Air Dam assistance
10-13-2017, 02:32 PM
#1
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Air Dam assistance
My front air dams are completely trashed from scraping on my driveway and I need to replace all 3 pieces. Someone mentioned that there are some made of a softer plastic so they last longer. Anyone know where I could go to find this? Thanks in advance.
10-13-2017, 03:20 PM
#2
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Jeeeze ... Only 4 posts in the last 9 years ... Where have you been?
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I have never seen any of these aftermarket air dams that are any softer than the OEM part. In fact, the OEM air dam is pretty flexable.
Just my opinion ... Remove it altogether. I have a 2011 GS and had the air dam both on and off and never seen any changes in coolant temp (or any else for that mattter).
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I have never seen any of these aftermarket air dams that are any softer than the OEM part. In fact, the OEM air dam is pretty flexable.
Just my opinion ... Remove it altogether. I have a 2011 GS and had the air dam both on and off and never seen any changes in coolant temp (or any else for that mattter).
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 03:28 PM
#3
Race Director
The GM replacements are about $30 each. I have seen aftermarkets for about half that much but I understand they are made from a stiffer material which would make them prone to more damage in a shorter amount of time. Check out the major vendors here on the Forum like Mid America, Zip products, Corvette Central or other similar vendors.
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 07:29 PM
#6
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A flat surface such as that air dam needs to be much more rigid to ever be an effective aerodynamic stucture ... It's just too flexable to ever effect airflow enough as to alter airflow to the extent that it has a real aerodynamic effect.
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 07:45 PM
#7
Race Director
Hmmmm. I thought it was pretty stiff. Hard to believe it folds back while driving down the road. Does anyone know for sure?
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StaycF (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 07:46 PM
#8
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Thanks :)
4 posts in 9 years..... maybe that's a good thing since I haven't had any car issues in quite a while 
Thanks for the feedback.
UOTE=Turbo6TA;1595758887]Jeeeze ... Only 4 posts in the last 9 years ... Where have you been?
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I have never seen any of these aftermarket air dams that are any softer than the OEM part. In fact, the OEM air dam is pretty flexable.
Just my opinion ... Remove it altogether. I have a 2011 GS and had the air dam both on and off and never seen any changes in coolant temp (or any else for that mattter).[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the feedback.UOTE=Turbo6TA;1595758887]Jeeeze ... Only 4 posts in the last 9 years ... Where have you been?
__________________________
I have never seen any of these aftermarket air dams that are any softer than the OEM part. In fact, the OEM air dam is pretty flexable.
Just my opinion ... Remove it altogether. I have a 2011 GS and had the air dam both on and off and never seen any changes in coolant temp (or any else for that mattter).[/QUOTE]
10-13-2017, 08:05 PM
#9
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The best it can do at the speeds your driving is to just direct airflow.
But, like I said, I didn't notice any difference in coolant temps if in fact, it's fuction is to direct airflow into the radiator.
10-13-2017, 08:23 PM
#10
Safety Car
would be nice if anybody knew anything about their car, the airdam is there to stop air from going UNDER the car thus defeating any lift that there might be, in racing they just about glue the thing to the ground in NASCAR by the end of the race half of it is ground off.
10-13-2017, 08:45 PM
#11
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Unfortunatly, the OP is not driving his Corvette at NASCAR speeds while going to Walmart.
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Troy Brown (10-14-2017)
10-13-2017, 08:56 PM
#13
Safety Car
The air dam is designed to smooth out the air flow under the car and to assist in getting air into the front of the radiator. I have replaced mine three times since I purchased the car 10 years ago and keep one on the shelf. They are designed to wear down due to abrasion with the pavement. I have driven without one for several thousand miles and did not see any detrimental effect.
10-13-2017, 09:06 PM
#14
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10-13-2017, 09:12 PM
#15
Are the air dams for base C6s any different for different C6 years?
On my 2012, the two Aprox. 20" long "side" air dams are very stiff plastic. But the long more uniformly shaped air dam across the front is a much more flexible rubber-like material. After about two years of driveway scraping, one of the side dams cracked loose. It wasn't easy to reattach, so I removed both side dams. The front dam continues to survive scraping. I'm suspecting that this is different than others' experience.
On my 2012, the two Aprox. 20" long "side" air dams are very stiff plastic. But the long more uniformly shaped air dam across the front is a much more flexible rubber-like material. After about two years of driveway scraping, one of the side dams cracked loose. It wasn't easy to reattach, so I removed both side dams. The front dam continues to survive scraping. I'm suspecting that this is different than others' experience.
10-13-2017, 09:23 PM
#16
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23526583 ....
I think your confusing the air dam which under the front of the car with the front chin splitter which is attached to the very front of the car's front bumper cover.
Here is the front chin splitter on my GS (it's a ZR1 replica chin splitter)
Attachment 48339847
I think your confusing the air dam which under the front of the car with the front chin splitter which is attached to the very front of the car's front bumper cover.
Here is the front chin splitter on my GS (it's a ZR1 replica chin splitter)
Attachment 48339847
10-13-2017, 09:25 PM
#17
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As far as the front air dam, I may be wrong, but I think they are all the same no matter what model C6 you have.
10-14-2017, 01:45 AM
#19
I was referring to the 3-piece air dam (sometimes called front spoiler), which comes on all C6 base corvettes. I don't think any base C6s came with splitters. To further clarify (or perhaps confuse) things, this video shows the three air dam pieces, which are also shown in lots of Corvette parts vendors' online catalogs (search C6 Corvette front air dam):
10-14-2017, 11:03 AM
#20
Race Director
would be nice if anybody knew anything about their car, the airdam is there to stop air from going UNDER the car thus defeating any lift that there might be, in racing they just about glue the thing to the ground in NASCAR by the end of the race half of it is ground off.