Air Dam Height

[73challenger]

I am new to the site and have just made a grill block out of aluminum and i am planning to make an air dam. How far off the ground or how far down from my car should i make it?

So far just from reading all of your post i get 38.8 mpg, i used to get 25 so thanks

[lunarhighway]

it all depends on what's under the car and what you're trying to achieve.

an airdam is generally not considdered an optimal solution. it pushes the air asside, and most likely also below the car, and that all takes energy. however in some cases it can help. either because it prevents almost all air from getting under the car, like on racecars. or because it's big enough to shield something but not add signifficant frontal area... in wich case it's probably only a few inches high

you might want to look into underbody paneling instead, that might be more difficuly to make but also more effective.

if you do go for an airdam i'd say use it to shield something that would otherwise cause drag, like the engine and suspention components.

look underneath the car and try to see what hangs out below the line of the bumper and try to shield that.

again if you're looking for a real improvement and you have enough material available you might want to look at an underbody panel below the front bumper. afterall it's better to gently guide the air where you want it to go, than forcefully prevent it from going where you don't want it.

[lunarhighway]

ironically enough, just when i'm thinking about an underbody fairings, i might get my hands on a rubber airdam extention form an opel corsa... might fit my car with a little work, so perhaps i might try that as well.

[73challenger]

how thick of aluminum would i need to make a underbody panel?

[Danronian]

how thick of aluminum would i need to make a underbody panel?

I would go with as thin as possible as long as you can safely attach it underneath the car somewhere. No sense it adding extra weight.

[DarbyWalters]

2-3mm or 1/8" aluminum would be more than fine. I would use coraplast or cardboard first to get the correct setup before you invest in Al.

[73challenger]

I hear everyone talking about coraplast, I dont want to sound like an idiot but was is that?

[cfg83]

73challenger -

I think that Co ZX2 has used a 1/16" thick plastic 8*4' sheet fromHome Depot, so that's another option. Like with the Coroplast, keep it away from the hot exhaust manifold/piping.

CarloSW2

[01_fast_ride]

73challenger
Don't worry, it took me a long time to figure it out on my own.:rolleyes:
Corogated plastic = Coroplast

It refers to the construction style that normal cardboard boxes use, only done in a plastic material. Sign shops, craft stores, and places like the Home Depot may carry it, but don't be surprised if you get a funny look when you ask for it.

[brucepick]

Right now I like thin plywood best. Home Depot etc. sell 2.7 mm Lauan plywood. That's less than 1/8 inch. Curves when you want it to. Also sell 5.5 mm. if you want it stiffer. Plenty airflow so I'm not worried about rotting. Or you can prime with oil base house paint where needed.

Coroplast + duct tape = goes together as fast as you can plan and cut the material. BUT you'll be repairing duct tape problems weekly. Sometimes daily. And leaves a nasty mess after you pull off the tape.

For the coroplast thing I had this past summer I did better with sheet metal screws thru the plastic into little wood strips. Or into drywall corner bead as a cheap "angle iron" type stock. They make a flexible corner bead for people making arches.

[brucepick]

I made my air dam reach down equal to the lowest ground clearance situation already existing under the car. So my ground clearance didn't change.

I cut a horizontal plywood panel to fit directly behind lower edge of air dam. Extend it back as far as practical. This creates a smooth zone of airflow where that panel is. Attach horizontal panel to dam with small angle brackets + screws.

I'm TOLD that an air dam really is best when you also have side skirts, to help maintain the vacuum created under the car. I haven't gotten around to making them yet. Wife thinks I need to tend to career and house. She's always right, as it turns out.

[73challenger]

I made a partial aluminum underbody cover by using aluminum wrap that you wrap house trim with, flexable and semi sturdy

[lunarhighway]

if you're still looking for Coroplast, look for temporrary signs, over here it's often used to put some info of the contractor on the fence of a construction site. sooner or later these signs might end up with the trash so you can have some fairly large bits for free...

do you have any pictures of what you made? i'm still looking for inspiration.

[73challenger]

I'm up at college now, I'll take some this weekend when i go home.

[lovemysan]

Home depot sells aluminum coils. Its for making vinyl siding trim. They come in a cardboard box 1'x1'x24". I think its 28 gauge which is 0.0113" thick. Its what I used. The heavier material you use the less framing is necessary.