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07-19-2014, 03:27 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 43
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Billet Grille questions
Hi, I have a 07 SMB RB50 with the 6.0 diesel and stock bumpers. I want to know who has switched out the stock Ford grille with a billet grille and:
1. Did you see lower ECT and EOT temps?
2. What brand did you buy and where?
3. How do you open the secondary latch on the tightly spaced crossbar versions?
Comments appreciated, thanks in advance! Matt
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07-19-2014, 04:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Preston, ID
Posts: 1,213
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Re: Billet Grille questions
In 2011 I found a polished stainless grill on Ebay for $150 or so, much higher quality than the flimsy aluminum versions--it doesn't bend and is still nicely polished. Now, however, they seem to be absurdly expensive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-92-06-Ford ... f1&vxp=mtr
Doubt it did much for temps. For that: viewtopic.php?f=39&t=8542&hilit=cooling
The extension they sent for the hood release was worthless, but I'm easily able to get my hand on the latch itself once the hood is popped.
Yikes, look how new the van looks in the first image.
Z
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07-20-2014, 08:28 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Newark, CA
Posts: 795
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Re: Billet Grille questions
We had SMB West install a billet grille in our original build. To get to the secondary latch, I reach in with the handle of a ratchet I keep under the front seat (to remove the Hi-Lift bolted to the front bumper).
__________________
Jack
'01 Ford EB50p Quigley 4WD
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07-20-2014, 09:15 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,408
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Re: Billet Grille questions
I can pop my hood with my little finger.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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07-20-2014, 09:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 475
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Re: Billet Grille questions
I have Zeta's previous van, also with a billet grill, and it's not too bad opening the hood latch. Just have to find which gap it's in.
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2002 E350 EB - Voyager top - 7.3 - Quigley 4WD
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08-09-2014, 08:37 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 197
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Re: Billet Grille questions
If the billet grill is a good idea, then why are they never installed on stock vehicles - even the top of the market bling variety. When I asked this question of a Ford tech at Dearborn he answered thus: Fill a bath with 4 or 5 inches of water; take a kitchen strainer and drag it through the water from end to end. It will function nearly as well as a sauce pan as the compression of the water in front of the mesh will not allow water to flow freely. So it is with a vehicle unless you intend to keep your speed below 5 or 10 mph. The engine has to work harder to cool itself because of the restrictive effects of the small openings through which cooling air needs to pass.
Aircraft and race cars have this problem in spades and solve it with special intake designs aka NACA ducts.
__________________
Hanging Out
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08-10-2014, 01:22 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,005
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Re: Billet Grille questions
I removed a billet grille from my van (long gone, so don't ask).
It was rusting. It was hard to get to the hood release. The edges were sharp. It didn't look very good.
I ended up getting the darker gray version of the stock grille and headlight surrounds to match and it looks great. Honestly can't see the appeal of the billet grilles.
__________________
Sportsmobile-less.
"A job worth doing is worth doing at least twice."
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08-11-2014, 12:39 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,408
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Re: Billet Grille questions
There must be different versions. Mine is billet aluminum, so no rusting issues, isn't sharp
but is fairly tough. Can you powder coat stainless? I wouldn't want anything other than black myself.
As far as air flow, I never have saw a difference but didn't pay attention. I have had it stop rocks
though, so its paid for itself.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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08-11-2014, 12:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,005
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Re: Billet Grille questions
Oh sorry the release handle was rusting. I'm going senile!
__________________
Sportsmobile-less.
"A job worth doing is worth doing at least twice."
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08-11-2014, 12:59 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,408
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Re: Billet Grille questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by ANZAC
Oh sorry the release handle was rusting. I'm going senile!
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Mine might do that for sure. SMB added a weird little handle extension to it.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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