Neat new product Pro Guard

Donny you're right. Most CVPIs have had the rear bumper torn off. Russ's Vic had some PD installed mod - basically they curled the rear cover and riveted it.

I've never seen the rear bumper flapping at high speeds even during high winds. I would know if I saw it because every time I check to see if its a Marauder, I look at the embossed rear bumper cover. I would have noticed if it started to balloon and become a parachute. The same goes for Mustangs (stare at it to find the GT logo or Cobra). At 80-90+ mph on the highway with high winds is a better test than the drag strip where the car is only at high speeds briefly (shorter than 15 seconds).

One thing I noticed is that Ford uses weak fasteners for the bumper covers on PURPOSE because in case of an accident, the weak fasteners will break first and allow proper deformation of the soft flexible bumper covers, rather than tear your rigid metal fenders.

And if your rear bumper cover is indeed under that much stress, wouldn't the pulling action cause the studs on your evap module to elongate the holes? I'm guessing the bolt/stud materials is harder than the trunk.
 
I have never observed enough to notice any ballooning in the bumpers on the highway. CVPIs are everywhere so I might take notice next time.

Only strange thing I found was that I was under a 98 CVPI not too long ago and it had three little bumper tabs holding it on...not two like what we have. Why would they, in later years, remove such a functional item? Functional because it prevents a saggy bumper like my MM.

Very intresting discussion thus far...I fail to see why this Pro-Guard needs to be so wide - it looks like, per the picture, it would scoop more air up due to the excess plastic on the sides. Wouldn't the hunk of plastic in the middle do the job? the sides are not attached to anything.

To each his own, I'm poking around.
 
Donny Carlson said:
I must not be looking either, because I've followed many a MM, including Legal Knevil, as well as Crown Vics, GMs, etc, up to and including highway speeds and have never noticed this effect. I also find it odd that I don't recall ever reading about this as a problem until now. Doesn't mean that it isn't real, just that I haven't noticed it. I'll be sure to look for it now.

Interesting to me that the fix for this is a skid plate designed to keep the bumper cover from being torn loose when CVPI's scrape their rear ends, not designed to keep the bumper cover from "balooning." If you read the press release for one of these shields, you'll note mention of the cover flapping because it was torn loose. I wonder if the "ballooning" that's being seen are bumper covers that are loose because the rear of the car had been scraped on the ground.

Also interesting that the cover can be deformed so much that it is noticable from another vehicle some feet away, yet not cause spider cracks in the paint.

Of course, my philosophy is that anything you buy for your car that makes you happy is a good purchase, so good luck and I hope you do shave some time of your ET's.
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There have been several threads on it, all the way back to the Ennis meet. Several of us have added a third support in the middle of the rear bumper cover to prevent it. I noticed both of the OEM mounting tabs on the wife's car are torn. I don't know if it's due to wind catching the bumper cover and pulling them apart or if it is due to some other effect, but there is no evidence of other damage.
 
A "before" and "after" --side view (pic) would also provde a better illustration of what all saying here---so..who can provide that pic?....

.and what so secret about no cost figures yet?...
 
I don't want to flame on this 'mod', but the more I read this thread and everyone's comments, the more I think I will make my own guard.

The main reason is what has already been mentioned: The sides extend out quite a bit and are NOT attached to anything. I would expect these 'ears' to flap and vibrate at higher freeway speeds. The ears might actually scoop up and trap more air..? :dunno:

I think that I can make a very close fitting guard that attaches at four points in the front, PLUS I might be able to make it out of sheet aluminum! (bling bling)

The Ford GT and upcoming Shelby GT500 both have aerodynamic rear 'skirts' in this area to help evacuate undercar air at high speeds....
I wonder if one could be modified to fit our Marauders? Of course our Marauders don't do 200 MPH!.......YET! :D
 
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Joe Walsh said:
I don't want to flame on this 'mod', but the more I read this thread and everyone's comments, the more I think I will make my own guard.
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Get Ready for the Nay sayers! I mentioned making this product myself and sarcasm was thrown my way!! Take it for what it is!! Its a piece of Thin shaped Plastic with 4 Holes Drilled in it!!! Not only that, Its not Wide enough to completely stop air from getting under the bumper. It gives a nice cleaner look to the bottom of the car, Ill agree with that, but I dont see how how this product will protect your your rear bumper from "ballooning" Like I said Before IMO this product shouldnt cost more then $40
 
I just went and tugged on the rear bumper cover of my Vic. I inspected the two bolts holding the cover and there was no sign of elongation or warping that you'd expect to see if the cover "Deformed" or "ballooned" at high speeds.
There wasn't much play for the cover to move around.
 
FordNut said:
There have been several threads on it, all the way back to the Ennis meet. Several of us have added a third support in the middle of the rear bumper cover to prevent it. I noticed both of the OEM mounting tabs on the wife's car are torn. I don't know if it's due to wind catching the bumper cover and pulling them apart or if it is due to some other effect, but there is no evidence of other damage.
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I recall threads about sagging covers, but not about "ballooning" by covers scooping up air. I'll so some searches.

Again, I am not saying it isn't something that's happening, just that I haven't seen it myself.

Edit: Okay, I did a search with "ballooning" and the only thread that uses it in connection with the bumper cover is this one. "Sagging" produced several threads about how the center of the rear cover sags or droops (somebody called it the "poopie pants" look), and there's dicussion of how it appears to "flop" around at speeds, the solution being a bracket installed.

I think this is where the confusion lies.... there's a big difference between describing "ballooning" of the bumper cover, which in my mind says that air is causing the cover to expand like a balloon and bulge out, and "flopping" of the bottom middle of the bumper cover because it is loose or not secured adequately.

Again, if this shield makes the cover be fastened more securely, makes airflow smoother such that buffeting is eliminated (and stops "flopping"), then it's not a bad thing. If you like the product and think it beneficial, buy it.
 
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I think that since Dennis has sent one to Barry or will be sending one we should wait until he installs.

Then have someone behind him while he gets up to 100mph so we can see what happens with the Proguard shield on it.
 
Middle Screw missing.

The CV has 3 screws holding the base of the bumper.

2 on the ends and one in the middle.

The Marauder has 2 screws total and is missing the screw and flange in the middle.

Most Marauders after some time get the sag in the middle because this screw is not there.

If you travel at high speeds, it only makes sense that the wind would pull down the bumper causing this baloon effect.
 
Directedby said:
The CV has 3 screws holding the base of the bumper.

2 on the ends and one in the middle.

The Marauder has 2 screws total and is missing the screw and flange in the middle.

Most Marauders after some time get the sag in the middle because this screw is not there.

If you travel at high speeds, it only makes sense that the wind would pull down the bumper causing this baloon effect.
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I have a 2000 Crown Vic. I only have 2 screws/2 brackets holding the rear bumper cover. It has been 5 years and there's no sagging in the middle.
Are you guys getting hit in the rear by small Hondas or something?
 
First of all sagging and ballooning are to separate issues if you drive this car at high speeds the rear bumper fills with air because its completely open. I have seen the bumper flap around, this skid plate was designed to cover that open area, I called this morning for pricing and the cost will be 35.00 plus shipping. The sagging may come from exhaust heat, I am not sure but I do think the skid plate would help at higher speeds. I have ordered five of these so if I can help give me a call.
 
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