Chopper Larry

My 1980 is missing ALL the pieces in the underneath middle of the front end.
I know I would run a bit cooler on the highway with them in place; my question is do the aftermarket "ground effect" style spoilers funnell air up toward the radiator like the factory stuff, and which is better for that purpose. I know the 78 Pace Car spoilers DO push air upwards, but not sure about the later model ones.

Glass Act

Nope, I have a complete ground effects kit on my 79 and run around 190 - 210 temps on the highway, 180-185 in town during the summer.

Chopper Larry

Does the front one direct any air at all? I'm about the same right now except I run around 220 on the hwy.

I like the ground effects look and it's not much more expensive to put that in in lieu of the stock stuff I'm missing.

I also just installed a "cover" over the top of the space between the condensor and radiator to force more air thru the radiator.

chevymans 77

Yes some of these kits will increase the air flow to the area in front of the radiator if they are designed correctly. The pace car spoiler mounts behind the lower valance so it can divert air into the high pressure area in front of the radiator, the lower air dam for your car is very important in keeping your car cool at speed. There are other areas that will help cool your car also, it is very important to force all the air through the condenser coil (if you have A/C) and through the radiator. We have talked about it but we just don’t realize how important it is to make sure there is no holes are gaps for air to flow around the condenser or radiator. I have sealed every possible path for the air to flow around the radiator and condenser, it must go through both. I have worked on automobile A/C systems for many years and have done some fine tuning on them, you can lower the vent temps at idle by just sealing between the radiator and condenser so all air must flow through the condenser first and can’t bypass around it. Just step back and look at it you need to divert air into the area in front of the radiator, the area in front of the radiator is a high pressure area. Hope this helps.

Neal

Chopper Larry

Thanks...I've pretty much sealed the space in there...the 78-79 Pace Car spoiler does not fit the 80 & 81 cars; I'm looking at replacing the lower valance (air dam) and the stock spoiler or getting something like one of the ground effects packages.

Jim Martley2

A buddy of mine put an Eckler's custom front spoiler on his 80 and it didn't last a week. Between NO "speed bump" clearance and it running 230-240 degrees on the highway, he pulled it off and put a stock center piece and the 2 lower black rubber pieces on and life was good again. 190 degrees at 80mph and no worries about ground clearance.

chevymans 77

The center air dam is mounted that it stacks air under the nose of the car to create a high pressure area right under the nose to direct air into the void in front of the radiator. Some of the ground effects packages move the air dam toward to the front of the bumper this moves the high pressure area to the front of the bumper, there are usually holes in the front of the ground effects to allow air to enter the area in front of the radiator sometimes this does not work as good as the factory air dam.

Neal

Glass Act

I'm using a Ecklers ground kit on my 79 and have 4 1/2 in ground clearance (front end) never had an issue that I didn't have with my stock front end. My headers will hit before my spoiler ever would as they are lower off the ground.

Glass Act

Chopper Larry, I have a complete ground effects by Ecklers. (front, side, rear.) and I also like the looks. The only thing you can't do if you install a rocker side effects is install side pipes because of clearence. I have a new rad so this may answer mine running a bit cooler on the hwy.

Chopper Larry

Thanks guys...altho I like the looks of the grouns effect package, I may stay with the stock stuff.