Floppy Air Dam ?

My '81 has the large air dam/skirt (I'm sure it has a proper name but that will do for now) at the front below the snout, with the rubber bead along the bottom edge, which sits a few inches above the ground at stand still.

Now I have discovered that it is quite "flexible" ie pushing on the centre it will move up and down by a few inches depending on how hard you push of course. Is this right ? Or should it be more solid "

My problem is that I have learnt to my misfortune that when travelling at speed (?) the air forces on the dam/skirt must force it well down, to almost be touching the road, because when I travel through a "dip" in the road I can hear it hit and scrape the road... rather nastily too as the centre of it is now rather badly scraped and split all the way past the rubber and a couple of inches almost up into the fibreglass section.

I can't see anything in the GM Manual or the Assembly Manual which shows any support element is missing, but surely this level of "flexibility" can't be right ?

P.S. Any one know where I can get a new rubber strip from ?CeeDee2007-12-23 03:03:33

Hi Chris,

That is pretty common for them to hang with some age. Mid America has these for your car. Here is a link and a pic just so we are clear on the part.

They offer a 3 piece but don't show the part yet. I am wondering if it is an updated version which has a spring loaded center. (it allows the center to fold under then spring back) Later model cars now offer this feature.

I think MAM is kind of high on these so I posted a couple of EBAY versions too which will save you $25.00. They look to be similar.

I have bought items from Thepartsladi before and found them to be good. This site is a GM dealership in Florida.

MID AMERICA



EBAY VERSION

THEPARTSLADI



hope this helps, Tux...

On my '80, there is a bubba fabbed metal strap that has a "J" bend hook at one end.  It is hooked up under the center, where the split in the rubber is, then it is bolted to the metal loop that extends down under the nose.  The piece is about 4 to 5" long and 3/4" wide. 

When the painter forgot to install it, I was running along around 75mph or so and the lower piece folded up under the car.  It was scratched, but not split as it is not fiberglass but the nylon stuff the original nose and tail are made of.  He is going to re-shoot it when he re-shoots the front.  I've had some pin-holes come up.

You might try that.  If I can find a battery for my camera, I'll post a pic so you can see what I'm talking about.

Thanx for that guys, yeah pretty amazing just how far back that lower piece will fold isn't it ?? I thought it must be the humps on some of our local streets doing the damage, but couldn't quite work out how. Then one day I was pushin' and proddin' (as you do) and I thought...   naaahhhhhh, surely not...   but maybe.... ? and so it was. The j-strip idea is sounding good to me, 'cos I surely don't like the current situation !   Look forward to some pix, thanx !!

I'm working on posting the pix now.  You gave me a great excuse to back her out, wash her, and drive her to Christmas Eve dinner with my folks.

It's about 61 degrees here with sun and no wind.  Most folks are cleaning up limbs from the ice storm but not me!!!  I just moved them around so I could get the vette out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hope these help!
dnv2007-12-24 14:39:08

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_uploads/8201_8300/8263/Nose%20Brace%201.jpg dnv2007-12-24 14:34:50

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_uploads/8201_8300/8263/Nose%20Brace%202.jpg dnv2007-12-24 14:35:32

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_uploads/8201_8300/8263/Nose%20Brace%203.jpg dnv2007-12-24 14:36:08

Yup, that's great thanx. Down under we call that a "sky hook"

That'll have to be the first jobbie for next year 'cos we are packing up to head off for our summer holidays at the beach now

Have a GREAT CHRISTMAS

Chris

[QUOTE=CeeDee]...Now I have discovered that it is quite "flexible" ie pushing on the centre it will move up and down by a few inches depending on how hard you push of course. Is this right ? Or should it be more solid " ...[/QUOTE] 6880Mike2007-12-26 10:49:08