How to: easy AGS shutter removal

[Coolzzy]

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How to: easy AGS shutter removal​

• Thread starterCoolzzy
• Start date4 minutes ago
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Coolzzy​

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• 4 minutes ago
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Everyone talks about this mod, but I haven't seen a step by step guide on the easy way to do it, without removing the front grill. This took maybe 20 minutes and the results were very noticeable in terms of engine and oil temps.

Tools you'll need
10mm ratcheting wrench or small socket wrench, long flat blade screwdriver, and a plastic pop rivet removal tool.

1. Remove the 12 plastic pop rivets holding the top radiator cover in place. It has to slide backwards over a lip that hold it to the top of the radiator and the left and right side slip into a slot in the fenders

2. Use a small flat blade screwdriver to release the red safety catch on the horn plug

3. Unplug horn, use 10mm wrench to remove single bolt holding it to the top radiator support. Don't drop it, move it to the passenger side, turn it 90 degrees and take it out up through the top, set it aside.

 

[Coolzzy]

4. Use long flat blade screw driver to carefully unlatch the 12 snaps (6 per side) on the center louver bracket

 

[Coolzzy]

5. Once the center bracket is removed, reach in and gently slide each shutter towards the outside of the truck (driver and passenger side shutters) until they clear the center tab hole and can be removed. They are very rigid so it might take a single ugga dugga per side.

6. Leave the center left/right shutter, they are attached to the motor. You'll know this because they are the only two that don't move freely by hand. I also left the top and bottom shutters. I figured this would be necessary to maintain the action of the center louver bracket once reinstalled.

7. Line up the louver bracket and carefully snap it back onto the 3 remaining rows of shutters

8. Reinstall horn and plug back in, making sure to snap the red safety catch back in

9. Reinstall the top radiator cover

10. Test drive and observe the drop in coolant temps.

 

[Coolzzy]

I took an hour drive in 80 degrees ambient temp, rolling hills back roads and some highway use. My coolant temp stayed at 201-203, and would drop to 197 when off the gas and coasting. Oil temp stayed between 208 and 212. By comparison to this same drive prior to removing the 6 shutters, my coolant temp would be 210-225 and engine oil temps would stay above 220. Transmission temps didn't really change with this mod, they stayed in the 175-185 range.

This is a simple mod, with big immediate cooling benefits. The coolant temp staying at the thermostat open temp of 203 was amazing. I'm sure with a 180 thermostat, it would hold there as well. I'll be Towing with it in 2 weeks and can compare to my last tow prior and will report back. Super easy to do, and reversible if you really wanted to. No cel, truck has no idea it's missing some shutters. I may go back in and remove the lower or upper shutter, and then take a dremel to the remaining ones to reduce their blockage while still leaving them in place.