[dk1677]

I know others have done easy lower covers, This is so easy maybe 15 min, Its a gutter cover from Lowe's you get a set of 4 for $7 something , you cut to fit and slide between each side of the bumper opening in front of the Power steering cooler I put some tie wraps on the top edge Pm me if there are any questions, Now Do I paint it to match the bumper? or does the galvanized look good? I think it kind of goes with the chrome on the grill but I welcome comments!

(Picture lightened to show mesh)

 

[BlueJet]

Well being that the lower grille is not at eye level, I think it looks fine! I want to do something like that too but since I have a mesh grille I will have to be careful matching up.

If you painted it, what color would you paint it? Black?

 

[dk1677]

Well being that the lower grille is not at eye level, I think it looks fine! I want to do something like that too but since I have a mesh grille I will have to be careful matching up.

If you painted it, what color would you paint it? Black?

I guess a flat black

 

[BlueJet]

That would be a good choice if you decide to go that way. All joking aside, painting it orange would make it look ricey!

 

[Corsairkid]

I think a chrome paint would look really good.

 

[BlueJet]

I think a chrome paint would look really good.

Yep!! Thats a great idea also!

 

[ottawanitro]

I'll be doing this for sure, it's too practical not to. $3.00 in parts could easily save one of those cooling rads from a stone. I'll be painting mine black.

I never noticed that you had installed those fogs, they look great.

 

[NitroCharger]

Nice job, looks good. I'd go matte/flat black.

 

[NPHBOB]

I'll be doing this for sure, it's too practical not to. $3.00 in parts could easily save one of those cooling rads from a stone. I'll be painting mine black.

I never noticed that you had installed those fogs, they look great.

Unfortunately, I didn't do it until after the condensor was damaged. Dodge wanted almost $800 to replace it. I got my local mechanic to do it for just under $400 but a few bucks at the local lumber store is a sure bet.

I left mine unpainted and it looks really good with the Blue color. I also put it behind the stock grill so that bugs, stones and other debris wouldn't bend or clog up my radiator fins.

It is so subtle, no one even knows it didn't come from the factory that way....except maybe another Nitro owner!!!! :smileup:

 

[ottawanitro]

Unfortunately, I didn't do it until after the condensor was damaged. Dodge wanted almost $800 to replace it. I got my local mechanic to do it for just under $400 but a few bucks at the local lumber store is a sure bet.

I left mine unpainted and it looks really good with the Blue color. I also put it behind the stock grill so that bugs, stones and other debris wouldn't bend or clog up my radiator fins.

It is so subtle, no one even knows it didn't come from the factory that way....except maybe another Nitro owner!!!! :smileup:

Good idea about putting it behind the grill, I'd like to do that. What did you use, strips or sheets? Where did you get that?

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Nice job Dave. I need to check out Lowes this weekend.

 

[jeffrey750]

Looks good, nice cheap and functional mod :smileup:

 

[Bubba 53]

Looks great Dave and probably does a better job, I didn't tell you all what happened to me last year I ordered the chrome one. It only comes with two L brackets & four screws oh yea and two holy sh^t clips. Any way last april or may when i got back from Florida.It was 10:00 pm and i had to go pick up my wife at Bingo. I backed out on to my street went down to the end and made a right on to a four lane hwy.And of course i had to stop for a light a 1\2 a block down the road. Well when i went to take off it sounded like my trany fell out so i get past the light make it over to the side of the road and get out. As luck would have it it's nothing but mud and gravel so i craw under the truck and see somthing hanging down in the front, it was my lower grill . One of the screws had fell out so i got my tools out took the other side off and put it in the back. Now i realize i'm covered with mud and dirt what to do. I"m not getting in my nice clean nitro with leather seats. So I take my sweats and shirt off and all i had was a leather coat i keep in there for winter so what the hell i only have to go 2 miles to the firehouse and i know she is steaming so i decide to go on well before i could pull out into the traffic yep a cop pulls in behind me with his lights on. And two officers get out and walk up to both sides. One ask for my DL and the other starts it with what do we have here. No pants just underwhare and a leather coat where is your chains. Thats as far as i'm going with this. I think they were going to lock me up if anther squad car had not pulled up and was a friend that i used to fish tournaments with. The next day i put it back on with lock tight and still check it every time i wash it. And my seat covers stay in the box in the back.

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

I did the same today Dave. I'm going to fabricate a frame to hold it more securely at work this week then probably paint it black. Great idea buddy....

 

[dk1677]

I did the same today Dave. I'm going to fabricate a frame to hold it more securely at work this week then probably paint it black. Great idea buddy....

Looks great!:smileup:

 

[NPHBOB]

Good idea about putting it behind the grill, I'd like to do that. What did you use, strips or sheets? Where did you get that?

I used strips. Each one was wide enough to cover about half the grill. I hooked two of them together with wire ties. The "seam" was hidden behind the cross bar of the grill so it looks like all one piece.

My mechanic had the pieces I needed just sitting in his "junk" pile so I didn't even have to buy any. However, I am sure you could get what you needed at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Having it behind the main grill has really helped to keep my radiator clean of debris such as bugs and leaves. Any that get caught by my addition spray off very easily. Good luck!!!

 

[Douglas]

That's what I was wondering, how to attach securely. Don't seem like there's any place to put screws or clips. Thanks, Douglas

 

[dk1677]

I used some tie wraps, seems to have held well so far

 

[Frederick]

I thought that my Nitro was supposed to come with some sort of mesh to protect the oil / PAS cooling fins from stone chips. I cant believe that they left this area exposed!

I would appreciate a write up if possible on how I can retro fit a mesh onto mine. Thanks

 

[NPHBOB]

I thought that my Nitro was supposed to come with some sort of mesh to protect the oil / PAS cooling fins from stone chips. I cant believe that they left this area exposed!

I would appreciate a write up if possible on how I can retro fit a mesh onto mine. Thanks

There are some after market grills you can purchase but I used the wire mesh that is used as gutter cover. It is cheap, easy to work with and actually protects better than the grills I have seen. I just cut mine to a little larger than the hole, flexed it into place and used some black wire ties to give is some extra security. It has been in place for nearly a year and still works great.

You really want to get this fixed soon so that you don't have the same experience I had. Right after I got my Nitro, the AC quit working all of a sudden. I took it into the dealer and they found small rock had imbedded itself in the AC condensor and cause it to leak the freon. Of course this was not covered under warranty because it was damage, not a faulty part. I tried arguing the fact that this was really a poor design and Dodge should stand behind it but to no avail. They wanted nearly $800 to replace it. I took it to my local mechanic who did the job for $365. That was when I put the mesh in.

Also, while he had the front grill assembly off, I noticed that some the fins on the radiator were bent up pretty badly. I assumed it was from rocks, bugs, road debris, etc. so I also installed the mess behind the grill. It actually looks great and protects the radiator as the lower one protects the PS cooler and condenser.

Good luck in whatever direction you decide to go!