Hey guys - my car is lowered so I've been scraping the front air deflectors for years. A few months ago the front just came off and the sides have torn the screw holes out from the bumpers. I drove it on the street for a while and I didn't have any problems until the HPDE last weekend (very valuable lesson learned) - but I replaced the center piece and all was ok at the track.
Now I'm having problems on the street with the center piece that was replaced - it just won't stay on the car (see pics). Did I install it incorrectly? There's clearly only one way it will go on the car, but now it gets bent and won't stay on at all. I didn't have problems like this in the past when they were on. It did scrape but it always stayed intact until the bolt head got sheared off. Now both bolts are still there but the deflector itself just gets torn up.
I do have all three replacement pieces but want to fix this problem before I install.
I don't remember hitting anything, but it is a possibility.
I attached pics of the new one installed - this is the same way I installed the last one. Is that correct? Trying to turn it around didn't fit correctly and didn't look right at all so I was pretty sure it was in right, but please let me know if it's supposed to be flipped around. Is the angle about right?
The last one didn't even make it a full week. I'm really hoping to have better luck with this one!
if your car is that low don't even bother with that spoiler, it just acts as a groung feeler, i know mine is slammed and have similar problems. i ditched it and went with an aftermarket spoiler/ fascia combo. the spoiler is detachable just for that reason and is $240. better front end down force, we all know she needs that. the one from ecklers is pretty decent and doesn't cost too much
I didn't have any problems with the deflectors removed until last weekend at an HPDE. The car overheated like crazy, I got warnings on the DIC and it cut out engine power until it cooled down. I was able to make it to a dealership to get a replacement center piece. After that the car ran fine and I didn't have any problems at all. If it weren't for that I wouldn't worry about it, but since I've seen how much of an effect it has on cooling I do want to keep something on.
Which aftermarket piece did you get? I only saw one on Ecklers that looked functional, but it seemed like something that would scrape very easily given how low my car is.
What I don't understand now is why the originals lasted ~ 40,000 miles and the replacement less than a week. I have to be doing something wrong but I just don't know what.
Well first, from the looks of things you hit something! Several times, I'd bet. Secondly, you installed the air dam backwards.
Find another Vette to see how it's installed and then stay away from curbs/speedbumps and don't try to straddle tire treads on the hiway.
The dam is supposed to direct air into the radiator. If you install it correctly it will solve your overheating issue.
I don't know how much you are lowered, but you might want to consider raising the car a bit (unless you don't mind replacing the dam periodically).
... but get it installed correctly!
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So if I understand correctly, the wider side of the center piece goes down toward the road and the shorter side up toward the radiator?
It did fix my overheating problems at the DE, but I guess I had it installed wrong there too. I'll see if I can get it in there correctly this evening and post up some more pics afterwards.
Thanks Denny. Been around the site for sometime and have decided I would like to finally be a little more invovled. Maybe I can help someone out from time to time.
Thanks Denny. Been around the site for sometime and have decided I would like to finally be a little more invovled. Maybe I can help someone out from time to time.
Norm
Hi Norm. Is your car lowered? It appears to be about the same ride height as mine. Any problems with yours scraping? My problems are likely worse than most as my car is a daily driver and Houston roads are not very friendly in a lot of areas.
Just put Pfadt coilovers on last week. Would like to have car about 1/2 inch lower so I hope it will settle alittle with a few miles. Scrape, yes but try to be very careful and only drive on the weekend. I did have car lowered on longer bolts for about 6 months but the ride was to harsh.
Does anyone know what the reinforcements are in the link below? P/n's 38080 (LH) 38081 (RH) and 38088 (Center). Will those help my situation? What about the retainer p/n 38089? The center piece I have just bolts on with two small bolts on either side - do I need to get anything else for a proper installation?
You might give a call to Forum vendor Buy-OEM-Parts.com.
They should be able to tell you what all you need ... and at competitive prices ...
Below is a blow-up of the front bumper area components.
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I'll see if I can get it in there correctly this evening and post up some more pics afterwards.
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