New owner, need some help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
New owner, need some help
Hello everyone, just picked up my first Corvette.. a 2000 Navy Blue Metallic coupe with Z51, heads up display, sport seats, auto climate control, and active handling. So far I'm loving it, its everything a car should be and its what my driving experience has been lacking this whole time.
Onto my problem. When I bought the car, the previous owner included a piece from the front air dam (the center piece) and said that when he took the car up to his lake house, when his wife drove off the piece was laying on the driveway. I've eyeballed it and I cannot for the life of me figure out how this thing is supposed to go on and where it attaches to. After some google searching I found a microfishe print out of the parts, but it didn't really help at all. Can someone either instruct me or take a pic of it for me?
Thanks in advance.
Onto my problem. When I bought the car, the previous owner included a piece from the front air dam (the center piece) and said that when he took the car up to his lake house, when his wife drove off the piece was laying on the driveway. I've eyeballed it and I cannot for the life of me figure out how this thing is supposed to go on and where it attaches to. After some google searching I found a microfishe print out of the parts, but it didn't really help at all. Can someone either instruct me or take a pic of it for me?
Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
If memory severs me correctly, there is a bolt on either side and one or two in the center. The piece itself should be spring loaded, so that it will fold when it gets hit. Does your piece still have the aluminum frame attached to it?
I would assume that the plastic piece may have been ripped off of that, because I don't see you actually pulling the whole frame and all off of the car.
I would assume that the plastic piece may have been ripped off of that, because I don't see you actually pulling the whole frame and all off of the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Boise ID
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
Here's pictures of what I have on the air dam, and the best picture I could get from the Corvette being on the ground. The way I understand it from that link, the dam should have the metal "buttons" facing forward, and it should be mounted with the bottom angling forward sweeping back at the top?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
It should only mount one way. What I don't understand is how yours just came off, without losing loose bolts or something. those bolts in either side of the front subframe and the two in the middle are pretty secure. Your screw holes on the frame of the air dam itself seem to be intact (like not ripped through), in which case the bolts would still be in the frame of the car.
Do you have the bolts?
Do you have the bolts?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Ok I think the two center bolts which hold the little pices of aluminum that look like points should still be on the car. You should be able to see those still bolted to the subframe. Look under there and see if you see those.
Those pointed pieces of alluminum are kind of like stops and their noses protrude out. When the center air dam plastic piece has the tension on it like it is supposed to from springs, the metal frame attached to the plastic will rest agaist those aluminum pieces.
So the only thing in question now is the situation with the side bolts.
Those pointed pieces of alluminum are kind of like stops and their noses protrude out. When the center air dam plastic piece has the tension on it like it is supposed to from springs, the metal frame attached to the plastic will rest agaist those aluminum pieces.
So the only thing in question now is the situation with the side bolts.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
I took a run down to the dealership and got what I needed ordered. He took a look at it and pieced it together, too. I ended up needing all 4 bolts (2 for the side, 2 for the middle supports), the 2 middle support brackets, and all 4 insert nuts to mount them
Judging by the fact that EVERYTHING to mount the thing is gone, I don't think its physically possible to have this thing just "fall" out. That being said, the previous owner just doesn't seem the type to lie about something so little, so I'm just kind of shrugging it off.
Judging by the fact that EVERYTHING to mount the thing is gone, I don't think its physically possible to have this thing just "fall" out. That being said, the previous owner just doesn't seem the type to lie about something so little, so I'm just kind of shrugging it off.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
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From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
it is odd. Mine looks like a taco of some sorts..it has been hit so many times I don't even want to talk about it. Yet, it is still bolted in.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
If its anything like my past Camaros, the air dam is required to direct air onto the radiator. With mine off, even driving 35+MPH the temps don't really go lower than 210-220. I'm not sure what the norm is, though.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
Just an update:
I got all the parts in. I was missing all the bolts and the two center support brackets. I was also missing the 4 threaded inserts. Apparently when you purchase a new lower support it does not come with these riveted in.. so I assume that mine has been replaced. I called the dealership and they had no clue what I was talking about or what a "threaded insert" was (Exactly why I don't take things to dealerships..) and I drove around for half the day to try and find a tool to install them. Unfortunately, my only option has become JB Weld. As much as I hate JB Welding a Corvette, according to the specs it should work just fine for the use its getting. Hopefully this helps someone else in this situation.
I got all the parts in. I was missing all the bolts and the two center support brackets. I was also missing the 4 threaded inserts. Apparently when you purchase a new lower support it does not come with these riveted in.. so I assume that mine has been replaced. I called the dealership and they had no clue what I was talking about or what a "threaded insert" was (Exactly why I don't take things to dealerships..) and I drove around for half the day to try and find a tool to install them. Unfortunately, my only option has become JB Weld. As much as I hate JB Welding a Corvette, according to the specs it should work just fine for the use its getting. Hopefully this helps someone else in this situation.