When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've asked a few questions in other threads about front splitters, but I want to make sure no one is having clearance issues before I spend the money. No matter what angle I attempt or how slow I go, the plastic flaps under the front always seem to hit the curb when I pull out of my driveway, as you can see in this picture. And I'm sure I'll run into steeper inclines in daily use of the car. Did other people have the same problem before installing a front splitter and still not have any clearance issues with the splitter? I REALLY want the Lashway splitter and skirts, but I don't want to have issues with clearance. Just looking for some peace of mind before I order them this week!
I've got the Z06 stage 1 splitter on order and I like the clean look without the deflectors. Are the deflectors used for down force? Joy
I think that is right... The front air dams work in conjunction with the size of the rear spoiler to balance the front and rear down force..
On the Z51, they are smaller to allow more air under the car for the brake deflectors and ducts to pick up.
I installed the Z06 splitter on my Stingray and left the air dams on, including the center section since there are no brake deflectors or rear brake ducts.
The GM splitter gave me 6 inches of clearance on the front edge with the car at stock height.
I think that is right... The front air dams work in conjunction with the size of the rear spoiler to balance the front and rear down force..
On the Z51, they are smaller to allow more air under the car for the brake deflectors and ducts to pick up.
I installed the Z06 splitter on my Stingray and left the air dams on, including the center section since there are no brake deflectors or rear brake ducts.
The GM splitter gave me 6 inches of clearance on the front edge with the car at stock height.
Owners of the C7 should not really be concerned about downfroce when driving your C7 under normal road conditions. Anyone thinking that by having the rear wing/spoiler, front air dam will make a major difference in downforce is really kidding themselves. In this application on the C7 Stingray and Z51 they are for cosmetics and appearence, thus the creation of the ZF1 Appearence Pkg that GM offers.
For those who have decided to go the Z06 route with supercharged engines and track the car, the front air dam, rear spoiler/wing will assist in some additional downforce under high speed track racing and conditions. But keep in mind I mention high speed, not 35, 45, 65 miles an hour.
If anyone thinks that driving the C7 Stingray or Z51 at normal speeds on US roads and highways, that you are creating a significent downforce by having the front air dam and rear wing/spoiler are quite mislead.
I am sure that any aerodynamic engineer will agree. It takes more than a front air dam and rear spoiler to create true downforce. In all my racing of F1000 Formula race cars, there are front wings, adjustable rear wings, side strakes, rear diffusers, belly pans, and other aerodynamic parts that are all needed to create true downforce.
Looking at an F1000 race car or at a F1 race car will provide a good idea of the aerodynamics that are required for downforce.
So keep in mind on the C7 Stingray and Z51, these parts are for appearence, cosmetics and the "cool" look, but have little to any contributing factor in true downforce when driving on US roads and highways.
Owners of the C7 should not really be concerned about downfroce when driving your C7 under normal road conditions. Anyone thinking that by having the rear wing/spoiler, front air dam will make a major difference in downforce is really kidding themselves. In this application on the C7 Stingray and Z51 they are for cosmetics and appearence, thus the creation of the ZF1 Appearence Pkg that GM offers.
For those who have decided to go the Z06 route with supercharged engines and track the car, the front air dam, rear spoiler/wing will assist in some additional downforce under high speed track racing and conditions. But keep in mind I mention high speed, not 35, 45, 65 miles an hour.
If anyone thinks that driving the C7 Stingray or Z51 at normal speeds on US roads and highways, that you are creating a significent downforce by having the front air dam and rear wing/spoiler are quite mislead.
I am sure that any aerodynamic engineer will agree. It takes more than a front air dam and rear spoiler to create true downforce. In all my racing of F1000 Formula race cars, there are front wings, adjustable rear wings, side strakes, rear diffusers, belly pans, and other aerodynamic parts that are all needed to create true downforce.
Looking at an F1000 race car or at a F1 race car will provide a good idea of the aerodynamics that are required for downforce.
So keep in mind on the C7 Stingray and Z51, these parts are for appearence, cosmetics and the "cool" look, but have little to any contributing factor in true downforce when driving on US roads and highways.
He/she only asked if there were clearance issues with the splitter, not an engineering lesson.
Any issues with the wide speed humps you see in neigborhoods?
I still avoid obviously deep gutters, but have not hit anything, including speed bumps.
It goes without saying that you can probably count on one hand the number of people here that have installed the spoilers for down force.
Whether they should be installed or left off came up due to the question about whether they affect cooling.
However, it is worth noting that if you do drive the car at a speed where the extra aerodynamics have effect, the Corvette has more down force than any other production street car.
The clue on why I installed mine is that you do not measure downforce with a ruler.
Splitter is on order. Lower air deflectors are sitting on my workbench and have been there since I brought the car home from the dealer delivey. Don't need them as all they do is scrape the driveway.
01-13-2015, 12:30 AM
Clearance issues with front splitter?
