Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . .
07-08-2004, 01:01 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . .
Hi Guys,
There's a new product coming for the C5 from supporting vendor golfman2008. I'm sure there's a website, but I don't know what it is...
It's a Front Air Dam that fits snug just under your front bumper. It is designed to improve cooling to the radiator by pushing more air up from under the car.
I've now been able to test the car with it off, on, off again, and on again and can say I'm very pleased. While I didn't notice any improved cooling on my car, it's only because my car runs consistently at 180 degrees, even at high speed. It's got a lot of work done to it already though which is why it runs so cool. I will say that I have seen this product improve cooling on other C5's.
What I did notice is this:
1. Looks Awesome. It's powdercoated black (he's looking into body color versions which will look even cooler) with dye cut vinyl letters that can be seen by others as you approch them.
2. I noticed the engine changed tone after 45-50mph and had more seat of the pants throttle control. My car was able to benefit superbly from the increased air flow forced into my bottom breathing Haltech Air intake. At highway speeds, it felt like an increased 5% hp. I have nearly 500rwhp, and it made it even livelier!!!
3. Before testing, I cleaned the air filter on my car. It was pretty dirty. While I have no conclusive data to stand, I believe the air filter will stay cleaner as less dust will be sucked directly off the ground. Instead, it will nicely cut clean air 5-6" off the ground.
4. As with air, it seems that it may help to keep water ingestion out of your bottom breathing air filter. While nothing can help if you start swimming through rivers, it will keep the splash up effect from getting on your air filter. I haven't had a chance to do water testing with it off, but I did do some water testing with it on. To do this, I taped a pc. of brown paper around the bottom half of the filter. I took a 10minute drive and hit all the small puddles I could find (1" or less). When I returned, I pulled the paper down and it had only one small drop of water on it (and I think it might have come from opening my hood above it!) that would never have penetrated the air filter. Pretty impressive as my air filter hangs very low.
I'm putting in a few pics of my car with it on so you all can see the installation and how smoothly it integrates!
There's a new product coming for the C5 from supporting vendor golfman2008. I'm sure there's a website, but I don't know what it is...
It's a Front Air Dam that fits snug just under your front bumper. It is designed to improve cooling to the radiator by pushing more air up from under the car.
I've now been able to test the car with it off, on, off again, and on again and can say I'm very pleased. While I didn't notice any improved cooling on my car, it's only because my car runs consistently at 180 degrees, even at high speed. It's got a lot of work done to it already though which is why it runs so cool. I will say that I have seen this product improve cooling on other C5's.
What I did notice is this:
1. Looks Awesome. It's powdercoated black (he's looking into body color versions which will look even cooler) with dye cut vinyl letters that can be seen by others as you approch them.
2. I noticed the engine changed tone after 45-50mph and had more seat of the pants throttle control. My car was able to benefit superbly from the increased air flow forced into my bottom breathing Haltech Air intake. At highway speeds, it felt like an increased 5% hp. I have nearly 500rwhp, and it made it even livelier!!!
3. Before testing, I cleaned the air filter on my car. It was pretty dirty. While I have no conclusive data to stand, I believe the air filter will stay cleaner as less dust will be sucked directly off the ground. Instead, it will nicely cut clean air 5-6" off the ground.
4. As with air, it seems that it may help to keep water ingestion out of your bottom breathing air filter. While nothing can help if you start swimming through rivers, it will keep the splash up effect from getting on your air filter. I haven't had a chance to do water testing with it off, but I did do some water testing with it on. To do this, I taped a pc. of brown paper around the bottom half of the filter. I took a 10minute drive and hit all the small puddles I could find (1" or less). When I returned, I pulled the paper down and it had only one small drop of water on it (and I think it might have come from opening my hood above it!) that would never have penetrated the air filter. Pretty impressive as my air filter hangs very low.
I'm putting in a few pics of my car with it on so you all can see the installation and how smoothly it integrates!
07-08-2004, 01:04 AM
#2
Race Director
Thread Starter
Re: Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . . (PaceThis)
By the way, the 4th pic is showing you how much clearance it has. My driveway barely scrapes the lower rubber surround, but doesn't even come close to the air dam!
07-08-2004, 01:12 AM
#3
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Re: Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . . (PaceThis)
I bet the clean air filter helped your car feel better.
