Floopy Pro-Guard

[Mard]

I installed my Pro-Guard today and it went real smooth, all holes matched and it looks great, but I'm a little concerned about the 2 forward corners of the panel. They don't have much support and appear they could catch additional air causing the panel to "flop" around in those areas.

Anyone else have the same concern or is it nothing to worry about (I do worry about things)?

[BruteForce]

Mount a camera and do a test drive. :D

[Mard]

Don't have a camera, but I'll put one of the neighbor kids underneath there and.....did I just say that:rolleyes: ?


Mount a camera and do a test drive. :D

[the_pack_rat]

Don't have a camera, but I'll put one of the neighbor kids underneath there and.....did I just say that:rolleyes: ?

For a minute there .....

I thought you might have lived on a certain street back in Hamilton NJ.

:P

[Mike Poore]

I installed my Pro-Guard today and it went real smooth, all holes matched and it looks great, but I'm a little concerned about the 2 forward corners of the panel. They don't have much support and appear they could catch additional air causing the panel to "flop" around in those areas.

Anyone else have the same concern or is it nothing to worry about (I do worry about things)?

Not to worry. That's a very stiff piece of stuff, and should be no cause for concern whatsoever. I've got a lot of highway miles on mine and am thrilled with the results. :)

[Bluerauder]

That's a very stiff piece of stuff, and should be no cause for concern whatsoever. :)
:rolleyes: Mike always gets excited when things are stiffer than expected !! :rofl: J/K ........ ;)

[Wires]

Since this is a pro-guard thread, I was wondering if someone could educate me. I know the pro-guard is to prevent the sag of the bumper cover, which is not supported very well. I wouldn't say my bumper is sagging, but maybe I'm getting lost in sematics. I'll explain: I was driving my "other car" to the body shop, and I was following my wife, who was driving my Marauder. I noticed that the word "Marauder" was jiggling" slightly. Could that be a result of the air "balooning" that I've read about? Is this what the pro-guard is supposed to help prevent? Sorry if I'm being dense here.

[RR|Suki]

Since this is a pro-guard thread, I was wondering if someone could educate me. I know the pro-guard is to prevent the sag of the bumper cover, which is not supported very well. I wouldn't say my bumper is sagging, but maybe I'm getting lost in sematics. I'll explain: I was driving my "other car" to the body shop, and I was following my wife, who was driving my Marauder. I noticed that the word "Marauder" was jiggling" slightly. Could that be a result of the air "balooning" that I've read about? Is this what the pro-guard is supposed to help prevent? Sorry if I'm being dense here.
I reckon that be the case... arrrrrrrg

[mpearce]

:rolleyes: Mike always gets excited when things are stiffer than expected !! :rofl: J/K ........ ;)

Hahahahaha....good one Blue!

Sorry Mike :neener: I couldn't resist!

-Mat

[Mike Poore]

Since this is a pro-guard thread, ... Is this what the pro-guard is supposed to help prevent? .

Exactly, but much more. This little marvel does lots of things.
1. it will save you tearing your bumper/rear facia off in case you run over something. Cops do it all the time while crossing median strips and curbs.

2. It's suposed to add support for the sag in the rear valence, but I really don't see that it helps all that much.

3. It eliminates much of the drag-chute effect of the rear valence catching air and closes the huge cavity between the bottom of the rear valence and the trunk floor.

4. In my case, at least, it improves gas milage at highway speeds, on interstate highways ~70MPH. In four instances I've recorded MPG of just over 29mpg, and my last trip was 400 and change, miles on a tank of fuel, with the low fuel light just lighting within the last five miles. I couldn't do an accurate fill up at my home pump, so can't say what the MPG was in that instance.

Other folks have reported little or no improvement in MPG with the Pro-Guard and I can't explain why I do. My MM is a Dec '03 build date '04 with NO mods and running the factory tune as the car was delivered in Aug. '04. I run 35 PSI in the tires and Amsoil in the crankcase and rear end.

Plus, I'm an old fart, and drive like one. Oh, the car is Silver Birch, perhaps that accounts for it. :D

[cb13]

anyone got a link with more info (such as pics and purchase price)? thanks.

[BruteForce]

anyone got a link with more info (such as pics and purchase price)? thanks.

Check the Reinhart Automotive (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21) forum as he is the vendor selling them.

[Mike Poore]

:rolleyes: Mike always gets excited when things are stiffer than expected !! :rofl: J/K ........ ;)

Off to the corner with you, BUSTER!:corner:

[Mike Poore]

Hahahahaha....good one Blue!

Sorry Mike :neener: I couldn't resist!

-Mat

You ... with Charlie >>>>>>>>>>:corner:

[Eric91Z]

Other folks have reported little or no improvement in MPG with the Pro-Guard and I can't explain why I do. My MM is a Dec '03 build date '04 with NO mods and running the factory tune as the car was delivered in Aug. '04. I run 35 PSI in the tires and Amsoil in the crankcase and rear end.

