Baco foil over the Front Grill

Teflon · 11th September 2020, 18:57

Did anyone here do this on their car back in the day? Just my random thought of the moment!

Just watching "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" on Talking Pictures TV and all the little period details have set me thinking about the days long gone. I recall with my first car, a MKII Cortina GT, I used to cover the front grill with tin foil during winter months so that the engine would warm up quicker

. Of course, back in those days the cooling fan used to run continuously, regardless of temperature, as it was driven directly from the crankshaft. I suppose the tin foil helped.

A silly little thing, but something I'd completely forgotten about 'till just now

.

Cliff

steve-45 · 11th September 2020, 19:00

How about taking the thermostat out in the summer?

roverbarmy · 11th September 2020, 19:05

Putting an extra propellor style fan on the pulley to keep it cool in the summer when pulling a caravan and fitting a radiator blind for the winter!
https://picclick.co.uk/ford-popular-...861072261.html

http://chicagolandmgclub.com/barneym...ries/at107.htm

ADO282 · 11th September 2020, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

Putting an extra propellor style fan on the pulley to keep it cool in the summer when pulling a caravan and fitting a radiator blind for the winter!
https://picclick.co.uk/ford-popular-...861072261.html

http://chicagolandmgclub.com/barneym...ries/at107.htm

Lol, I've still got the car that part fits, and it doesn't have a water pump, or a heater........Brrrrrr !!!

Teflon · 11th September 2020, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-45

How about taking the thermostat out in the summer?

Never thought of that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

........... and fitting a radiator blind for the winter!.......

You were posh, I had to pinch my mums Baco foil

Cliff

ZedTeeT · 11th September 2020, 20:21

Yep done that! Many years ago my MK3 Transit diesel refused to warm up enough in the depths of winter. Bit of foil and all was good.

COLVERT · 11th September 2020, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-45

How about taking the thermostat out in the summer?

It's not a human being you know.--

---Our bodies love to run at 98 Degrees. That makes us happy. What makes the car engine happy is to run not far below boiling point. ( 98 ? )

Take the thermostat out and lose 10mpg.----

COLVERT · 11th September 2020, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADO282

Lol, I've still got the car that part fits, and it doesn't have a water pump, or a heater........Brrrrrr !!!

I had a 1937 Standard flying nine.---I used a large biscuit tin lid clamped against the radiator.--A flexi tube into the car and the air pressure going along pushed the air into the car.

Also the holes in the car floor at the back provided a bit of suction to increase the warm air flow.---

kelvo · 11th September 2020, 21:13

Radiator blinds used to be quite common years ago, I've got a brand new one for a P4 Rover tucked away somewhere.

Blanking the bottom of the radiator was often common to prevent freezing where anti-freeze wasn't regularly used.

I do use radiator blanking on the bus if I take it out in winter, being front engined and a big diesel engine it can get over-cooled due to the cold through flow of air.

bl52krz · 11th September 2020, 22:51

The good old bad old days. Used two thicknesses of corrugated cardboard down the front of the radiator. The same type of cardboard I used in the bottom of my shoes because of holes in the soles when I was a kid. Yes, it really was the good old bad old days. Kids these days don’t know they are born.You ain’t lived if you have not done that. I also used an old coat over the engine at night in the winter,and have often forgot to take it off before my 9 mile journey to work. Used to make the inside nice and warm though.

11th September 2020, 18:57	#1
Teflon This is my second home Lagoon 2.0 V6 75 Conn SE Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chertsey Posts: 5,203 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 2,920 Times in 1,570 Posts	Baco foil over the Front Grill Did anyone here do this on their car back in the day? Just my random thought of the moment! Just watching "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" on Talking Pictures TV and all the little period details have set me thinking about the days long gone. I recall with my first car, a MKII Cortina GT, I used to cover the front grill with tin foil during winter months so that the engine would warm up quicker . Of course, back in those days the cooling fan used to run continuously, regardless of temperature, as it was driven directly from the crankshaft. I suppose the tin foil helped. A silly little thing, but something I'd completely forgotten about 'till just now . Cliff __________________ No. 4 of 6

11th September 2020, 19:05	#3
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Putting an extra propellor style fan on the pulley to keep it cool in the summer when pulling a caravan and fitting a radiator blind for the winter! https://picclick.co.uk/ford-popular-...861072261.html http://chicagolandmgclub.com/barneym...ries/at107.htm __________________ Oil in my veins!

11th September 2020, 20:21	#6
ZedTeeT Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Horsham Posts: 874 Thanks: 197 Thanked 239 Times in 207 Posts	Yep done that! Many years ago my MK3 Transit diesel refused to warm up enough in the depths of winter. Bit of foil and all was good. __________________ My garage. 03/53 MG ZT-T+ CDTi auto in XPG. 232k and much to do! 21/21 MG ZS ev. Daily. 85/C Capri 2.8i Special. Mine 29+ years. 82/X Talbot Tagora SX V6. Restoration project. 11/11 Hyundai I Load CRDi. Van....... nuff said.

11th September 2020, 22:51	#10
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,392 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	The good old bad old days. Used two thicknesses of corrugated cardboard down the front of the radiator. The same type of cardboard I used in the bottom of my shoes because of holes in the soles when I was a kid. Yes, it really was the good old bad old days. Kids these days don’t know they are born.You ain’t lived if you have not done that. I also used an old coat over the engine at night in the winter,and have often forgot to take it off before my 9 mile journey to work. Used to make the inside nice and warm though. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham. Last edited by bl52krz; 11th September 2020 at 22:56..

11th September 2020, 19:00	#2
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	How about taking the thermostat out in the summer?

11th September 2020, 21:13	#9
kelvo Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 SE Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Chatham, Kent Posts: 569 Thanks: 22 Thanked 163 Times in 135 Posts	Radiator blinds used to be quite common years ago, I've got a brand new one for a P4 Rover tucked away somewhere. Blanking the bottom of the radiator was often common to prevent freezing where anti-freeze wasn't regularly used. I do use radiator blanking on the bus if I take it out in winter, being front engined and a big diesel engine it can get over-cooled due to the cold through flow of air.