensive as a radiator install, and will provide additional cooling benefits over the air dam.
Thanks for all the replies! I recently nnoticed that my stock air dam wasn't installed (I think I pulled it off a while back) so I re-installed it. I dont really want to change my radiator just yet, so I'm hoping that my stock air dam being in plce will help me some. I may also just make a new, bigger air dam.
For those that made custom air dams, how did you mount them? The stock air dam is installed onto the bottom of the radiator. After looking at home depot for the gardening trim that a lot of people recommended to me, I noticed that it'd be flat, instead of "L" shaped like the stock piece. Could I just install it to the front of the radiator support or would I need to make some kind of bracket to allow it to mount to the bottom?
Also, after going under the car and looking behind my front bumper I noticed that the radiator is already somewhat boxed in. There are plastic pieces on each side of the radiator that box it in with the front bumper. How efficient are these stock plastic pieces? Can I use the shape of these as templates to make an aluminum box? How are you guys mounting the aluminum pieces to the radiator to box it in? Thanks!
Jimmy, there's no sponsor decals on it. That's a perfect place for an RP sticker!
... Also, would gabbing brake duct holes on the sides of the radiator box flow enough air or will a fan/blower be necessary?
Looks good man!!! get some touch up paint for the underside of the bumper too :beer: