Grid heater replacement

[Makaio]

Glacier Diesel Power makes a grid heater replacement for 98.5-07 Cummins 5.9's. This will fit a 1st Gen, right? I sure don't need the heater here. Anything below 65* is freezing for a Hawaiian in his boxers. This would be a nice installation for some increased air flow.

Aloha,
Matt

[rbrettctd]

I believe theirs will work. Personally, I found a used one, pulled the bolts, tapped the holes and plugged em to make my own...

[Ace]

I been working airflow issues recently and am wondering what's the diference between the later/earlier grids? Any pics? Sounds like something that could be picked up at a salvage yard cheap....

[Begle1]

Couldn't they just be replaced with some hogged out aluminum chunks?

[Ace]

Sure, but they wouldn't make very good heaters!

[Begle1]

Sure, but they wouldn't make very good heaters!

Heaters are only for smoke reduction purposes until you get to around 0 degrees, right?

What point do they become necessary for starting?

[rbrettctd]

They sure help for starting under 40! I never see temps under 0 here, but Im putting mine back anyways. I sure dont want to strain that new-last-year $120 battery and wear it out any quicker than I have to.

[Begle1]

Does it really require extra cranking under 40? I would think the huge amp draw from the grids would wear out the battery as much as quite a bit of extra cranking?

I really don't know anything about it... I don't know if my truck has started in under-50 degree conditions in the past 18 years...

[Ace]

They do help cold starting, especially when you get down into the single digits. Mine has always lit right off either way, but it runs smoother with a preheat cycle first. Dead cold at zero degrees and no preheat, it will start just fine, but stumble and run a little rough for the first half minute or so, until they've cycled once.

[gomerpile]

well say im in a machining class at school, would it work to get an oversized piece of aluminum and hollow it out to fit on the intake, and then make the out side of it finned to allow a little bit more of a temp drop., just let it work like a heat sink, you know just incase every cfm/temp drop is required. and do yall think this would help with fuel economy. and would it be cheaper if i have access to tools, to make it myself compared to $70 at g/diesel?

[Ace]

You'd get better flow without the grids like Beagle says, but cooling's not really going to be an issue. There's not enough surface area and the air's not in there long enough to transfer much heat.

The grids are able to pre-heat starting air for just the opposite reasons.

[cummins king]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... =p3907.m32

you can get them here, they are made for 88 to 93, and they look cool

[Ace]

So back to the OP. Looks like this is not a "Heater Grid Replacement," but a larger, empty heater grid housing/spacer.

[cummins king]

kind of usless replasing it because if you got 40 pounds of bost before the heater ur going to have 40 pounds after, and your going to have the same admount of flow

[Ace]

I was possibly interested in something that might be a better/more efficient heater!