borjeb

Just wondering what some of you are doing to protect the intercooler through the huge opening in the front bumper? With where I live and what I'm going to be using the truck for I feel it would be only time before some random object put a hole it the IC. I ordered a lower bumper billet grill for my truck so we'll see if it works or will even fit. Let me know if you have any better suggestions. Thanks.

borninblue

I couldn't believe the huge opening myself after seeing it at the auto show. What was ford thinking not putting some type of protective grill there?

sled92

What brand grill guard are you going with?

borjeb

I just bought a piece of eBay. Says it's the lower opening. Looks pretty good but we will have to see what the quality is like.

Patch Farmer

Keep us informed. I can already see a corn stub stuck through that hole in the bumper.

Nsguy07

I see myself racing into a giant puddle or through a snow bank and burying the dadgum thing. That's the only little concern I've had on the truck so far.

bigal1234

Just put it in reverse and you will be fine.
Al

dukefanatic00

you usually dont want to block an intercooler with anything lol , the more the airflow across it the better off your performance is ...... you guys must not have owned factory/aftermarket turbo/supercharged (more so turbo) vehicles have you?


I absolutely LOVE the opening in the front and am glad ford was smart for putting it there and moving the front license plate out of the way and letting as much air as possible pass over it. I do understand the concerns from those going off-road in their BRAND NEW trucks though

borjeb

I've owned many intercooled vehicles such as Ford Probe, Mazdaspeed 6, and various diesels. None of them had an intercooled that low and wide open. I'm using a billet grill to keep rocks and birds out but to allow air in. These trucks aren't going to be new forever and they will eventually be the trucks people take hunting ect. I for one am in a position that pays 2-300k a year with the downside of having to wreck a pickup every couple years. I'll have more miles on gravel than most people will have on pavement in the first couple years.

JP2085

A mere grille will not hurt performance of a charge air cooler... I know many turbo vehicles (my turbo Volvo, big trucks, etc.) that actually have the CAC behind the radiator, condenser, and tranny cooler or what have you. They do just fine.