Big Bumper lower grille block off pics?

[Seax_Smith]

Anyone have pics of big bumper lower grill block offs?

Have been out underneath my car mocking up a pseudo belly pan (because I can't find one). Was looking at the lower grille and decided I don't need it open in the winter and want to stop the road slop from splashing in.

Maybe I am creatively-challenged at the moment, but I am not seeing an easy way to do it without removing the bumper, which I do not want to do. Almost half temped to cut a sheet of this plexi-like stuff I have and just screw it on from the out side, but it will look like 5hit. Am all about function over form, but butt ugly is just butt ugly no matter how functional it is.

Any ideas / suggestions?

[Seax_Smith]

Yup, butt ugly is butt ugly even with stainless screws. Didn't realize how much of a compound arch is really in there.

looking for better ideas.

[Volkswageneer1990]

A couple of ideas just rolled into my head, maybe you can work with one of them.

Custom make a block off plate that spans the whole lower air dam. Make it clip onto the "fins" of the bumper. That would take a crap ton of custom work though...

Other than that, just get sheets of some kind of foldable material and make it cover the dam, then fold the top and bottom parts, and have very discrete screws hold it to the bumper. You can even color match the screws to either the folded plate or the bumper color.

Other than that I don't really know what else to tell ya.

Also, did you know that vw-classic-parts.de has the OEM under engine cover? I don't remember the price, but it's worth looking into, I have one of them, and am so anxious to get it put in!

Cheers!

[vwtechr32]

Parts 23-26 are what you are looking for they clip onto your bumper. 23 is the left (Europe only) covers the area up to the rad. and 24-26 are for the right largest (24) will block off just short of half the opening used on the diesels (26 is the US spec part for gas models). These are all still available http://www.vwheritage.com/.

23 191853677D
24 191853678
25 191853678A
26 191853678B

[vwtechr32]

I was able to get some pic for you today.

Here is a comparison of the 3 different types of OEM plates that are available the one I have in stalled on mine is the mid sized one because it lines up and directs the air perfectly w/ the end of the rad. directing the air where it is suppose to go. I'll state it here the rule of thumb with aerodynamics is control the air air uncontrolled around your car is no good.

Here is the US spec. piece which is the shortest of the lot and it allows for the air and debris to hammer the radiator end cap and allowed the air around the right side as well as the condenser fittings.


Now here is the largest one.


Now this piece PN 191807242 (not lised any where in ETKA) snaps around the tow hook sitting behind those covers blocking off air/water/debris flow straight onto your belts. I am not running it as I've fitted the tow hook cover and it provides that coverage.


Here is the left side piece now since the US spec rebar had an additional tow hook I had to cut that U out it comes as a solid piece.


Now here are some other tiny bits you may wanna look at and address as far as "controling the air.

Now not knowing your grill configuration but on the OEM quad round the left side between the lights is open allowing air/water/debris to get through, the rad. ends further to the right, and that water gets onto your fan relays . I made a block off plate and glued it in place.


Here is the right side that is as original blocked off, actually if that were open that air would be captured by the OEM air intake.


The other thing would be at least as far as blocking off air flow for the winter is VW did make plates that clip onto the grill, there are tabs on the back side of the OEM grills that they snap onto. Parts 18, 19 and 20 of the above parts blow up are those plates the only one currently available is #20 for the Aero grill. I would love to find that piece for the quad round to run in the winter the PN is 191853664C if anyone finds or comes across one please contact me.

Here is one of the tabs it would snap onto.

[Seax_Smith]

Thanks much. It helps.

[DocWalt]

I definitely need to look into the block off plates, my bumper has none and there's debris all over the ends of the rad.