Washington requires a front license plate. Once I noticed that the colling system is supported by the lower grill, I removed the Scion emblem and bent the plate to the shape of the grill, and mounted it in the center. The plate covers 1/3 of the grill with no effect on cooling. I'm looking to build a cover for the whole upper grill, as I found out the grill is useless for cooling. This was tested last week when I spent an hour in stop & go traffic in 99 degree weather. The temp guage did not move at all.

 

It's the lower grill that you want to be concerned about. That's where the radiator is and where all the cooling is required.

 

Not sure the reason for this thread. Are you asking a question about the grille's purpose or just stating your plans for the grille?

 

You mean something like this?



And yeah, there is no air flow through the front that does any cooling of the engine at all.

 

I like the looks of the white xB, but in this environment, even though the radiator is lower, I'd prefer as much air as possible.

 

When you're stopped, neither grill does much for cooling, they only function when you're moving. When you're moving, air enters the upper grill and is pushed downwards to the radiator (the upper plate pretty much blocks air flow to the engine). The purpose of the upper grill as to assist in cooling the radiator, if you block it, it will hurt cooling capacity.

 

I wish someone would come out with a grill that looks identical to the OEM unit minus the scion indention. If I knew how you lay glass I'd do it.

 

There is so little air that enters through the top grill that even with it completely blocked the temp gauge didn't move up at all from normal on an 1.5 hr drive.


Actually making something like the stock grill out of fiberglass would be a royal pain to do. it'd be easier to take two stock grills, cut the emblem area out of one, and graft parts out of the other one with plastic weld and sand and paint it.

 

I don't know. I like how that white xB turned out, but I can't get over the feeling that it looks like a button... and I HAVE to press it.

 

It's quite obvious to me that the stock 2010 multihole grill is to hold water after you wash and dried the car and to drip down the front just seconds before you wax it. Sort of like the rearview mirrors...

 

Ha! That's nothing compared to the back tailgate garnish! After I wash the box, there's always those last couple drops of water that come from that area or from the license plate lights. Ugh. So annoying.

 

hah ...Alwayss

 

if there was a like button on here like facebook has, this would be the comment for it

 

It does look like a button in that shot. I'll have to think about putting something on it. Actually in person it doesn't stand out as much, just turned out that way in the shot.

 

Greg S:

Can you post how you made that grill cover?

 

Here's the photo log.

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t...Front%20Grill/