Jack Reak

Hello, I am new to Corvettes so I am sorry if this is a dumb question. I just got this car and I discovered there is no lower valance or air dam below the car. Is this going to be an issue for cooling? Is driving without it going to hurt the car?

SwampeastMike

Lack of the air dam will definitely cause it to run hotter. Not a good idea to drive for long at highway speed in hot weather.

billschroeder5842

Yeah, probably want to pick one up. Good air flow is pretty important on these cars

Jack Reak

Would I need to buy the lower valance then too?

SwampeastMike

Yes. The air dam attaches to the rear of the valance so it can't be installed without it.

Jack Reak

Thank you!

Jack Reak

I don't suppose you have a picture of the underside of your car from the front?

TimAT

I don't know if it will be an issue for your car, but my 69 BB car looks like this- and never had any problems with overheating after I removed the front license plate and bracket.

Jack Reak

Okay thank you. I like the car lift by the way!

Jebbysan

When I was a young teen (circa 1984)......my father had a 77' that was missing the front air dam.......car would run 210 or so going down the E-way........
A friend suggested putting the lip spoiler back on and he did.....temp dropped 20 degrees....
There is a reason it is on there

Jebby

SwampeastMike

Here's a picture. I hope it's good enough as it's blazing hot this afternoon and I don't feel like jacking up the front of the car

Notice how the air dam forces air up through the holes in the valance.

Peterbuilt

Hi Jack,
Looks like you need 3 & 6.




There should be some rubber seals that cover the top bottom and sides on the radiator, they help keep the air flow.

And it looks like you need a new lower radiator hose.
Pete.

Jack Reak

Thank you so much guys!!

7T1vette

Here's the 'skinny':

The design of the cooling system has airflow directed upward through the lower valance and into the radiator by that [vinyl] air dam. So, yes, it is important to get the needed airflow into the radiator. With all the headlamp gizmos and other stuff in front, there isn't enough frontal area for air input directly, so the lower path was needed also.

Right now your valence area is completely open. If you had something to deflect air upward into the radiator, you really wouldn't need the valence panel [for functional reasons, anyway]. If you don't have an air dam when you are on the highway, the airflow ACROSS the valence opening might actually pull air OUT of the engine compartment and cooling would be quite restricted.

SwampeastMike

That's exactly why I suggested against highway driving without the assembly! While I suspect that the valance is a rather expensive part its prime function is to support the air dam. While I suppose you could rig something to direct air up through the radiator don't forget that it must resist the flow of air at high velocity.

wendellp601

For the underbody parts, I would install #3 from sheet 2 along with #3 and #6 from sheet 3 from the AIM sheets that Peterbuilt posted.
Here's a pic of my '77 with all 3 items installed.



Like the others said, when you reinstall the radiator make sure to install the foam seals around it.

Good luck with your project.