Quintenblackvette

hey guys I used to run a front lip on my c5. when i put it on, my front air dam was long gone, it fell off on one one side and started dragging. What I did was took it off and didn't have any problems other than running a little hot, I guess. although that was about a year ago and cannot remmber what the temps were prior to the dam being on.

Today I changed my coolent and thought that would make my car run colder, it did but ever so slightly. My question to all of you guys is when you put your lips on did you take the dam off? the lip that I have is curved upward and I thought that would chanel air towards the radatior thus making it run colder.

I do not have the lip on and no air dam so its runing hot.

If I put the lip back on would that make the car run colder, or do I need to order a new dam?

Evil-Twin

Quintenblackvette

hmmmmmmmmm!! well now thant just makes me run hot...realy though about my car???

Bent98c5

Put the air dam back on it. If u don't have one get one and put it on.

Jeff T.

I like pie!

Evil-Twin

The air dam acts like a scoop to redirect air up into the condenser and radiator. A C5 is a bottom breather. There is no open grill to transfer heat. You need that air dam.

Vetteman Jack

Best to have that center air dam on the car for the best cooling.

johnsos30

I have the center air dam on and took the two small side ones off. Car runs just fine with the front splitter

skydiven4fun

I've ran without my full size center air dam for almost 2 years, after I installed the spoiler I trimmed my center dam down to about half of its factory size and have never had any issues with heat, but I'm also running a much better radiator than the car came with, I did this because my car is much lower than it was stock, and I also have a front screen where my tag was and it's opened up to feed my intercooler, I live in the South and it's a hot SOB down here but I'm cool

Quintenblackvette

do you guys think I could get bolts at lowes ? I have the two side pices and they are in good shape and every one said they dont do too much other than asthestic purposes. I found a place to order the center one but it does not come with bolts, does anyone know the size of the two bolts for the center dam ? Also will it be okay to mix the two old oe side pieces with a new center pice?

thank you.

skydiven4fun

You should be able to get the hardware there, and just because you put a new center section in does not mean you have to replace the ones on the side, you should be fine.

Narco944

I believe the center section is really all you need to force the air up and cool it down. If you don't want to run the side pieces you should be fine.

Corvette_Ed

Any nuts, bolts, or screws that you need you can get from Marc at Vettenuts.net. Send him a message.

3boystoys

AND, you have that grill in the openings you do have that cuts the airflow even more.

Z06ufgrad2002

The center air dam is all you need to install. The outer sections do nothing for cooling the engine.

3boystoys

They do let some air in and since his factory front section is missing, I bet it's doing a lot more than you think.

meflyfrc

I run only the center piece and my temps are fine.

I have the ACI front splitter


Can clearly see it in the rear shot.

Quintenblackvette

Hey thank you, thats the same one I have. got a good deal on it from a friend that sold his z, paid 100 bucks for the splitter and the race mesh in the front.The mesh does a good job of hiding my dual air intake ports!!! I think I try just running the center one too thank you

AVB

The air dams don't direct air into the radiator, they create a low pressure area behind them and the radiator, therefore pulling air through. The middle dam does the most but the sides will further reduce pressure (more vacuum).

Quintenblackvette

hey thanks for all the posts, I got to see some great cars!!! My new center dam is on its way!!!