Pro Guard Installed

[Dragcity]

Finally ! Got my Pro-guard on this morning. Found an easy fix to the Saggy Buper Syndrome. I used a Nylon Zip Tie on each one of the rear mounting straps. I fed it through the clip part of the screw keeper, (no the screw hole) and w***** the tie around the metal brace inside the bumber cover. Pulled to adjust and installed the Proguard. Nice and straight, tucked up tight and good to go. I may have to elongate the front mounting holes on the Proguard, as it has been forced closer to the front of the car from adjusting the mounting straps in the rear.

This would easily work w/o the Proguard as well. Try it, you'll like it.

[baltimoremm]

Do you have pictures?

[Dragcity]

No, but I'll get some. I'll have to undo the two front nuts (no not those).

Be back in a flash..... Haaaa!

[bryanthomas]

What exactly does the Pro Guard do? Is it a suspension component?

Excuse my ignorance. :confused:

[Dragcity]

I hope these help. Ain't easy to get in there, those zip ties really tightned everyhting up back there.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200219_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2823&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200218_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2822&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200217_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2821&c=1)

[bryanthomas]

I hope these help. Ain't easy to get in there, those zip ties really tightned everyhting up back there.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200219_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2823&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200218_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2822&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200217_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2821&c=1)

Now I'm even more confused. :(

[Dragcity]

What exactly does the Pro Guard do? Is it a suspension component?

Excuse my ignorance. :confused:

Don't feel that way, it's hard to keep up wiht all the mods everybody does.

The Proguard is simply a high impact plastic pannel that fills the void between the bottom of the trunk (under the car) and the rear bumper cover. If you think aerodynamically, the rear bumper cover under there is like a friggin' parachute. It collects a lot of air, and debris. One of the member once posted he found a diposable soda cup in there before he put his Proguard on.

Just do a search and you'll find a lot of info. There available from Dennis Reinhardt, who is a sponsoring vendor on this site. And a nice guy too.

I'll go put it back together and take a pic of it installed.

[Marauderjack]

Hey Joe....

Will one fit with a trailer hitch in place??:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[magindat]

As it fills with air like a parachute, it wiggles, too. (the back bumper, that is). Over time, it causes the back bumper to sag. It's supposed to be straight between the tips, not saggy. The progard helps fix this and prevents further sagging.

[Dragcity]

Hey Joe....

Will one fit with a trailer hitch in place??:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:

Not sure, It may have to by trimmed to go around bracing points. I think someone did that already. Anyone ????

Here's a picwith it installed..

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200222_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2826&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200221_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2825&c=1) http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200220_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2824&c=1)

Does that help....?

[bryanthomas]

Cool, I get it now. :beer:

[SID210SA]

Man....how many wheels does your car have?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P4200222.JPG

[SMOKE]

Ha! That's funny. Got at least 8 wheel drive on his 'rauder...must have gotten the Formal Stretch package....:cool:

[69marquis conv]

I think the Proguard might be a "must-have"!
But I have a question: It appears to be a polymeric material, could there be a heat/melting issue with its proximity to the exhaust tips? Or is it farther away than it looks in the pics?

[martyo]

I think the Proguard might be a "must-have"!
But I have a question: It appears to be a polymeric material, could there be a heat/melting issue with its proximity to the exhaust tips? Or is it farther away than it looks in the pics?


Mine has stood up to the test of some pretty severe duty, including multiple 130 mph passes, and is hanging in their fine.

This is a must have!

Call Dennis NOW!

[kj31067]

what is the cost? how long to install?

[Dragcity]

Oh, didn't I tell you guys I have a Marader Stetch Limo. I run a special every Friday night and take th Honey's out for a night at the drag strip. (I wish)

The Proguard is anywhere between 20 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how fussy you are. I am pretty fussy and it took me about 40 minutes. I painted the under side of my trunk and anything else I could see. I live in Salt country during the winter and wanted to protect prior to installation. The cost is about $50 and comes with everything you need. I have spare parts.....

I like using as much of the original fasteners as I can, so that took an extra 10 minutes. In my cheap-ass opinion, this is a good mod at a great price. It really makes sense to attach the Progaurd. I swear I can feel the reduction in drag over 65 MPH. No bling, unless you just got run over by a Maurauder, No seat-of-the-pants, but it is sensable....

And here I thought I was the LAST one to do this.....

[RR|Suki]

hey is your rear end not silver, shiney whatever in colour? I've never seen stock, so I was wondering. Also looks a little wet...

[Joe Walsh]

I like using as much of the original fasteners as I can, so that took an extra 10 minutes. In my cheap-ass opinion, this is a good mod at a great price. It really makes sense to attach the Progaurd. I swear I can feel the reduction in drag over 65 MPH. No bling, unless you just got run over by a Maurauder, No seat-of-the-pants, but it is sensable....



