2.0 Cooling Upgrade - Gladiator Grill Inserts

[SCJeeps]

This is just some informal data for anyone in the fence for putting the Gladiator grill inserts (honeycomb) on your JL. I just performed this change on my 2023 JLUR XR 2.0. All the part numbers are posted in other posts, procedure etc, I followed them and swapped it out in about 20 minutes,

Results: Prior to the swap I saw a max temp reach 225. I live in TX and it has regularly been 105+. I swapped them last night and drove the Jeep today being very careful to monitor the temps. I don’t think I could have asked for a better day to push it as it was 110F today. Through all my driving the max temp I saw was 212F. It looked like it was normally running 195-205. It did not appear to change how often or when the fans came on. I was driving at highway speeds 70-85MPH which was the same as the prior test. When going on surface streets , coming to a stop it quickly dropped to 195.

My takeaway: this was a good and cheap upgrade to improve air flow to the radiator helping to keep temperatures down. While the system is probably ok with the original grill inserts I like to have more margin and let it run closer to the thermostat temp. The 2.0 can build heat quickly , any improvement helps. If you are on the fence I recommend this upgrade. I will continue to monitor through other driving conditions and provide some updates.

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[Joel Wunderlich]

I added those to an 21 Altitude i did it because it looked better than the stock smaller opening insert those almost looked closed off. Also added the Gladiator metal skid plate it looked like the OEM plastic one was gonna drag on the ground with the lowering springs installed

 

[MidwestJeeper]

This is just some informal data for anyone in the fence for putting the Gladiator grill inserts (honeycomb) on your JL. I just performed this change on my 2023 JLUR XR 2.0. All the part numbers are posted in other posts, procedure etc, I followed them and swapped it out in about 20 minutes,

Results: Prior to the swap I saw a max temp reach 225. I live in TX and it has regularly been 105+. I swapped them last night and drove the Jeep today being very careful to monitor the temps. I don’t think I could have asked for a better day to push it as it was 110F today. Through all my driving the max temp I saw was 212F. It looked like it was normally running 195-205. It did not appear to change how often or when the fans came on. I was driving at highway speeds 70-85MPH which was the same as the prior test. When going on surface streets , coming to a stop it quickly dropped to 195.

My takeaway: this was a good and cheap upgrade to improve air flow to the radiator helping to keep temperatures down. While the system is probably ok with the original grill inserts I like to have more margin and let it run closer to the thermostat temp. The 2.0 can build heat quickly , any improvement helps. If you are on the fence I recommend this upgrade. I will continue to monitor through other driving conditions and provide some updates.

Hi! Can you please share the link where you purchased the JT grill inserts?

I live in TX too and I saw 218-220 on flat roads, 55-60 mph, on a 105 F day.

The fan whooshes like a jet engine with the AC on and I would like to have a little more margin with cooling, with the JT grill inserts.

 

[SCJeeps]

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/jljtgrilleinsrt.html

• 6QN23RXFAC - Left Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN21RXFAC - Right Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN22RXFAC - Center Honeycomb Grille Insert (For Vehicles WITHOUT Front Off-Road Camera)

There is a different version if you have a camera. I bought from here because it was easy and cheap. These parts can be sourced from other vendors as well.

 

[MitsJeep]

That grill insert really doesnt fit sport models like it says in the description? Has anyone tried to up-fit to their sport model? what are the differences?

 

[MidwestJeeper]

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/jljtgrilleinsrt.html

• 6QN23RXFAC - Left Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN21RXFAC - Right Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN22RXFAC - Center Honeycomb Grille Insert (For Vehicles WITHOUT Front Off-Road Camera)

There is a different version if you have a camera. I bought from here because it was easy and cheap. These parts can be sourced from other vendors as well.

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/jljtgrilleinsrt.html

• 6QN23RXFAC - Left Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN21RXFAC - Right Side Honeycomb Grille Insert
• 6QN22RXFAC - Center Honeycomb Grille Insert (For Vehicles WITHOUT Front Off-Road Camera)

There is a different version if you have a camera. I bought from here because it was easy and cheap. These parts can be sourced from other vendors as well.
[/QUOTE]

One more question - How long did it approximately take you for this install? I think there are several plastic tabs and clips that need to be carefully taken off and put back on.

2 hours maybe?

 

[SCJeeps]

The entire removal, swap grids and replacement might have taken 30 minutes. There are 6 clips at the top of the grill that need removal. The remaining are clips along the bottom which just pull free. There are videos on YouTube showing how to remove the grill, that probably takes 5 mins at most.

Once you have the grill off there are clips and screws that hold the grids to the grill. It was easy to remove and simply bolt in the new ones.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Anyone with a winch & OEM steel bumper have trouble getting the grill off?

 

[Tncdrew]

This kit worked well on my Willys grille (essentially a black Sport grille).
Took maybe 30 minutes. Super easy!!

 

[tk1700]

I like the idea of getting more air flowing in to keep things cooler. Will the larger holes allow more bugs, rocks and debris to get in and clog or damage the radiator and coolers?

 

[The Fixer]

One more question - How long did it approximately take you for this install? I think there are several plastic tabs and clips that need to be carefully taken off and put back on.

2 hours maybe?

I documented it with some pics in this thread here - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-jl-sport-or-willys-grille.89763/post-2396305

It's an easy project.

I like the idea of getting more air flowing in to keep things cooler. Will the larger holes allow more bugs, rocks and debris to get in and clog or damage the radiator and coolers?

I guess anything is possible, but it doesn't seem bad so far. I took mine almost 2 hours each way up to Woodstock and back to see a concert, didn't notice any large bugs stuck in there.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

Anyone with a winch & OEM steel bumper have trouble getting the grill off?

I have the same issue. I will try pulling the top six pins and then pull the grill loose from the two clips located near both headlights to see if I can do the install from the top of the grill. There is no way to release the bottom clips without pulling the bumper and moving the winch forward, which would be a huge pain. We shall see…. I’m open for ideas…

 

[jjvincent]

I like the idea of getting more air flowing in to keep things cooler. Will the larger holes allow more bugs, rocks and debris to get in and clog or damage the radiator and coolers?

Yes. On the other hand, then the Jeep that they were designed for, will have lots of posts of what happens to them as they are OEM for those models.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Anyone with a winch & OEM steel bumper have trouble getting the grill off?

Answering my own question: It isn't possible to get the grill off with the winch in place (with Maximus-3 mounting plate). It is however possible to change the grill inserts with the grill sheel partially in place, but tilted forward (bottom still loosely engaged)... but it's a huge pain in the ass.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

I have the same issue. I will try pulling the top six pins and then pull the grill loose from the two clips located near both headlights to see if I can do the install from the top of the grill. There is no way to release the bottom clips without pulling the bumper and moving the winch forward, which would be a huge pain. We shall see…. I’m open for ideas…

Followup…I was successful in getting the new inserts installed without fully removing the grill. I just pulled the six top clips, released the grill under the headlights, and was able to pull the grill forward from the top enough to reach in and get the swap done. The hardest part is getting the bottom clips to release. I was extremely careful not to lose the screws and clips that you will detach during the process as they could fall into hard to retrieve areas….

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