Air dam idea and ?'s (Dodge Ram pickup)

[nubbzcummins]

Quick specs: Current front air dam height from ground is approx 20". Lowest point of axles are approx 10" from ground.

Thinking of using some aluminum flashing that is 20" wide and comes on a roll to lay over and attach to the front bumper to serve the purpose of more aero benefit and using as a lower grill block. My questions are: Should this work well? How far above ground does it need to be? BTW.....I will be making an aero bed cover soon as well.

[Tygen1]

I'm no expert, but I'd go as low as you feel comfortable for ground clearance. It's not ideal when compared to a much more modest air dam and underbody smoothing, but it will work and it's easy.

[MetroMPG]

Ty's probably right.

Though it's hard to say for sure for every specific vehicle.

The good news is a temporary air dam is relatively easy to make, so you could A-B-A test one yourself to see if it works.

FYI, Big Dave has a significant air dam on his Ford, though its ride height is much less than yours:

Effects Of Air Dam (Ford F350 pickup)

[Jethro]

I don't know that aluminum flashing would quite withstand the windloads put on it unless you gave it a crimp or two (vertically) to prevent it.

[nubbzcummins]

Originally Posted by Jethro

I don't know that aluminum flashing would quite withstand the windloads put on it unless you gave it a crimp or two (vertically) to prevent it.

I was planning on attaching it with the front liscense plate holes in the bumper as well as having it follow the bumper around the sides to just before the wheel well and securing there as well. With this curve around both sides, being secured in the center and sides, and only overhanging the current air dam lip by 6-8" or so that it will be fine. Thoughts anyone?

[saddlsor]

if you fold the bottom edge over itself about a 1/4 or 1/2 inch it will add a lot of strength to it, especially if there is a curve in it as it follows the bumper shape.

[BamZipPow]

Unless you support the back of the flashing with a supporting frame...it's not gonna work as well as you think it should.

In this thread and in this thread, you can see the progression of my dropped air dam. Even the street sweeper coroplast didn't hold up at speed. It had a tendency to deform and fold under the air dam...and that was only 4" exposed at the bottom.

My current dropped air dam is holding up quite well and doesn't deflect at all...at least from what I can tell. It's all about the underlying support structure.

[nubbzcummins]

Good info BamZipPow! You are making me ponder over how to construct this air dam.....which is a good thing.....

[Big Dave]

I could get radical (1.5" and later 3" above grade) because I made the air dam out of virtually indestructible conveyor belting. There was no road kill or parking curb that could faze it.

You go that low with flashing and it will be in ribbons inside of a week.