| Author |
Message |
Woody48348 (66.208.219.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 10:45 am: | |
I want to install a rear mud guard across the rear of my Eagle 20 to help protect the car I am going to pull. I have been told by my local bus mechanic to not install the mud guard because I will have engine temp. problems due to the restricted air flow under the engine when at highway speeds. He said it will create a sort of air dam. Anyone else heard of such a problem? If so what is the solution?
Bob. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:49 am: | |
I had to remove mine on my Eagle 10 due to overheating problems. Probably the best solution is the plastic shield that mounts on the towbar. Of course, you need to fix any oil leaks, and contrary to popular opinion, it can be done.
Richard |
two dogs (67.30.23.123)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:55 am: | |
anybody tried those hula skirts?don't know the correct name for them |
woody48348 (66.208.219.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 1:33 pm: | |
I thought of the hula skirts, but I don't like the look as well. My Eagle 20 parts manual shows a full width rear mud guard installed on the bus, wwith part number and everything. So I would think it's okay to install. Of course, the original guard was missing when I bought the bus, or NJT removed it. Maybe it was causing heat problems!!!!!!!!!
Bob. |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (208.186.37.197)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 2:54 pm: | |
I heard that the correct place to install a full width mudguard was directly behind the axle. This caused the heat of the engine to be drawn out by the low pressure created behind the mudguard.
Didn't GM buses have that arrangement and sometimes get hot if it was removed?
Putting the mudguard at the rear of the vehicle made it more difficult for the hot air to escape from under the motor.
Peter. |
woody48348 (66.208.219.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 3:46 pm: | |
Peter,
I agree with you 100%. However, the Eagle 20 manual shows it installed directly forward of the rear bumper. I suspect Eagle figured it would not cause a problem since the NJT buses were operated primarily at lower speeds. NJT must have found out different, since all the eagles had the rear guards removed when ABC bus had then in their lot. Thanks for the input.
Bob. |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 4:15 pm: | |
Bob -
GMC's highway models came with the full-width mud flap all the way across the coach directly behind the rear axle .
As Peter stated, the reason was to create a low pressure area under the coach to help pull the heat out of the engine compartment (and additional air thru the radiator).
The "hula skirt" mentioned has the same effect as a solid mudflap, but to a lesser degree, still, I wouldn't use one. . .
For additional cooling, you can also add a 3/4" or 1" piece of aluminum angle iron vertically at the leading edge of the radiator grill. This has the same effect on the slipstream air - it creates a low pressure area behind the angle, tripping up the air and helping to suck it into the radiator.
Richard's comments about the plastic shield on the tow bar are valid, as is his comments about fixing the oil leaks. . .
HTH,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.164.175.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 6:44 pm: | |
Crown Coach the defunct school bus company went one step further and had the mudflap dohickie thing run across the underside of the bus in front of the engine and behind the side radiator.
Since the pancake engines were admidships and the radiators on the drivers side in front of the engine, this placed the mudflap dohickie thing well towards the front of the coach.
Anyway, we were instructed as part time school bus drivers that if the engine ever overheated (never happened) to close all the bus windows to help suck air thru the radiator. Carry on. |
woody48348 (66.208.219.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 11:12 am: | |
What do you think of this,
Mount the mud guard, and cut 2-3 large oval holes across the guard, bolt some steel mess over the holes, and paint black to match the guard. Do you guys think there would be enough air flow, and I would still gain the protection from the rest of the guard?
Bob. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:15 pm: | |
Woody, what are you trying to protect against? Debris picked up by the tires or the more common oil splatters?
Richard |
woody48348 (66.208.219.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:45 pm: | |
Richard,
General road grime from the tires. But I also like the "look" of the guard.
Bob. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 5:13 pm: | |
Yea, I think they look great also. If you are not having overheating problems now, then you might be ok. If you ever get out in the middle of the desert and you start to overheat, sometimes raising the engine cover (and leaving it up) will help.
Richard |
J.C. Barnett (Eagle) (12.220.190.142)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 7:55 am: | |
Woody I mounted a guard about 18" forward of the rear bumper and about 8" high and 90" wide and 3" off pavement I have ran it for three years with out any heat problems. |