Front Air Dam
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville Alabama
Front Air Dam
Has anyone built thier own front air dam for a 73-79 car. My fiberglass indy style front spoiler broke into a million peices and i dont like the look of the little factory air dam. So i was wanting to see if anyone had build the own as an alternative to getting nailed for 150 bucks on a new fiberglass air dam.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Lawson Missouri
I built my own in aluminum.It is two spoilers that have a removable center piece.
I will be rebuilding them soon,as you can see in the later shots one is bent.(Trailer mishap!)
I will be rebuilding them soon,as you can see in the later shots one is bent.(Trailer mishap!)
Last edited by SHOWME; Aug 14, 2007 at 07:11 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Lawson Missouri
Your right that it would not fit your vette,
but one could be made that would fit the stock front with alot less effort.
This one was good for 20deg cooler temps on the highway.(without the center section.)Alot of guy's have made flexible ones to holdup to the driveways and curbs.
but one could be made that would fit the stock front with alot less effort. This one was good for 20deg cooler temps on the highway.(without the center section.)Alot of guy's have made flexible ones to holdup to the driveways and curbs.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Valley AL
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I did not make this one, but it is a good-looking spoiler. It's a Indy-type one-piece that is extended to the front. I don't know who made or sold it, but I can't find another. I bought it about a year ago from a forum member(sorry, can't remember who). I even thought about poping a mold off of it and selling a few. But to answer your original question about making one, yes you can do it, but what is your time worth? If you do it in glass, the materials are fairly reasonable, but it is labor intensive.By the way, I see that you're in AL too. Hot 'bout this heat and humidity....rough isn't it?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Valley AL
Hey I found it! Vanacor has it. They call it the 73-79 LT Frt spoiler. Check here:
http://vanacorvette.com/page32.htm
http://vanacorvette.com/page32.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
Hey I found it! Vanacor has it. They call it the 73-79 LT Frt spoiler. Check here:
http://vanacorvette.com/page32.htm
http://vanacorvette.com/page32.htm
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Valley AL
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Valley AL
Yea, I figure those H/L doors are good for a few pounds of weight-saving!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
The factory offered a Spoiler Extension for a very nominal fee back in the 80's. It was made of very stiff rubber and was attached to the stock spoiler with some small bolts and a couple of reinforcing strips on the back side of the spoiler. Dr Rebuild is one of the few places I've found them recently.
Go here for a picture of what it looks like... http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/run-hot.pdf
...check out items B, F & C in the image. Depending on your year, these three combined will give you a very functional air dam that is very resilient and doesn't look half-bad. (Items C & E are the actual spoiler extension.)
I installed one on my '77's spoiler back in the 80's as well as on my '73 which is still there. It draws in a bunch more air and takes curbs without flinching.
Good luck... GUSTO
Go here for a picture of what it looks like... http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/run-hot.pdf
...check out items B, F & C in the image. Depending on your year, these three combined will give you a very functional air dam that is very resilient and doesn't look half-bad. (Items C & E are the actual spoiler extension.)
I installed one on my '77's spoiler back in the 80's as well as on my '73 which is still there. It draws in a bunch more air and takes curbs without flinching.
Good luck... GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
The air scoop is made from a Rubbermaid dust pan..very flexible/forgiving...you use existing valance bolts for attaching...but only works on later versions with valance center opening...this knocked 4-5 degrees off temps at Hwy speeds above 65 mph...
This pic shows my spoiler "extension".(before scoop)..made it from garden edging my wife had...this gives me 4" total depth,very flexible/forgiving...and I attached it to my stock spoiler...
These two combinations work good for me...less air under vette...and more to the rad...
I might add that that spoiler from Vancor looks good and would be very functional on vettes with center valance openings like my 78...don't think it would work well on my 69,as there is no center opening in valance..just one each side...so I run with no front plate and removed the headlight sheilds for more air to rad on the 69...
Rich
Last edited by rihwoods; Aug 16, 2007 at 01:39 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
