Yes, another question, please
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 288
Likes: 100
From: Florida
Yes, another question, please
Just bought 2016 Z51 Corvette. Is there supposed to be some kind rubber molding under the front bumper that sticks about 3 inches down like it did on my C5.
Now I know the C5 was a bottom breather so I understand the need for that car. Hard to see in pictures of cars on the forum.
My car does not have one and when looking under the car to check I did not see any potential mounting locations.
Now I know the C5 was a bottom breather so I understand the need for that car. Hard to see in pictures of cars on the forum.
My car does not have one and when looking under the car to check I did not see any potential mounting locations.
Drifting
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Scientific Negotiator
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There was a last minute decision to remove the center air deflector from the Z51. Lots of speculation as to why. For those interested: Copied this 9/2/1014 post by Moderator talon90 that made sense to me: "The Z51 vs. the non-Z51 have significantly different aero signatures. This is primarily to due to the functional air intakes on top of the rear quarter panels. Each of those ducts is moving 8 cubic meters per minute of air through the duct work and out the rear fascia. As a result, this is all air that is not moving across the rear wing and as a result, requires a rear CHMSL/Spoiler that has a larger area and thus additional drag.
Air in to the front fascia and under the car is used to cool both the front and rear brakes. The outer areas of the front grille provide focused airflow to the front brakes and air under the car present air to the duct inlets for the rear brakes.
All of the lines and shapes to the car body are used to change the air flow and present low pressure air pockets. From the front fender flare to the indentation at the door out to the rear quarter flare.
Air down the sides of the car creates a pressure differential at the side coves and extracts heat out from the engine compartment via the vents on the side. That low pressure air aides front down force. The hood vent takes one third of the air presented to the grille and ducts it out over the roof of the car, again creating front down force.
All of the air that is presented to the front of the car must find it's way to the rear of the car as the car travels forward at speed. The way that this air is interrupted changes the pressure (and speed) of those air molecules and affects lift, drag, cooling and down force.
It is all a balancing act and changes to one of those aerodynamic forces will affect some or all of the others. Reducing air flow or air pressure in one area may result in reduced cooling air present in another area. Since the Z51 is the more track oriented model, more airflow must be presented to the brake inlets. You'll notice a difference for example in the front grille openings between the Z51 and non-Z51 as more air must be presented to cool the larger front brakes.
Yes, the removal of the Z51 front air dam was a late decision based on cooling and handling balance determined by testing. That doesn't mean it wasn't a wise decision. Making other hard changes in these areas are expensive and would require significant changes to panels, inlets (sizes and shapes) and significant time modelling and then testing these changes for long term effects.”
There is also a video discussing the Z06 aero that may be of interest:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/11/...wnforce-video/
Air in to the front fascia and under the car is used to cool both the front and rear brakes. The outer areas of the front grille provide focused airflow to the front brakes and air under the car present air to the duct inlets for the rear brakes.
All of the lines and shapes to the car body are used to change the air flow and present low pressure air pockets. From the front fender flare to the indentation at the door out to the rear quarter flare.
Air down the sides of the car creates a pressure differential at the side coves and extracts heat out from the engine compartment via the vents on the side. That low pressure air aides front down force. The hood vent takes one third of the air presented to the grille and ducts it out over the roof of the car, again creating front down force.
All of the air that is presented to the front of the car must find it's way to the rear of the car as the car travels forward at speed. The way that this air is interrupted changes the pressure (and speed) of those air molecules and affects lift, drag, cooling and down force.
It is all a balancing act and changes to one of those aerodynamic forces will affect some or all of the others. Reducing air flow or air pressure in one area may result in reduced cooling air present in another area. Since the Z51 is the more track oriented model, more airflow must be presented to the brake inlets. You'll notice a difference for example in the front grille openings between the Z51 and non-Z51 as more air must be presented to cool the larger front brakes.
Yes, the removal of the Z51 front air dam was a late decision based on cooling and handling balance determined by testing. That doesn't mean it wasn't a wise decision. Making other hard changes in these areas are expensive and would require significant changes to panels, inlets (sizes and shapes) and significant time modelling and then testing these changes for long term effects.”
There is also a video discussing the Z06 aero that may be of interest:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/11/...wnforce-video/
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Thanks for the detailed explanation.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 288
Likes: 100
From: Florida
Z51 side air dams
Quoting @JerryU from 2014.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 388
Likes: 213
From: RI
I have a '15 Z51.
You for sure don't NEED to replace or do anything for street driving. If you want to return the car to "as stock" then replace them. If you don't get a kick from doing that, don't. Some people remove those so they don't scrape on transitions like driveways. I have mine on. I like the car being factory correct. They are crazy flexible so if the rub, no big deal. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
You for sure don't NEED to replace or do anything for street driving. If you want to return the car to "as stock" then replace them. If you don't get a kick from doing that, don't. Some people remove those so they don't scrape on transitions like driveways. I have mine on. I like the car being factory correct. They are crazy flexible so if the rub, no big deal. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 485
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
I bought it used from a local dealer near Atlanta...which supposedly did a thorough multiple point check up "so they say"...Hendricks Chevrolet did not impress me for many reasons as I have now owned the vette for about two years and throughout those years I have found many issues....mainly cosmetic things that make me want to believe that the car was not treated well by its previous owner...and the car fax was B.S. as well...Fortunately for the car, it is in the hands of a different keeper now...I am quite handy and have restored the car to near mint condition...I wasn't able to really inspect the car well at purchase...it was dismal outside and had rained...I trusted them and do not regret my purchase...but...I have a bad taste in my mouth and will never return to them for service or future purchase...just an example for you...I went in to my local tire shop last month, who has done a tremendous amount of work for me in the past...to look at purchasing new rims and remount the tires for now...not! I found that I had to buy new tires cause the rear tires were exceeding age limits...they were older than the car is according to date code on the tires! Obviously some one was doing burn outs or tracked the car frequently and bought the tires or the dealership put them on to make things look better for resale....this I will never know...I bought the extended platinum warranty so I am protected either way if something major goes wrong...this I am glad for. As for the full flap...it was most likely installed by a shade tree body shop along with the paint work on the front bumper cowl that was done and never reported to car fax...I now know its not suppose to be there, but in many ways, I like it...it looks better than the empty space that would be apparent without it, and it helps alarm me when I get into a situation where the elevation/grade is too much for the car to travel over hearing it start to rub on the pavement...LOL...I haven't noticed it running too hot or anything of the sort...but should I take it off???...not trying to rob the original thread here at all...it was a matter if convenience...sorry!
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Z06 does not have center either for same reasons.. "Run, the Dam is gone" lol
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but there are no small air dams on either side of the front "which if I was reading this correctly " was to cool the front brakes" Since I wont be tracking the car do I need to replace those ? They probably got damaged and original owner never replaced them. Thanks for all your help sir...