Plus, I'm an old fart, and drive like one. Oh, the car is Silver Birch, perhaps that accounts for it. :D


I think Mike made a good point in another post. I am one of the owners of a Pro Gard (and a Silver Birch MM, too) that has not seen an increase in gas mileage. But my highway trips are interrupted with small towns and speed changes. And my interstate trips are only about 35-45 miles one way. I think it could have good effect at sustained highway speeds - especially at reasonable speeds like 70 mph.

Then again, I am 34 and find myself driving like a 16 year old sometimes. That doesn't help much with the gas mileage either.

[Big House]

Well I thought the same thing and true it looked rather floppy so I decided to build my own from sheet metal. It turned out rather good. A few people pointed out a few flaws in my design, but if I am rear ended...that last thing I am worring about is my metal skid plate like thingie cutting that hose in the rear under the trunk.

[texascorvette]

:help: Some clown rear-ended me last week. I haven't been under the car, but the guess is that he destroyed the ProGuard.

Question is: When I get the car back out of the bodyshop, does the ProGuard go inside the bumper cover or outside of it. There were no specific directions, but you could see the ProGuard when mounted on the outside of the bumper cover.

It looked pretty tacky, so I put it inside the cover. Could have been my imagination, but it looked like during the couple months it's been installed, the cover has deformed more than in the 8 or 9 months I ran without it. Just wondered if I installed it correctly.

[SergntMac]

Just a satisfied customer adding a few notes here...

I liked the ProGuard so much after I first installed it, I wasn't about to send it back for replacement. I got into this mod early, and got an early build, where Pro Guard folks used a single exhaust CV for the test fit. Hey, no problem, I just flipped it upside down and all mounting holes matched, then I trimed two inches off the passenger side for a safe (and visually balanced)perfect fit. Nope...No way this puppy is coming off for an exchange, and no way is it going to vibrate, or, shimmy once bolted into place.

The benefits are numerous, you have heard most of them already. I've spent a lot of time following other Marauders OTR, and yes, our stock rear bumper covers are affected by air passing under the car and catching in it. It collects air, and debris from the road, I plucked a candy wrapper out from behind the steel bumper...Snickers...Go figure.

The shimmy is real, I've seen it. Our friend BigJoeP has stainless steel Marauder inserts and I've covered his back more than once on long OTR drives. His bumper blinked at me like a dance ball, almost hypnotic after an hour or so. This shimmy is vibration that wears out the bumper cover's mounting points, which are few and disappointing to begin with. Eventually, the cover will stretch, and develope a gentle "v" shaped sag in the center, which had developed on my MM by the time my Pro Guard was installed. Once it was in place, sag gone, and the space between the top of the cover and the bottom of the tail light lenses also shrunk. I used to collect a lot of water there, it's not as bad anymore.

I did test for changes in MPG, but I don't have much to report. My mods, and my right toe seem to spoil that kind of testing. However, in my recent trip to visit with friends in Jacksonville, FL., I got involved in a minor fender bender, one of those "5 to 7 MPH" crunches from the rear while stopped at a traffic light, that's not supposed to leave you with any damage. Well, if 1500 bucks is "no danmage", I suppose it's working. Though the cover suffered minor tearing and paint damage, I know it faired much better than it would have, without this additional support from the Pro Guard.

When you peek up under there, and examine exactly how the bumper cover is mounted, you'll see that it is lacking a lot of support, and the Pro Guard delivers this support and buttons things up nicely. Y'all can't go wrong by adding this to your Marauder.

Thanks, Dennis!

[Mike Poore]

Just a satisfied customer adding a few notes here...

Y'all can't go wrong by adding this to your Marauder.

Thanks, Dennis!

Mac, I'm interested to see if there's any benefit on the drag strip. I'll be going to Merk's shootout at Mason Dixon, and mine will be available for anyone to try for a before/after test, as well my own test. It might not change ET's much because of many factors, but I'm betting the top end will improve.

[Vortex]

Just ordered mine today. For $28 its worth it to see if the bumper droop can be fixed.

[Svashtar]

Just a satisfied customer adding a few notes here...

I liked the ProGuard so much after I first installed it, I wasn't about to send it back for replacement. I got into this mod early, and got an early build, where Pro Guard folks used a single exhaust CV for the test fit. Hey, no problem, I just flipped it upside down and all mounting holes matched, then I trimed two inches off the passenger side for a safe (and visually balanced)perfect fit. Nope...No way this puppy is coming off for an exchange, and no way is it going to vibrate, or, shimmy once bolted into place.

The benefits are numerous, you have heard most of them already. I've spent a lot of time following other Marauders OTR, and yes, our stock rear bumper covers are affected by air passing under the car and catching in it. It collects air, and debris from the road, I plucked a candy wrapper out from behind the steel bumper...Snickers...Go figure.

