Imagine a ground strike at 120 mph. Ugly
Sheet metal airdam
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 91
From: Indiana
Sheet metal airdam
My airdam scrapes just backing out of my driveway. Its starting too look pretty bad and the metal part is all bent up. I was thinking about removing all 3 pieces and making my own alluminum airdam/scoop to keep things cool. Anyone else done this? If so post pix. I would probably make it no lower than the lower radiator frame.
How many of you actually prefer the look of no airdam?
How many of you actually prefer the look of no airdam?
Last edited by CLEAR; Jan 26, 2009 at 11:31 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The oem pieces are forgiving and in a sense, warning you of road hazards. To avoid the scraping, most of us change our driving habits by using angles.
They're easily replaced and not expensive. The oem pieces serve the main purpose of directing air flow into the bottom breathing cooling system.
If you replace the oem rubber pieces with less forgiving metal, you may not appreciate the damage from road hazards that the oem pieces would have only made a little noise.
Or, you could trim off 1/4 to 1/2" to reduce or eliminate the scraping noise...
They're easily replaced and not expensive. The oem pieces serve the main purpose of directing air flow into the bottom breathing cooling system.
If you replace the oem rubber pieces with less forgiving metal, you may not appreciate the damage from road hazards that the oem pieces would have only made a little noise.
Or, you could trim off 1/4 to 1/2" to reduce or eliminate the scraping noise...
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
I don't think the aluminum would be as forgiving as the plastic. I don't think they are all that expensive. I would keep what you got and replace as needed.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 552
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From: TEMECULA CALIFORNIA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Go to the c4 forum and do a search there. A company was making metal air dams/scoops that you could probably adapt or copy. They were quite efficient. The look wasnt for everyone.
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I have one on my 02' Camaro, and while it looks awesome, I have to be super careful not to hit any road abnormalites with it. One time I went into a deeper area of the road, bottomed out, and the loudest clang could be heard when the air dam hit the road surface. It got scuffed up on the bottom, so I took sandpaper and smoothed it out again. The one I have is stainless and it's pretty heavy. You can do and it would look GREAT, but you have to watch out for ditches, potholes and bottoming out. It could get dented and ruined if you hit hard enough.Oh, and btw, if your plastic air dam is hitting the driveway now... I can guarantee the metal one will get damaged.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Paducah Kentucky
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
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From: Memphis Tennessee
We all know how noisy scraping the plastic one is, imagine the sounds that a metal one would produce.
I bet you would have EVERYONE'S attention when it makes contact in a parking lot or your driveway.
I bet you would have EVERYONE'S attention when it makes contact in a parking lot or your driveway.
