aeR!R!R!o

[GreenSquirrel]

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! I have the idea of using an old bicycle inner tube as a retractable backing for a front air dam under the bumper (I think one of the new Porsche 911's have something like this), the thinking behind this is having the capability of retracting a front air dam for entering parking lots with their notoriously goofy transitions/approach angles and at low speeds or on shabby roads. I have yet to sort out the details, but it would essentially be a plastic air dam glued to an inner tube with an air line running to a suction/pump unit. I was thinking it would be good for retractable skirts as well, this is among the list of bats**t ideas I have yet to test but I figure it may have some moxy and is worth a go, if you care to try this idea or have criticisms lemmeknow.

[aerohead]

This will give you your areas which are off-limits to 'fixed' body parts

After that,you can use any technology that works for you.
Volvo actually put this 'active',electrically-operated airdam on production cars.

Haven't seen rocker panels done yet.

[BamZipPow]

I know the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 had the electronic activated air dam from 1991-93. It was dropped fer later years.

I think the issues with the air dam was the motor gitting corroded and not activating.

[Cd]

Thanks for sharing your ideas Green Squirrel.

BTW,
I made an airdam a few years ago that had a heavy duty spring hinge behind it. As I came up to a speed bump, the airdam would fold back and then spring back into place afterwards.
Here is an example of the hinge :
I decided against it because the spoiler had too much frontal area.

[freebeard]

It would need a means of moving air two ways, and a pivot to gain leverage against.