air dam scraping

[tallpaul]

Does anybody else have this problem? I am considering triming mine or removing it all together. If I do this will this cause my engine to overheat?

[fastblackmerc]

Does anybody else have this problem? I am considering triming mine or removing it all together. If I do this will this cause my engine to overheat?

The one under the car or under the front bumper?

If it's the one under the car, DO NOT remove it. It provides extra cooling to the engine compartment.

If it's the Mach 1 spoiler in the front than you can remove it as it's an add on anyway.

[tallpaul]

I believe it's the one under the car. If I rememer right it is underneath the radiator. Can I just trim it maybe an 1/8th and then 1/4 of an inch if it is still scrapeing?

[babbage]

Better would be to replace your 10 year old front springs. The springs when tired like that make the front end sit 1 to 2 inches lower. Hence the scraping.

Bet you weren't expecting that!

[fastblackmerc]

I believe it's the one under the car. If I rememer right it is underneath the radiator. Can I just trim it maybe an 1/8th and then 1/4 of an inch if it is still scrapeing?


Better would be to replace your 10 year old front springs. The springs when tired like that make the front end sit 1 to 2 inches lower. Hence the scraping.

Bet you weren't expecting that!

I guess you could trim it but the correct fix would be what babbage said.

[RoyLPita]

Better would be to replace your 10 year old front springs. The springs when tired like that make the front end sit 1 to 2 inches lower. Hence the scraping.

Bet you weren't expecting that!

The front springs have been obsolete for years. The lower front plastic piece is available from any Ford/Lincoln dealer.

[03mmmonroe]

The front springs have been obsolete for years. The lower front plastic piece is available from any Ford/Lincoln dealer.

Just replace the air dam. over time then can bend or crack due to scraping.

[Krytin]

What are you hitting?
I have my car VERY low and the only thing the air dam under the radiator hits is parking curbs when I pull up over them - don't pull in that far!

[gdsqdcr]

Mine was hitting after I hit a major pothole and blew the front left shock. New shocks, no more scrape

[SC Cheesehead]

What are you hitting?
I have my car VERY low and the only thing the air dam under the radiator hits is parking curbs when I pull up over them - don't pull in that far!


+1, Like my old Uncle Heinrich, the Industrial Engineer used to say, "Arbeiten Sie nicht härter, machen Sie arbeiten weise."

[Marauderjack]

I removed mine 6 months after I bought the car.......nothing changed that I could see and it looks a heck of a lot better......IMHO!!;)

[Krytin]

+1, Like my old Uncle Heinrich, the Industrial Engineer used to say, "Arbeiten Sie nicht härter, machen Sie arbeiten weise."
I love old Germans..........


'cause I am one!

[Mr. Man]

I removed mine 6 months after I bought the car.......nothing changed that I could see and it looks a heck of a lot better......IMHO!!;)Like MaraauderJack said you could remove it and keep a close eye on the temp gauge and if it rises to much put it back on.:)

[tallpaul]

I removed mine 6 months after I bought the car.......nothing changed that I could see and it looks a heck of a lot better......IMHO!!;)


I'll try it and see if the car gets too hot and if it does I'll either trim it or get another one.

[SC Cheesehead]

I love old Germans..........


'cause I am one!

Yup, same here, and like my dad used to say, "You can always tell an old German; you just can't tell him much..." ;) ---------> :D

[tallpaul]

What are you hitting?
I have my car VERY low and the only thing the air dam under the radiator hits is parking curbs when I pull up over them - don't pull in that far!


My car is also lowered and it always scrapes when I leave my house. My driveway has a steep angle so of course it will scrape then, I can't change that. It also scrapes when just driving in town. I don't usually hit parking curbs. I imagine that it has gotten bent over time.

[Krytin]

My car is also lowered and it always scrapes when I leave my house. My driveway has a steep angle so of course it will scrape then, I can't change that. It also scrapes when just driving in town. I don't usually hit parking curbs. I imagine that it has gotten bent over time.

Sounds like it. It may even be cracked and hanging low.
As far as steep driveways go, if the dam is intact and where it belongs, you should be hitting the bottom edge of the front of the bumper before or when you hit the air dam - ask me how I know!

[JOEMERC]

Just remember that if you remove it you will notice lower radiator hose seems to be exposed to road debris and those curb stops your talking about.You will see what I mean when you take it off.

[sailsmen]

I can assure you Ford did not spend the money on it for cosmetic reasons.
Ps Watch the idiot gauge all you want, it doesn't move until 230*-240*.

[Vostok]

Has anyone or can some one run a scan gauge real-time engine temp test on this to put it to rest?

[sailsmen]

You would have to test it under a large spectrum of conditions.
When the outside temp is above 95*, between 20mph-40mph is when I see the highest coolant temps.

[Marauderjack]

Billy.....

I have a ScanGauge II and have seen absolutely no increase in water temps without the plastic air dam!!:shake:

I vote it was cosmetic and pretty ugly!!:eek:

[sailsmen]

I am sure Ford designs the car to function in a large variety of conditions. You may never experience a condition wherein the air flow is insufficient over the rad causing an over heat.
For someone who does not have and monitor a scan guage I would not take it off. The idiot gauge is not very smart!

[Marauderjack]

Come on now....you cannot be serious!!

I have had 5 CV's and the Marauder....removed it on purpose or by accident on all of them......NO PROBLEMS with any of them!!:shake:

I was stuck in traffic at 107*....stop and go for about 45 minutes in the Marauder with the IC in front of the radiator.....205* with the AC on was as high as it got!!:beer:

Sorry.....I don't believe it is necessary ScanGauge or not!!:shake:

[sailsmen]

Do you really think Ford likes to pay money to put useless stuff on their cars???
It may not be "necessary" for the conditions you drive in.
Like I said the highest coolant temps I see are above 95* outside and moving 20mph-40mph. Not stop and go, not idle, not at 10mph, not at 15mph.

http://www.reischeperformance.com/tstatinfo.html#anchor
"This is also why you never want to remove or obstruct the lower air dam on a modern vehicle. Not to mention it will reduce the life of the radiator fan(s) and could even cause overheating."

[Cobra DP]

I had work done at a body shop on the front end of my sons 96 Cobra, and they neglected to put a new one on. On the way home, in town it started to over heat. At speeds above 50 it would cool back down. It was definitely on there for a reason.

Don

[Marauderjack]

Do as you wish Billy and let it go........

My fan....my radiator and my engine are almost 10 years old with 247K+ miles and it has NEVER overheated therefore despite your arguments I am perfectly happy to have removed the damn thing!!:beer:

I suppose my Mustang "Lip" will cause overheating too??:rolleyes:

[MyRaider]

The front springs have been obsolete for years...

Could you clarify this for me? (Do you mean they're unavailable from Ford or that there are better springs available?)

[fastblackmerc]

Could you clarify this for me? (Do you mean they're unavailable from Ford or that there are better springs available?)

Obsolete means ford no longer offers them for sale.

[MyRaider]

Thought so, but just wanted to verify. Thx.

[2ndmm]

mine scrapes like a mo fo