Radiator screen protection for Trackrats!!

[marin]

Are yours the same OEM screens that are on my '21 718 GT4? I've never had any overheating issues either and my car is on track a lot, often on hot days. And yes, it's pushed when on track.

Yeah, my RS screens look identical.

[Bill in Bama]

I've had Zunsport grills on my GTS 4.0 since new, never a problem with overheating. They blend in and are hardly noticeable to me.

[WillyDaP]

Appreciate the info as I will track my GTS and like Marin I tend to drive at 10/10ths virtually always when on a road course. Bill in Bama , will check out Zunsport and did you order them from England or did you find a Distributor here in the US?

[Bill in Bama]

I ordered from Zunsport, took about 5 days IIRC.

[blueline]

Appreciate the info as I will track my GTS and like Marin I tend to drive at 10/10ths virtually always when on a road course. Bill in Bama , will check out Zunsport and did you order them from England or did you find a Distributor here in the US?

Making sure that I'm understanding what you and others are thinking and reading here, but how I'm interpreting everything is that Marin used the Rennline aftermarket on a 991.2 with no overheating problems.

However, his GT4RS that he has now has OEM screens the same as on my GT4 - standard from the factory. What I gathered that he was saying is that the Rennline look like the factory ones whereas others have expressed concern that the Zunsport look as though they might block more air.

Neither Marin nor I have had any on-track overheating issues with the OEM screens that came on the car and they apparently look the same as the Rennline aftermarket versions.

I don't think Bill (edit: Bill in Bama) is tracking his car. If not tracking, I don't think there would be any overheating issues with the Zunsport grills. Not sure if J-Dub has installed either of the two choices yet. Like you, he was analyzing the different ones available.

Maybe I've misread the previous comments. Apologies if so!

[Bill in Bama]

No, I don't take my 718 to the track, and I guess the issue with grills blocking significant airflow is feasible, but I just can't get myself to believe that it makes enough difference to matter. I haven't inspected the GT4 grills to determine if they are less restrictive than the Zunsport ones, but I can't imagine there is that much difference. But then, what do I know? I did just code my 718 so the coolant temp shows actual, and I'm noticing pretty big swings, but at higher speeds my temp actually goes down. I have a stretch of interstate going home that I often use to redline my engine and top out at 125-140 mph and at the higher speeds my temp went down when using Sport mode.

[WillyDaP]

Well that answers the question on whether Bill in Bama tracks his car and I wrote a small book questioning which Bill you were talking about .blueline, but somehow it did not go when I submitted, which is just as well. The issue now appears to be how we get Bill in Bama to track his car so we have a place to stay if we want to come down and run at Barber Motorsports Park. It appears Ft. Payne is just up the road from Birmingham so it is an easy drive to the track ---dibs on the extra bedroom, you get the couch!

[Bill in Bama]

I'm well familiar with Barber, used to run it in my track cars (BMW's though). When I got my 981 (previous to the 718), I decided not to take it on the track, and only broke my rule once when I got a free voucher for a day at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville. But I didn't push it and gave a wave-by to nearly everyone else on the track. I just wanted to push it more than is possible on the street, and still managed to wear out the rear Goodyear tahrs (I'll never buy them, hope I never see any more!).
I've kept my word, so far, with the 718, but I've driven the Porsche track in Atlanta twice using their cars, much cheaper that way.

All that said, I've got three spare bedrooms and a MaxJax in the garage, so come on down!

[WillyDaP]

Fantastic as blueline and I are getting old and we could use someone as our crew, ha! I do understand your situation though, as I have a car in my garage that I said I would not track and other than one autocross it has never had an assault on asphalt --- and it never will. So I can appreciate your feelings and thanks for your input on the grill screens.

[Bill in Bama]

Don't know how much help a 75 yr old crewman can be, but I'm up for it. That's one reason I have the MaxJax, can't get down on the ground as well as I used to! I still like to go fast, would love to be able to track a car, but between the cost, time, and aging body it just seemed a good time to quit. I haven't given up wrenching on my cars but I can see the day coming.