Over Heating?

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Apr 7, 2005 | 11:32 AM

Benchpress

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2005

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From: Chandler Az

Over Heating?

Has anyone removed the plastic air dam under their vette after lowering? Lowered Mine some time ago. scrapes when backing out of the driveway, No big deal. But now that I changed the tires the car is another half inch lower and It won't be long before I have to replace all of it. I would like to remove it, or replace it if there is a shorter one available.

Apr 7, 2005 | 01:47 PM

wlxx861

Intermediate

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Dam

The dam is what directs air into the cavity in front of the radiator for cooling. Do not remove it, if it breaks replace it. You need it for cooling.

Chas.

Apr 7, 2005 | 02:17 PM

Swany00

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 101,562

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From: Ca

Some folks have been successfull in cutting part of it, maybe an inch to help with the lowering of the front end, but do not take it completely off.

Apr 7, 2005 | 02:28 PM

Mr. Lucky

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Newark, DE

St. Jude Donor '06

I trimmed an inch or so off my air dam last year, and have had zero issues. The Frame Saver wheels are now the lowest hanging piece up front (barely).

Apr 7, 2005 | 05:40 PM

xwing

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Southern Indiana

Also, it helps the Corvette’s aerodynamics at higher speeds.

Apr 7, 2005 | 11:56 PM

Bill Dearborn

Tech Contributor

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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

Why bother cutting it? Let it scrape. It will get to the size you want quickly enough.
Bill

Apr 8, 2005 | 01:11 AM

leaftye

Safety Car

Joined: Nov 2003

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From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn

Why bother cutting it? Let it scrape. It will get to the size you want quickly enough.
Bill

The air dam is also a warning system. When I lived in Albuquerque, there were a few roads were the road severely rose up in the middle of the lane. If it wasn't for the air dam, I probably would've kept taking that route to work thru the summer when the roads would've gotten even worse, possibly bad enough to take out the oil pan. The air dam serves as a warning for a place that even the A&A wheels and rocker protectors can't help.

Eugene

Apr 9, 2005 | 12:44 PM

JC in XTC5

Drifting

Joined: May 2000

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From: Southern NH

Although it provides airflow into the rad cavity, you car would not overheat since the cooling fans would kick in more often to prevent the temps from going too high. Think of it like being in gridlock traffic so there's virtually no airflow going through the rad (with or without the air dam). Your fans kick in above around 228F (2 stage) and prevent the temps from going above ~335F - high temp is much higher than that.

Having said that, the air dam does serve a valuable purpose during normal driving - without it you just need to watch the temps more closely and be aware of the fans working properly.