I went out and bought stainless steel hardware before I installed my Proguard, only to realize that the OEM hardware can be re-used without any problem.

[Dragcity]

hey is your rear end not silver, shiney whatever in colour? I've never seen stock, so I was wondering. Also looks a little wet...

I belive my cover is RUST colored from all the salt they put on the raods here. And yes I noticed it was a bit damp with oil when I crawled under there. I'll have the dealer address that at my next oil change. Still under warranty.

Thanks for noticing my wet rear end!

[baltimoremm]

Installed my Proguard today, took me about 20 min, but I had problems removing the left bolt from the underside of the trunk on the vapor sensor. The nut is rusted on the stud and the whole thing just spins. I'll probably have to cut it off (unless someone has some ideas on how else to get it out). The rest was easy, and I was able to reuse the original bumper screws. Looks great!

[Dragcity]

You could try a good quality penetrating oil and let it soak in a couple days, re-applying every so often. Then apply a little heat, from a propane torch to the nut (not to much, your trunk interior will not like it). Keep the torch low. Remember heat makes metal expand. You want only the nut to expand.

I think you can probably get in the mounting flange with a flat blade screwdriver and pry the bolt head down into the flange. you can see by the other side that a square shaft is held by the flange. You want to get it back in there (assuming it's not stripped out). Then put your wrench on the nut (11 MM I think) and hopefully it will brake free.

If the flange is stripped out, do all the above except don't bother with the screwdriver part. Instead, grab the threaded end of the bolt with vice grips and use your wrench. You'll booger up the threads a bit, (try not to mangle them much) but new bolts are provided. Once you get the nut 1/2 way down, you should be able to get a scredriver up inside the mounting flange to release the clip, slide the bolt back and pull it down and out. Then you can grab the bolt head with the vice grips and continue removing the nut past the boogered up threads you just made (hopefully not to much) If the nut won't go past the mangled threads, at least you have more room to work with to cut the bolt with a hacksaw.

Now you have to realize that flange is not very strong. Too much fiddleing around may break it off the trunk.

If you have a dremmel, you could probably cut the nut right off the bolt. I don't have one, so I do things the hard way....

I hope one of the above anecdotes works for you.

[Mike Poore]

I've posted a lot about the Pro-Guard. Everything from install to increased fuel economy. Start here: :D http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24129

[Dragcity]

Yeah, I was reading some of them. $28 vs. $50 now. Seems there is a direct relationship with gas prices.... I am very pleased withe the fit, finish and overall benefit.

[chapel1]

This old man installed his proguard in twenty minutes . Ten to get the sockets out of the tool box and ten to install.
I used a 7/16 socket and a 7mm socket and a pc of cardboard to soften up the concrete floor. Kinda followed Mike Poore's instructions from my search , but I did'nt jack up the car.
THANK's to all and Dennis Reinhart this is a real clean looking Mod.:beer:

[Vortex]

I really need to get hot and install mine, its been up against the wall in my garage for months.

[djbruce26]

I installed mine on my 2001 Crown Victoria a few weeks back. I bought it from Dennis (against the advice of someone on a crown vic site... I'll explain why later). It took me about 45 minutes to install mine... but I had to make a cardboard template first to know where to hack mine up. I used a dremel tool with a carbon cutting blade to cut away the necessary areas to clear my Draw-Tight Class 3 hitch. Once cut, insall took about 10 minutes by myself.

Cons: With a hitch... the rear bolts the go to the bumper are harder to fit on (at least in my case). This is because the hitch kept the pro-guard from actually fitting up high enough on the car (by about 1/4"). This required a little bit of effort to bend it and hold the bumper and put the bolt in and get the socket on it.... but again, this was a one man job.

Pros: What's not to love? No MPG gain that I can justify as of yet... 0 highway miles since install. This november I can let you know what the MPG difference is with it and my exhaust work... but that's not helpful.


I bought mine from Dennis because he has been in our community as one of a very small number of people who support the modification of panther class cars. A member on a prominent crown victoria website told me where I could get one a few dollars cheaper... but I chose to support someone who has been helping us for so long rather than running with my money to someone who promises me the same thing for slightly less money. In the end I'm glad I spent those extra couple of dollars to get it from Dennis. Shipping was faster than he promised, but not by much (nor is that something he can control), and the item was exactly as expected from a trusted source.

I give this mod three thumbs up. Price is low, install is simple and easy, benefits greatly outweigh the price and install effort.

[Mike Poore]

... Kinda followed Mike Poore's instructions from my search , but I did'nt jack up the car.

Of course, Gary, some of us wouldn't fit under the car if it had 22" rims on it. :rofl:

How you guys doing?