I recently bought 2 sets of Lund Cold Front grille inserts. One was for 82-86, and the other was 92-96. These snap into the grille, and are used to help trucks warm up faster in the winter. I know the 92-96 ones are very popular with the diesel guys, and often sell for $100-$200. But, I can't find any info about the
82-86s. Both sets were discontinued by Lund many years ago. So, what's it worth?

 

Only what someone will pay you for them


I don't see the need for them on a gas motor, diesel yes.
I say this as I have had a diesel and used a snap on with a zipper in the center so you could open it up a little if it got warmer or started pulling a load as the only time the temp would come up from cold start was to drive it or pull a load.
Dave ----

 

Those will only work on an 82-86. 1980 & 81 had a different grille.

 

Thanks Gary, I forgot about that. I have edited my first post

 

I never had any issues with my diesel running warm enough in the winter. Provided that you could get it started, the heater would about cook the flesh off your bones on full heat.

In my opinion these are purely cosmetic for show purposes, much like the tinted light covers that are not street legal. In cold weather you might get away with driving around with them on, but it would probably be better to let the thermostat do its job and keep the inserts clean and shiny for show day. You might even want to leave them installed in a spare grille.

 

We had a winter that got to 14 below, and without cardboard ahead of the radiator few of the vehicles would put heat out of the heater. I don't understand why since there shouldn't have been circulation in the radiator, but our car was one of them so I know it happened.

 

there is always some circulation, (hence the bypass hose) could have been like continuously adding ice to the engine-heated water, = cancels out the heat

 

14 below, and AZ winters, you guys are funny! It regularly gets to 30 below in northern MN during the winter, and the state record is 60 below, in Feb. of '96. A lot of guys put in cardboard or have grille covers during the winter up here, it definitely helps bring the heat up.

 

Arizona winters... where I work in Bellemont I have personally seen -44*F, yes, negative 44 as in below zero. I did not drive my diesel that day, but -20's is pretty common and I have used my diesel in that weather. I know it is nothing like the states up north, but probably not what comes to mind when you think of "Arizona winters" either...

 

My father used to say "The first liar doesn't have a chance." OK, so Okiehoma winters aren't that extreme. But, at some place south of zero F blocking off the air to the radiator helps.

Bellemont - is that the high spot west of Flagstaff? When headed to the Canyon last year pulling the boat we filled up in Flag, and I thought we were at the top of the climb. Not so. But that 3.5 EB didn't care.

 

West of Flag is the Arizona Divide. Then comes some low flat valleys where cold air drainage off the San Francisco Peaks is trapped. Although not higher in elevation than Flag, it is much, much colder. It's on those days that I'm grateful to live 4,000' lower in the Verde Valley. I'm guessing your journey was out Hwy 180 instead. That route does climb a bit, and my non-turbo diesel didn't like it very much. Turbocharging is the antidote to altitude as you experienced

Back to the topic at hand, I may want to try some kind of radiator block in future winters. I just think in my case it would have to be very easy to remove. I wouldn't want to deal with a bunch of individual inserts half way home as the temperature started climbing.

 

No, we took Hwy 64 as I could see that Hwy 180 had climbs. But, as it turned out, the twin-turbos gave us plenty of torque at any elevation.

Anyway, I agree about wanting an easy-to-remove radiator block. Granted the individual pieces would allow you to tailor it somewhat, but I think the zipper blocks I've seen would be easier to use.

 

As I said in my post my Diesel (GM 6.2) when it would stay 40*f or lower the radiator cover went on. When the temp would stay 60* or above it would come off.
Any thing in between I would un-zip a little at a time as needed to keep good temp.


Even with the cover on if you stopped for a long time the temp would still drop down but not a low as if I did not have the cover on.


Diesels do not make much heat unless driving and/or pulling a load, sit & idle it will bring the temp up some but not much on my 6.2.


BTW that 6.2 radiator took 2 guys to lift it in & out it was that big!
A BB Ford 460 radiator from a 76 E350 did not take 2 guys to R&R and it would cool that motor pulling a 2 car trailer.
Dave ----

 

It doesn't get real cold here, other than a week around 0* give or take a few a couple years ago. Other than taking longer to warm up my IDI got to reasonable temp, maybe 160*-180* during normal unloaded operation and put out reasonable heat. Yes it would cool down during extended idling but I have no reason to idle for much except until it kicks off high idle and cold advance after a cold start. In any event, to me those are worth nothing, to someone in Canada or Alaska, probably more.

 

I too laughed while reading this. Current feels like temp is -6 and it's still early November.