Great job. I got mine too. Bought the black mesh screen at a hardware store for $2. I only need 5 feet of the screen. I took off the front bumper and put the screen on every vent spot. No more bugs and rocks. I didn't noticed any loss on the power so I guess the screen mesh was just right.

 

You put it behind every vent opening? Even the brake ducts and radiator vents? Did you put the screen behind the stock grill? Reason I put it in the front was cuz the stock grill provided a "bone" structure for the mesh, so that if a big bug or rock hit it, the pliable screen won't dent back, esp if you're going 85mph+ with all that air pushing against it.

 

Yeah, I did. It did bend back but just a little. The screen mesh was screwed on with the grill and some I tied down with small black tie wrap so it will not rip or came off. So far, I drove my car up to 140mph every once in a while and the screen mesh was still there keeping the bugs and rocks in place.

 

nice work...im thinkin bout trying this

 

I went to Lowes tonight, bought the screen, cut it, and intalled it. Installation went very smooth. I used the measurements posted in this thread.

My screen is slightly bubbled due to the curvature and shape of the area it is covering. I guess there is no reasonable way around this. I am happy though. Looks pretty good too. I'll get some photos posted here tomorrow.

 

Excellent! Did you use the ties? I still haven't had problems without securing it further. What do you mean bubbled?

 

Yeah, I had some of those ties here at home. Mine are black.

The bubbling is like this. Anytime you have a flat material and try to cover a round object that curves there is going to be a area that is slightly bubbled up. Nothing major, and nothing noticeable unless you rub your hand over it.

As soon as I get a camera charged up, I'll get a photo, but mine turned out just like yours lookswise.

 

Weird, should be the other way around, since the stock grill is curved, it made for a tighter wrapping of the mesh.

 

Yeah, I could use something like that. I'm tierd of picking bugs out with a screw driver.
Those bugs are like bullets at 140 mph!!!

 

Yeah, I could use something like that. I'm tierd of picking bugs out with a screw driver.
Those bugs are like bullets at 140 mph!!!

 

check out the intercooler screen I made.

Chad

 

I made the intercooler screen out of sheet stainless steel, which I made a template of, painted, and applied with zip ties. It looks almost factory. It is very strong and durable materail and will easliy stop stones, bugs, etc. The nice thing is I did not have to remove my bumper. Once I had it painted and cut out it only took 10 minutes to apply. I have my template and some extra material so if anyone near me in PA wants one I will consider making and selling more. Here is a more distant pic.

Chad.

 

that steel screen wont do much for small bugs (their carcasses fit right through those holes) or small rocks.

i had the SAME material doubled over itself in the front of my mustang a long time ago just to protect the AC condensor, and while it made a huge difference, i still had to pick crap out of there, and that was two layers.

the mesh im using isnt the dog-proof thick stuff. that stuff is far more restrictive than plain mesh and my point is that you have a steel mesh as a background to support the regular guage window screen, so why use thicker, more restrictive material?

ive inspected the stuff on my front end after some time and there are no holes or anything.

i also recommend using the smallest black zip-ties you can find.

cool that others are doing this though, it must not hurt performance too much.

 

Turbocake,
I'm not worried about the bugs, they wash off with a hose and don't dent the intercooler fins. My fabricated screen has been on my car for about 10,000 miles and I have no new damaged fins. It in no way significantly affects airflow or performance. It also looks stock. The dealer never even noticed my screen until I told one of the salesmen. As to why I use a "thicker more restrictive material". It stops rocks traveling at a high rate of speed. A rock will simply penetrate the thinner "window type" mesh screens. In the winter I wash the salt off of my car at the car wash using a high pressure sprayer. I was concerned about having to re-apply a thinner window type screen if I ripped or damaged it with the high pressure spray. Anyone have trouble with this? If you look closely at the zoomed in picture, I applied the screen so that the materials met at a 90 degree angle to reduce overlap and maximize protection with minimal affect on air flow.

Gumpy

 

Thanks for the excellent details on setting this screen up. I was planning on coming up with something this summer, and this is perfect. Who cares about any mild difference in airflow, it doesn't have to be there all of the time. Quick and easy to remove and reapply depending on conditions. Anything else I was thinking of would have been more of a hassle to take on and off. Thanks again!