Does anyone know of a good website to get the Winterfront Grill Inserts. Truck in question is my 03 Chevy Duramax. I can find a bunch of those snap on cloth ones online but I dont want to drill into my truck if I can avoid it.
CK5
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Winter Fronts on Duramaxs
- Thread starter Drey
- Start date
Just do a high idle mod, and call it done. I have never had a problem heating up my dmax in MI in the winter. Always fired right up and heated up in about 5 min with high idle. Neighbors don't like it but **** em.
http://www.truktoys.com/modelView.aspx?id=45
These use double sided sticky tape for the fasteners. So no drilling.
cheap too.
These use double sided sticky tape for the fasteners. So no drilling.
cheap too.
I still use the factory one that came with my truck...works good no holes or snaps on the grill.
I guess you got your truck used and it didn`t come with one.
I guess you got your truck used and it didn`t come with one.
You guessed it
Picked it up cheap thanks to 150,000 miles and a huge ass scratch in the boxsidejekquistk5
-whats this high idle mod you speak of? Im definatly interested!
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
Cardboard dude.
I had an 05 3500. Made cardboard patterns to fit flush on the grill insert area. Then traced them onto polished diamond plate aluminum. Cut and file. Slight bend to fit contour. Double back tape to hold them on. Worked great.
Jester1
1/2 ton status
I just plug it in always toasty. 
I have the winter front but just started cutting three pieces of cardboard and sliding them between the intercooler and radiator, take of the top cover with the 6 or so clips and slide the cardboard down in there.
I actually cut up some old buggy plastic skins so that I don't have to do the card board but that's just me.
I actually cut up some old buggy plastic skins so that I don't have to do the card board but that's just me.
I just use cardboard and take the fan off if it gets really cold. I have my truck in for an espar heater today, no cardboard or fan removal for this guy this winter!
I will be interested to see how you like the Espar.
I don't have problems with mine coming up to temp, I have problems with it staying there. I run with the entire radiator blocked for most of the winter. I have to remove the plastics for towing though.
The espar is just a block heater right, it doesn't run during normal engine operation?
I don't have problems with mine coming up to temp, I have problems with it staying there. I run with the entire radiator blocked for most of the winter. I have to remove the plastics for towing though.
The espar is just a block heater right, it doesn't run during normal engine operation?
some of this comes down to keeping it warm going down the road. My brother (DD '05 Dmax) likes to run some sheet plastic between the intercooler and radiator so it still breathes cold but keeps the water warm. My 03 rarely gets the cover since it's generally towing when I use it and needs the air flow.
I had mine plugged in at night, so starting was easy and instant heat inside. DD it was the issue. It would not warm up fully unless going up a long grade or towing. Just blocking the 2 honey comb areas allowed me to DD and tow with it without removing them. Enough air got through the bumper area towing.
Mileage was also better when it was warmed up.
Just a note on block heaters. Plugged the truck into my shop one month straight. The house bill went down $27 and the shop went up $26. But worth every penny.
Mileage was also better when it was warmed up.
Just a note on block heaters. Plugged the truck into my shop one month straight. The house bill went down $27 and the shop went up $26. But worth every penny.
I use the factory one. My truck will not get warm if I head east down the hill.
The factory cover is pretty quick to put on and take off.
You guys running the cardboard, has it even gotten wet and turned into a massive block of ice at night?
The factory cover is pretty quick to put on and take off.
You guys running the cardboard, has it even gotten wet and turned into a massive block of ice at night?
I might try the plastic idea. Then again I only put 3k miles on my dmax a year, and now that I have a 4x4 burb for work doubt I will drive it much.
I have trouble getting to operating temp as well on cold days. I drive 20 miles to work and often on really cold days my truck's temp gauge doesn't even move, forget warming the cabin up. The espar draws fuel from the diesel tank and burns it while circulating your coolant to heat it up. Running it for an hour will have the coolant at operating temperature in -40 weather. As you mentioned, you can fire the heater up while driving to get the heater to help bring the coolant up to temp.
I had the espar installed with a timer system that'll fire the heater up an hour before I leave in the morning so I have instant defrost and cabin heat. When it gets colder out I'll start plugging engine / trans oil pan heaters and using the remote starter to have the cabin heated and oils circulated when I get to the truck.
The espar uses .1 gallon of fuel in an hour of use but only runs for 2hrs at a time unless I command it to start through my remote starter, at which point it'll run till I turn it off.
