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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
hey guys , I am tired of the horrible sound of the scraping when I go in and out of my driveway, I think 50% of the time it is the rubber air damn either folding forward or backwards but sometimes its the actual frame extension dragging on the drive way apron. I have put on the roller wheels and going into the drive way life is good . how ever backing out of the driveway it sounds like when the rubber air damn wants to fold forward it actually binds on the wheel and restricts it from going all the way flat.
has anyone cut the rubber air damn so it avoids the wheels? just basically take an inch off so it doesn't bind on them. I am not worried about any high speed loss or changing the aero dynamics of under the car
The primary purpose of the air dam is for engine cooling. When Forum members post about high coolant temperatures, the first thing I now ask is if the front end is stock and all 3 dams are in place. I have no idea how much effect removing 1” will have. I do have a very vague recollection as a much younger engineer working on GM engine cooling that the height of the air dam was something we evaluated during early vehicle development. As I recall, that protrusion hanging from the front was something the aerodynamics group was not happy about.
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
thanks,
it would only be removed right behind the wheel. we are talking about maybe a 1" square area on both sides, perhaps even a vertical slice would work , i need to see how the air damn is hinged
it would not be removing one inch from the entire air damn
I have both types, wheels on the front on my 02 and fangs on my black 99. I prefer the Fangs by a lot.
You should have absolutely no problems by cutting the air dam with just two 1" squares.
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
I am not worried about holes, they are filled with the bolts and clamped to probably1/4 plate on the other side so they are probably stronger in at least one direction, but they would act as lever also so the dymanic load changes but then they are roller wheels so no friction etc, etc,etc.. I just don't see it as an issue and they are only what 7/8 square stock anyway, so they are made to be disposable.
the real issue is that the air dam when pushed forward like backing down the driveway apron is sandwiched in between the concrete and the wheel and the wheel does spin at that point.
I think I am going to cut a rectangle out of the air dam, think of an attic access thats left open. so when the air dam is pushed all the way forward it goes over and around the wheel. thats tomorrows challenge , I bet by multi tool bit for under cutting moulding would do a nice job on that
why a rectangle? because it seems the air dam end that doesnt need to be removed has a 90* lip on it to strengthen the lower edge of the air dam. i will put it on my lift tomorrow at working height level and eyeball it take pictures
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
I have both types, wheels on the front on my 02 and fangs on my black 99. I prefer the Fangs by a lot.
You should have absolutely no problems by cutting the air dam with just two 1" squares.
what are the Fangs?
I found them , I will try those next if these don’t work, I can’t tell if the bumper wheels will work if you turn into your driveway at a angle as opposed to straight on
Last edited by bobs77vet; Jun 22, 2024 at 03:08 PM.
Ever since switching over to the fangs from the clamp on crappy skids I think my bash bars have only ever touched the ground one singe time and I never felt it. Just saw a tiny scuff on there last week while doing some other work. Before that with no other changes I was hitting the skids on something a half dozen times a week or so it seemed.
Fangs are much like the Power Pivots they used to make for skate boards. You would bolt then on a drag the board and were it down not the board.
Nylon is your friend here.
Yes the wheels will drag and skit if not rolling forward. The wheels will sacrifice themselves much like the fangs. So you may as well go to the Fang. They will offer more clearance anyways.
The only thing I would like better is a welded plate on the rail. But that is more work and not everyone can weld.
I originally used these. This type causes more scraping because it sits even lower than the original skid plate does.
I remember posting about this and Mr. Black told me the Fangs worked better than these. I changed to the Fangs and there's been a lot less scraping. I'd recommend the Fangs after my experience.