The shimmy is real, I've seen it. Our friend BigJoeP has stainless steel Marauder inserts and I've covered his back more than once on long OTR drives. His bumper blinked at me like a dance ball, almost hypnotic after an hour or so. This shimmy is vibration that wears out the bumper cover's mounting points, which are few and disappointing to begin with. Eventually, the cover will stretch, and develope a gentle "v" shaped sag in the center, which had developed on my MM by the time my Pro Guard was installed. Once it was in place, sag gone, and the space between the top of the cover and the bottom of the tail light lenses also shrunk. I used to collect a lot of water there, it's not as bad anymore.

I did test for changes in MPG, but I don't have much to report. My mods, and my right toe seem to spoil that kind of testing. However, in my recent trip to visit with friends in Jacksonville, FL., I got involved in a minor fender bender, one of those "5 to 7 MPH" crunches from the rear while stopped at a traffic light, that's not supposed to leave you with any damage. Well, if 1500 bucks is "no danmage", I suppose it's working. Though the cover suffered minor tearing and paint damage, I know it faired much better than it would have, without this additional support from the Pro Guard.

When you peek up under there, and examine exactly how the bumper cover is mounted, you'll see that it is lacking a lot of support, and the Pro Guard delivers this support and buttons things up nicely. Y'all can't go wrong by adding this to your Marauder.

Thanks, Dennis!

Mac I have mine but haven't installed it yet. Do you know that they have updated the design for the MM, or are they all still based on the CV?

I would not expect to have to cut the thing to get it to fit...

Thanks!

Norm

[Black 04]

Mac I have mine but haven't installed it yet. Do you know that they have updated the design for the MM, or are they all still based on the CV?

I would not expect to have to cut the thing to get it to fit...

Thanks!

Norm

The new design is based on the MM fit. I have the second batch from Dennis and it is a perfect fit.

[Svashtar]

The new design is based on the MM fit. I have the second batch from Dennis and it is a perfect fit.

Well, thanks, but I guess I phrased it wrong. I got mine 3 months ago and just haven't installed it yet. I'll bet it's one of the old ones....

[Mike Poore]

Well, thanks, but I guess I phrased it wrong. I got mine 3 months ago and just haven't installed it yet. I'll bet it's one of the old ones....

You have one of the new ones, and it will fit just fine. Take a look at the installation instructions I posted a while back. :D

OK, I found it. Here y'go:

After switching off the load leveling shocks, I put the '04 MM on jack stands and went to work. There were some coments about fitment issues; but mine fit just fine, rough side down. Although installation is fairly straightforward, I did make some changes which others might find helpful. :hmmm:



Remove the two retaining screws from the bumper. (1/4" nut driver)
Remove the two nuts from the Fuel Separator bracket.
Lift the front of the two clips and slide the carraige bolts forward/off.
Replace with the two new carraige bolts and black retaining washers.
Don't forget the black retaining washers, they're important.
Slide the skid plate between the bumper and the mounting clips.
Since the front is still loose, you can reach up and guide the screws.
Run the two new screws/washers about half way.
Push up on the fuel separator, then the front of the skid plate.
Align the holes onto the carraige bolts.
Put the nuts on the carraige bolts and snug them up. (don't tighten)
Snug up the two screws at the bumper and check for alignment.
Tighten all four nuts and screws; and you're done.
Take car from jack stands.
Turn switch for load leveling back on, clean your tools, have a beer.
Pat yourself on the back & have another beer.You done good! :beer:

[cb13]

ok, i'm sold. for $28 it seems worth it. if nothing else, maybe it will reduce the already existing sag in the middle of the bumper.

[Bradley G]

Curious how many have sold.
They probably fit any panther of this era?

[SergntMac]

Got someting better in mind, Bradley?

[Zack]

I threw the hardware bag in the trash when installing mine. It is not needed..
I too was unhappy with the outer edges flapping, so i folded it upwards toward the frame and ran a couple of sheet metal screws through it into the frame.
It is rock solid now.

[Bradley G]

No Mac,
except what Zack just posted, I could not find anything that I disliked.
Good product, good fit(the one I installed for a local MM'er).
With fuel prices climbing, these appear to be gaining popularity.

Got someting better in mind, Bradley?

[texascorvette]

I threw the hardware bag in the trash when installing mine. It is not needed..
I too was unhappy with the outer edges flapping, so i folded it upwards toward the frame and ran a couple of sheet metal screws through it into the frame.
It is rock solid now.Don't guess I understand what exactly you did. Got any pics?

[Zack]

Don't guess I understand what exactly you did. Got any pics?

No I dont.
Take the outer edges (By the exhaust tips) bend them up toward the frame and screw it in.