Grills behind front bumper?

I only have one grill behind my front bumper, the other being missing when i got the car. The one i have is the solid type with no 'vents' in it. Should the both be like this or should i have one of each?

I only have one plastic cover behind my front bumper, fitted to the passenger side. It is the solid type.

Mine is a 82 1600 GTi.

Cheers. Matt

Both of my cars have the same but i am presuming that they had two when new.  :dontknow:

Nah, I doubt they did have them from the factory.

You'll probably find that the small block lumps had 2 covers because they could achieve all of the necessary cooling through just the top grille. The larger blocks need a little extra cooling, hence one grille removed. I'd expect on cars originally sold in warmer climates such as southern europe, south america, africa etc, they would have left the factory with both covers off so as to maximum cooling.

My daily runner is a 1.8 16V Civic Aerodeck, and when I replaced the front bumper with a new genuine honda part, it had 3 solid clipped in sectiions in the lower grill, to essentially block it off. My VTi had a fully open grille, so I simply had just pop the plastic inserts out. I expect its the same sort of thing…..

Clever but simple…..and most importantly….cheap!!

Nah, I doubt they did have them from the factory.

You'll probably find that the small block lumps had 2 covers because they could achieve all of the necessary cooling through just the top grille. The larger blocks need a little extra cooling, hence one grille removed. I'd expect on cars originally sold in warmer climates such as southern europe, south america, africa etc, they would have left the factory with both covers off so as to maximum cooling.

My daily runner is a 1.8 16V Civic Aerodeck, and when I replaced the front bumper with a new genuine honda part, it had 3 solid clipped in sectiions in the lower grill, to essentially block it off. My VTi had a fully open grille, so I simply had just pop the plastic inserts out. I expect its the same sort of thing…..

Clever but simple…..and most importantly….cheap!!

From what I've seen on various cars as DjEv and I have walked round the shows… checking out the small details!  :redfaced:  :roll:  It appears that the smaller engined cars had a solid metal blank on the nearside and a platsic grille to the off side.

The larger engined cars had 2 plastic grilles.

Over time those bottom grilles go missing - or so it appears on the cars we've looked at. Clippers don't have them in at all due to having big bumpers, cars with headlamp wash will have 1 retained cause the pipe from the washer tank runs through the off side grille.

I bought my grille from GPC, Luton 01582 728892 and from the receipts they cost around £7.50 each +VAT (171853661/2 was the reference for them).

Hope that helps a little if you need them.

Dan

Dano said

From what I've seen on various cars as DjEv and I have walked round the shows… checking out the small details!

You 2 need to get out more  

Its a standing joke from about 2005!!!!   …. when you were driving Pajeros!!!!  :roll:

I dangle the bait and hook you straight away!!  :wink:

It depends on year and engine.

eg
Early large block carbs have "metal blank" and no grille (open)
Early GTis are open both sides
Late GTis are blank plastic on one side, and no grille (open) on the other

dubboy said

It depends on year and engine.

eg
Early large block carbs have "metal blank" and no grille (open)
Early GTis are open both sides
Late GTis are blank plastic on one side, and no grille (open) on the other

Its an '83 GTI. So it should have one solid grill in and the other just left open? Which side does the grill go? Thanks for the help guys, very much appreciated  8)

I am not sure about '83 if it has water cooled oil cooler. When you have only one (closed), it goes on the LHS though.

dubboy said

I am not sure about '83 if it has water cooled oil cooler. When you have only one (closed), it goes on the LHS though.

Its got an 'air' oil cooler. By LHS do you mean passanger side (presuming RHD)

daztheoneclaw said

dubboy said

I am not sure about '83 if it has water cooled oil cooler. When you have only one (closed), it goes on the LHS though.

Its got an 'air' oil cooler. By LHS do you mean passanger side (presuming RHD)

Correct

Dano said

Its a standing joke from about 2005!!!!   …. when you were driving Pajeros!!!!  :roll:

I dangle the bait and hook you straight away!!  :wink:

That was such an easy catch Dan I dont think you can get a point for that one  
 8)  8)

Dj Ev said

Dano said

Its a standing joke from about 2005!!!!   …. when you were driving Pajeros!!!!  :roll:

I dangle the bait and hook you straight away!!  :wink:

That was such an easy catch Dan I dont think you can get a point for that one  
 8)  8)

I'll take all the points I can off Openshaw!!!