Bumper modifications
 

Hi all,

We recently purchased a 1994 Chevy Caprice station wagon. I'm getting ready to do some aero mods, like a grill block, smooth wheel covers, roof rack delete, gap filling, replacing the (broken) factory air dam, etc.

However, I'm also considering modifying the front bumper. The factory bumper has a distinct "lip" that protrudes from the bottom of the bumper (see attached pics). I could easily cut this off, as it's thin plastic and there's nothing structural underneath. It would seem that doing so would smooth up the front of the car considerably.

Can you all think of any problems this may cause? Or should I go ahead and do it?

-Sam

That front lip may produce down force (a good thing), and may deflect air to the sides via air pressure zone bubble.

The lip is not lower than any of the bits under the car, so it's a non offender aerodynamically speaking.

Not on your short list is a full belly pan. If a full belly pan is installed, an A-B testing with and without lip could prove to be interesting forum conversation.

http://s184.photobucket.com/user/kac...?sort=3&page=1
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7a20fad6.jpg

Is the blue one yours? Love it. Personally i would leave the lip and extend the lower air dam under the bumper. On my Lincoln i did that with black garden edging, scraped on the crown of the road at speed lol. 6$ for 2cars worth.
I also agree with kach on the other mods.

Perhaps. But what got me thinking about this is the fact that neither the Buick nor the Oldsmobile versions of this car have a "lip" on the bumper. On the Chevy version, it appears to be merely a cosmetic feature, one that is mirrored on the rear bumper as well.

I was thinking that if I cut it off, the air would still be deflected around the car by the air dam, and not having it would simply reduce some drag. But I'm no aerodynamics expert by any means...

The only problem with this is that once I cut the "lip" off, I can't really put it back on... :eek:

Also, thanks for the suggestions on the picture. Fender skirts would be easy to do, and I'm planning on making some. It may be more difficult to make a Kammback, though, that still allows full operation of the rear window and door. I have a few ideas that I'm planning to try.

I have installed both skirts and Kammback on the Metro, with great effect.

No, neither of the pictures are mine. Mine is Dark Green Gray Metallic upper/primary with Light Gray Metallic lower/secondary. I'll try to post some pictures once I make some mods.

Both of our cars are green in color, hence their names... :D

Sam