1Willy1

Hey guys

ok so we know it was designed to help keep the engine bay cooler, but half of ours are falling off, deteriorating and I really don't see how a flimsy, flexible rubber piece is really doing much of anything to draw air into the engine bay ,, so I am thinking of removing it entirely.

Anyone else done this? How did it affect the operating temps?

Thanks in advance

kjohnson

When i bought my car it wasnt on .my shop that tuned me mentioned it. I installed a new one. I never noticed a difference in temps

QUOTE=1Willy1;1589265319]Hey guys

ok so we know it was designed to help keep the engine bay cooler, but half of ours are falling off, deteriorating and I really don't see how a flimsy, flexible rubber piece is really doing much of anything to draw air into the engine bay ,, so I am thinking of removing it entirely.

Anyone else done this? How did it affect the operating temps?

Thanks in advance [/QUOTE]

1Willy1

Thanks for the response Kjohnson

Vetteman Jack

I have heard of people taking the side pieces off or trimming them to be shorter, but IMO taking the center piece off is not the best idea. It is the piece that directs air into the radiator area and I just wouldn't want to take the chance of not getting enough air flowing through the radiator.

That said, it's your car and if you want to give it a try, that's your choice. Just be sure you keep watch on how your temps do. Again, it is not something I would do to my car.

Fazdagt

Mine currently has none installed thanks to the previous owner. I just drove it 8 hours home in heavy traffic with no temp problems but it was a cool day.

I play on ordering a new one soon for both aesthetic and cooling purposes however

Witmer

I removed the bad looking side pieces and left the center piece on for cooling. Looks much better now IMO.

c4cruiser

The air dam is designed to provide good airflow through the A/C condenser and radiator. Doesn't have anything to do with the engine bay itself.

It also helps to cut the flow of air under the car. That provides some level of downforce and will aid in high speed handling.

The three pieces aren't that expensive so it makes sense to have them in place. You can bet that if the factory thought they weren't needed, they wouldn't be there

CQRT

Ecklers has the center for $65 and the corners for $25 - - -easy to replace

brplatz

Trim them to follow the body lines

Tommyxgun

Got any closer pics? I like this!

brplatz

Something like this

strand rider

I like the subtlety of the changed look, the trim does look ascetically better,in one way, but it is not for me.

I wouldn't choose to trim away the aero shield in front of the tire. I guess I'm more of a form follows function guy, in this case the original function, without a style statement. Kind of a dull approach, but I spent a lot of time at the bow of a ship, watching the water get pushed out of the way by 265,000 long tons of ship. It's very easy to picture the air flow.

I returned to this topic to apologize to the poster. I tried to make a joke, in an earlier post , and then when I got to thinking about it, it implied an attack , which was never my intention . Rather , I feel people should enjoy their car as they choose, I have no better way.

road pilot

I RUN a blower and the vette is lowered. The rubber pieces
on the sides take a beating . I solved the problem without
taking the side piece off. I trimmed a inch off and my vette still
runs cool whether I am sitting still in traffic or running 150 on
the track. Good luck.

chassed

Mine has been off for s year. ZERO difference in temp....

I DD the crap out of my Z06 BTW.

65GGvert

Air dam

73Corvette

What kind of driving are you doing? I'd say take them off and see, if it appears evident that they were making a difference in the cooling then put them back, if not then your good to go!
It's not like you live in Desert Valley.

Jud Chapin

I wouldn't leave it off. It's there for reasons mentioned.

73Corvette

GM engineers designed several element into the cooling system, people change the thermostat from a 190 to a 160, they change the temps for when the fans come on, possibly more significant than leaving off an air dam.
GM engineers designed specific size wheels and used specific size tires, they get changed all the time. Aftermarket ones in some cases look better and are more funtional than stock. GM engineers designed a specific exhaust system, they are rather restrictive, so people swap them for less restrictive and some times louder systems it gets changed all the time. GM engineers designed a specific Air Intake system, it gets changed all the time and some of the aftermarket offer improvements for performance!
So, maybe... just maybe you could change or remove something else they did specifically to the car, without hurting it. I realize that like ANY modification you do, it CHANGES the function that was initially and specifically designed for it's purpose, but that isn't always a bad thing. Just sayin
The cooling system has an optimal performance range... 195 to 210 give or take a little. So if 1Willy1 removes the air dams and still lives in that range....no harm, no foul.

If you live in a state or region where no front license plate is required you may be able to get as much or more air by utilizing that space for extra air to the engine compartment... hood extractors are also an option, if heating because of air dam removal is an issue. Just thinking out loud, which sometimes gets me in trouble lol

73Corvette

If your not running a Vararam intake you might modify your fog light housings. Make some kind of duct system that would put forced air to the Lower radiator support...I haven't googled it or done a search here... but, it's probably already been done. Or you might possibly come up with some NEW improved FOG light vent cooling system... the WILLY1VCX

Sox-Fan

This also would work in leu of modifying your foglights
http://www.halltechsystems.com/product-p/hratpc.htm