Damn side air dam!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 3
From: Lost in the Pine Barrens with only ketchup and relish packs, New Jersey
Damn side air dam!!
I had to park in a lot in Newark, NJ (No choice!) last weekend and they had one rather large speed bump with the retractable spikes (REALLY SCARY!) and I tore away two of the three bolt holes for the side air dam in the bottom of the front fascia. I don't think there is a way to repair and I am not going to get a new fascia just for this. My question is how much will the side air dams, if removed, take away from the air induction. I don't really like the look of them anyway from the side and since one is damaged- I am thinking of removing both...
Any thoughts...
Thanks in advance
Any thoughts...
Thanks in advance
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The side air dams are very cheap (about $5 each). They do help with aerodynamics, but that is about it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by TOPGUN9
I can't remember off hand what the cost is for the side air dam pieces, but they're cheap. Probably your best bet would be Mid-America or Ecklers.
Probably your best bet would be Mid-America or Ecklers.
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use some washers when you remount it...
which side?? I have a spare one Left side I think...have to check...PM me and I will look if you damaged it beyond fixing but I know I used a couple washers on mine to cover the area of the torn hole...
which side?? I have a spare one Left side I think...have to check...PM me and I will look if you damaged it beyond fixing but I know I used a couple washers on mine to cover the area of the torn hole...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Havin' fun in Frederick, MD!!!
St. Jude Donor '05 '09
Originally Posted by Neablas
... i think he's saying he tore the bolt out of the front fascia.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 3
From: Lost in the Pine Barrens with only ketchup and relish packs, New Jersey
The side air dam is intact, the problem is that the two of the four original mounting holes in the fiberglass (sheet molded composite) fascia have been torn away as the air dam got stuck on the spiked speed bump. 
I took them both off for now and I am going to have to drill some holes in the access panel to remount. I was just interested in the effects of not having them at all. I drove today and really didn't notice any difference at all. I think that the car looks cleaner without the ugly plastic air dam hanging down on both sides. Maybe all I lost was 5-10 mph on my top speed. Oh well, I guess I will just have to settle for driving about 155-160 mph every day to work instead of the usual 170 mph for awhile! 
I took them both off for now and I am going to have to drill some holes in the access panel to remount. I was just interested in the effects of not having them at all. I drove today and really didn't notice any difference at all. I think that the car looks cleaner without the ugly plastic air dam hanging down on both sides. Maybe all I lost was 5-10 mph on my top speed. Oh well, I guess I will just have to settle for driving about 155-160 mph every day to work instead of the usual 170 mph for awhile!
Last edited by 99magredcoupe; Jul 19, 2005 at 08:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 3
From: Lost in the Pine Barrens with only ketchup and relish packs, New Jersey
Originally Posted by pewter99
use some washers when you remount it...
which side?? I have a spare one Left side I think...have to check...PM me and I will look if you damaged it beyond fixing but I know I used a couple washers on mine to cover the area of the torn hole...
which side?? I have a spare one Left side I think...have to check...PM me and I will look if you damaged it beyond fixing but I know I used a couple washers on mine to cover the area of the torn hole...
Thanks
Race Director
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A friend of mine had the same problem and made a couple of sheet metal straps that he put in on top of the smc where it would be sandwiched between the sheet metal and the damns. He tapped the holes he'd put in them and screwed the damns back into place. Seems to work great.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Did the exact same thing. How does one get behind the SMC? There is no access from inside unless U take some inner panels off. Once the bolts are torn out the dinky clips they screw into cannot be repaired .
Fred
Fred
