It's cold..... Really cold.

[What's_nitro?]

Unless that garage is heated it wont make a big difference in starting ease.

[Metallover]

Originally Posted by What's_nitro?

Unless that garage is heated it wont make a big difference in starting ease.

Oh yes it does. It's probably -5 in the garage and -20/-40 windchill outside.

My grill aint too"cardboard friendly" either... i'll post a pic of my dilemma.

[JThiessen]

Just being enclosed will make a huge difference - especially if there is any wind.
Like stated earlier, just leave a couple corners open for a little air flow. At the temps you have right now, you can get away with complete coverage.
If you have a block heater, Dodge sometimes had them coiled up on the passenger side of the radiator (I'm assuming Dodge since you said 5.2 Magnum). Put your card board on the inside if you have to.

[Metallover]

the engine.. Yep, its a dodge

cardboard idea?


I'll go out and try to strap the carboard on...

[JThiessen]

Happen to have any better cardboard? One time I got caught in some unexpexted cold in eastern Montana - I stopped in a K-Mart and bought some thick plastic place mats that I cut up to fit in my grill. They actually worked great. Dont let your mom catch you digging through her china hutch...!

You might be able to cut each individual one to fit the four "openings".

[What's_nitro?]

Guys, think about it- The wind cant get at the engine when it's in the garage, but it can't get at the engine when it's outside either because the truck is in the way! And unless the "wind" is somehow cooler than the stationary air then it wont cool the engine down any more. That's why when the weather people describe windchill they use the term "feels like". Things aren't actually colder just by being in the wind, unless the wind is colder.

[_paralyzed_]

what's nitro- I've lived in MN all my life. Cars start better enclosed than outside. Your theories are wrong.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by What's_nitro?

Guys, think about it- The wind cant get at the engine when it's in the garage, but it can't get at the engine when it's outside either because the truck is in the way! And unless the "wind" is somehow cooler than the stationary air then it wont cool the engine down any more. That's why when the weather people describe windchill they use the term "feels like". Things aren't actually colder just by being in the wind, unless the wind is colder.

Tell you what - you leave one rig outside, and one inside overnight. Then go out in the morning and try to start them. My money is on the one inside. And every farmer between Idaho and New York will tell you the same. I understand your rationale, as I also argued with my old man about it many years ago. But now, like he was then - Been there, done that.

[What's_nitro?]

Well, I only have one rig. So I can't perform your experiment. Must have something to do with air density/pressure having higher contact area with the metal... IDK.

I suppose I can accept defeat just this once.

[_paralyzed_]

Awesome. If I said that on the kiddie forum 9 people would have cried, 11 would have argued with me and 4 would have asked for a ban. I just got kicked off of there yesterday for small minded people. VIVA LA RCM!

Metallover- off your license plate I have your parents names and social security numbers and your home address. I may open a new credit card! j/k, but be careful what you post on the net

[What's_nitro?]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

I just got kicked off of there yesterday for small minded people. VIVA LA RCM!

I think you out-lasted the rest of us.

Metallover- I would cover the side that isn't in front of the intake. It's more about functionality than looks.

[Metallover]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Awesome. If I said that on the kiddie forum 9 people would have cried, 11 would have argued with me and 4 would have asked for a ban. I just got kicked off of there yesterday for small minded people. VIVA LA RCM!

Let me guess!.... Micro T forum?!?

I got the next section on. Now everyting is covered except for the original open area on the left which is where the intake is. If it gets too hot I'll go out and rip out some cardboard. Thanks for all the help guys!

Think I should say there's a heat wave next week and it'll be about 35! It's gunna be a big thaw!

[JThiessen]

You'll need to do much more than you have, and doing the whole thing (including over the intake area) will be fine. Look at a few semi's and guys with diesel pickups - they will have the entire front covered. When it warms up over xero, they will unvoer some of it.
Your intake will be able to suck air from behind the grill.

What's Nitro: When you get to temps that are below -20, and with wind, just being enclosed will likely keep the temp up about 10+ degrees than outside. And at those temps, over a certain period, fluids can and will start icing. Oils, espeically in the tranny and diffs, gets extremely stiff. Fuels start to either form frost (gasoline), and the parafin in diesel will start to solidify. The wind chill will accelerate this process. If you cant park inside, at least park with the radiator pointed away from the wind.

[What's_nitro?]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

When you get to temps that are below -20, and with wind, just being enclosed will likely keep the temp up about 10+ degrees than outside. And at those temps, over a certain period, fluids can and will start icing. Oils, espeically in the tranny and diffs, gets extremely stiff. Fuels start to either form frost (gasoline), and the parafin in diesel will start to solidify. The wind chill will accelerate this process. If you cant park inside, at least park with the radiator pointed away from the wind.

Like I said, there must be some part of the equation that I'm missing. It's been a long time since I took any classes on the subject. I've been outgunned 3:1 on this one, so I will take what was said as fact. The details really are irrelevant.

Thank you for the advice. My car is parked about 3' in front of a solid picket fence. I'm not sure where the wind comes from relative to my car's orientation, so I'll just hope it starts when I need it too. I have two batteries in it and that has seemed to help in the past.

[Metallover]

I think it looks pretty badass. I clipped the ends off the zipties too... I'd estimate I have 40-50% covered. Should I cover more?



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