Dirt Racing Tech - Radiator Protection

On its own, a flat sheet of aluminum is very unstable. You can add some structural rigidity by adding a few bends in the metal.

Here's Jordan's finished piece for the right side of the box. Notice how several sections of the outside edges are folded over to make the sheet stiffer. This also reduces any sharp edges that can snag you when you are working on the car.

The side of the shroud is ready to be bolted into place.

The front down tube leading to the bumper is an excellent spot for attachment. Jordan uses mostly zip-ties and a single bolt to hold the side of the shroud in place so that it can be quickly removed.

Here's one option for a shaker screen to keep mud from getting to the radiator. It is made and sold by chassis builder MastersBilt, but you can also fabricate your own.

The frame mounts on a hinge which causes it to continually bounce around when the car is on the track, knocking off any mud that accumulates on the screen.

The MastersBilt-chassis has mounting ears already welded onto the chassis for the shaker screen. A small rod runs through the ears as well as the tabs welded onto the screen.

Springs and a couple of clips are all that are required to secure the screen and keep it centered in front of the radiator.

Here's the finished assembly. The hood of the car will form the top of the box. Also notice how the shaker screen hangs below the bottom of the radiator by an inch or two. This is so it can help protect from debris flying up from the track.