Front end scraping
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 681
Likes: 39
From: Columbus Indiana
Originally Posted by mchaney
None of this explains why some measure 2.5 inches from the ground and others measure 3.5 inches. Mine would scrape a whole lot less if I had 3.5 inches of clearance under there. Fact is, I've got a lot less clearance than others. Where does the difference come from? Are some of the air dams getting put on wrong? Maybe we should measure from the ground to the highest point on the front wheel wells just to see if the difference is under the car (air dam only) or a difference in clearance of the entire car.
I get 26 1/4 inches from the ground to the top of the wheel well. Mine is a C6 with only the 1SB group. I wonder if the Z51 or the magnetic ride control makes a difference?
An inch out of only 3.5 inches is a significant difference.
Edit: I guess it's also possible that some air dams are just bigger than others (drop down farther). My air dam is 2.5 inches from the ground but the metal skids on either side are 4.5 inches from the ground. The rubber part of the air dam is 2.5 inches tall and then it meets plastic above at the 5 inch height (from the ground). Just giving some measurements to compare.
Mike
I get 26 1/4 inches from the ground to the top of the wheel well. Mine is a C6 with only the 1SB group. I wonder if the Z51 or the magnetic ride control makes a difference?
An inch out of only 3.5 inches is a significant difference.
Edit: I guess it's also possible that some air dams are just bigger than others (drop down farther). My air dam is 2.5 inches from the ground but the metal skids on either side are 4.5 inches from the ground. The rubber part of the air dam is 2.5 inches tall and then it meets plastic above at the 5 inch height (from the ground). Just giving some measurements to compare.
Mike
1) My car has the standard, base suspension.
2) My air dam scrapes going out of my driveway. But appears not to do any damage.
3) Bottom of air dam to ground: 3.0 inches
4) Air dam height: 2.5 inches
5) Top of wheel well to ground: 27 inches.
6) IMHO: this is normal car to car ride height variation.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 10
From: Reno NV
Originally Posted by rwpatte
C5 scraped going out driveway. The C6 going out same driveway doesn't. Maybe because the wheel base is longer?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
New data point. I have base suspension with manual, no Z51.
26 3/4 in. top of wheel well to ground. 3.5 in. from bottom of air dam on each end to ground. 3.0 in. from bottom of air dam to ground in middle.
26 3/4 in. top of wheel well to ground. 3.5 in. from bottom of air dam on each end to ground. 3.0 in. from bottom of air dam to ground in middle.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
I am taking mine off. I have had the drivers side fall off 3 times and the bolt holes are wasted from getting torn off. I have a pretty severe slop in my driveway and the scraping happens twice a day. So, off it goes...I will let you know if the car runs any hotter after it's gone. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by redandwhite
I am taking mine off. I will let you know if the car runs any hotter after it's gone.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
I thought that the larger wheel/tire OD, shortened overhangs and longer wheelbase (compared to C5) were supposed to address this.
Maybe there will be a continued market for A&A Framesavers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by Buckeye guy
Why doesn't the corvette have a rubber air dam? The CTS, STS, and CTSV have rubber air damns. They are real flexible and you wouldn't even know if it is scraping because you can't hear it.
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 6
From: Greenville SC
Originally Posted by BHP
Remove it. Tell me if you miss it for normal driving.
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 83,301
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '06
The C6 ground clearance is about 5 inches.
The air dam hangs down to about 3.5 inches above the ground. It is designed to withstand scraping and is in place for air flow management.
The air dam hangs down to about 3.5 inches above the ground. It is designed to withstand scraping and is in place for air flow management.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: West Hartford Connecticut
front air damn frustration
I have just about had it with this front air damn on my C6. I'm taking the thing off. I heard that GM has actually discontinued the air damn and is no longer available through GM. So, clearly the talk about cooling appears to be more nonesense unless I guess you drive race car speeds. I drive the car for fun, don't abuse it, and open it up a little hear and there but I don't beat on it. Can someone tell me if it really is neccessary to keep on or can I take it off and not worry about overheating?. Thanks, Gerry.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 26
From: Delaware
I want to get the ZR1 front splitter but I'm afraid it would only last two trips up and down my drive.