07-08-2004, 01:22 AM
#4
Le Mans Master
Re: Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . . (lager99)
Just FYI, this product has been available for C4s for a few months now, and it has received nothing but great reviews. Check C4 gen for more info. From what I've heard, it is a very solid piece, not just some flimsy piece of sheet metal. I don't have one myself, but am going to be purchasing one pretty quickly, since I do a lot more city driving now.
The most common comments are that the coolant cools faster once you get moving, and decreases average temps at lower speeds. Most people have noticed some sort of drop in average coolant temp at higher speeds as well, but this varies from car to car (stock/modded, cleanliness/effectiveness of existing radiator and shroud, etc), but everyone I've seen with this has been extremely happy.
The most common comments are that the coolant cools faster once you get moving, and decreases average temps at lower speeds. Most people have noticed some sort of drop in average coolant temp at higher speeds as well, but this varies from car to car (stock/modded, cleanliness/effectiveness of existing radiator and shroud, etc), but everyone I've seen with this has been extremely happy.
07-08-2004, 01:38 AM
#5
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Re: Tested the Big Mouth Air Dam! Great results. . . (PaceThis)
Looks like it would not work if you have the frame saver wheels which prevent speed bump/curb damage.
07-08-2004, 01:59 PM
#7
Race Director
Thread Starter
Yes, I'm sure the clean air filter helped some...but that's one of the reasons that we pulled the air dam off after the first install. We wanted to make sure that what I was feeling was due to the air dam. Once it was off, I couldn't wait to get it back on (though I put about 300 miles on it in those 2 days to accurately get a feel for it both ways).
Josh
Josh
07-08-2004, 05:44 PM
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Looks like a nice addition. Once the item is posted for sale, I'll have to look into it. Will depend on the price of course.
07-08-2004, 10:57 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Guys, I have tested this also, and have seen 2-4 degree interval drops at a clip on recovery time!! I have never seen this without the "BIG MOUTH" ! It fits great, and also adds a special touch to the front of the car!! As PaceThis had said, it can come powder coated in black or painted to match your body color!! You have a variety of choices with these, as you can get different decals along with your choice of paint! I think this is an awesome product, and as I continue to further test this product, I will let you know the outcomes!!
07-08-2004, 11:47 PM
#13
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St. Jude Donor '05
Web site is getting a face lift and will have lots of new pictures and testimonials for both C4 and C5 ! Our price for the C5 Big Mouth Air Dam is going to be without Frame savers Powder coated black with C5 flags and your choice of ( corvette or bowtie )
3ml decal $ 124.95 + S&H.
With Frame saver $ 184.95 + S&H
Also we will feature a custom paint to match your C5 Corvette !
All the items come complete with install notes , hardware and live tech support 7 days M- Sunday anytime.
The C5 Big Mouth is available ! contact at C4orceCorvette@charter.net
3ml decal $ 124.95 + S&H.
With Frame saver $ 184.95 + S&H
Also we will feature a custom paint to match your C5 Corvette !
All the items come complete with install notes , hardware and live tech support 7 days M- Sunday anytime.
The C5 Big Mouth is available ! contact at C4orceCorvette@charter.net
Last edited by golfman2008; 07-09-2004 at 02:11 AM.
07-11-2004, 12:22 AM
#18
Race Director
Thread Starter
Btw, I'm guessing install can be done with a power drill, drill bit, and minimal hand tools in under 30 minutes without a problem. As mine was a test car, it took a little longer as we had to work out the best drill points, etc. Now that those are taken care of, I could probably install one of these kits on someone's car in 5 minutes.
Got complimented on it today at the car show
Got complimented on it today at the car show
07-11-2004, 12:11 PM
#20
Safety Car
Originally Posted by PaceThis
What I did notice is this:
1. Looks Awesome. It's powdercoated black (he's looking into body color versions which will look even cooler) with dye cut vinyl letters that can be seen by others as you approch them.
1. Looks Awesome. It's powdercoated black (he's looking into body color versions which will look even cooler) with dye cut vinyl letters that can be seen by others as you approch them.
It looks good!
Originally Posted by PaceThis
2. I noticed the engine changed tone after 45-50mph and had more seat of the pants throttle control. My car was able to benefit superbly from the increased air flow forced into my bottom breathing Haltech Air intake. At highway speeds, it felt like an increased 5% hp. I have nearly 500rwhp, and it made it even livelier!!!
Good PR though! 