Front Air Dam on C6 Performance?

[OLDGOAT]

Now that C6's are getting into the hands of some forum members perhaps several of you lucky folks could answer a question about the front air dam. It seem VERY close to the ground. I'm sure that this helps out when speeds exceed 150 on a track. However, for those of us considering driving a C6 on actual roads how is this "feature" behaving in a land filled with speed bumps, potholes, road debris, and patches? Can I park my baby outside Starbucks if I have to get past two speed bumps? Is it part of the body or a separate piece? Is this a practical design feature or a cosmetic appearance item which will cause problems in the real world?

 

[ajv73]

Now that C6's are getting into the hands of some forum members perhaps several of you lucky folks could answer a question about the front air dam. It seem VERY close to the ground. I'm sure that this helps out when speeds exceed 150 on a track. However, for those of us considering driving a C6 on actual roads how is this "feature" behaving in a land filled with speed bumps, potholes, road debris, and patches? Can I park my baby outside Starbucks if I have to get past two speed bumps? Is it part of the body or a separate piece? Is this a practical design feature or a cosmetic appearance item which will cause problems in the real world?

Hello there. I am a happy C6 owner, had it for about 3 weeks now.

The air dam in the front is my only complaint-- it is very low and frequently scrapes the bottom when pulling in and out of a steep angle. In particular, when I pull out of my driveway, no matter how careful I am, I get a scraping.

Now, here's what I heard -- apparently the GM engineers knew this was going to happen and expected you to scrape bottom with it. That's what I heard anyway, maybe someone else can confirm this.

Incidentally, I haven't had any problems with speed bumps or anything, only steep angles like my driveway.

 

[OLDGOAT]

Self adjusting front air dam

thank for sharing your experience. I wonder if the marketing folks messed up on this one.....from what you said it looks like engineering created a "self adjusting from air dam" that marketing has failed to promote. Like an automatic trans that "learns" the driver's habits this new design air dam will automatically adjust itself to the owner's driving habits and local road conditions ( by rubbing off just enough but not too much ). Is the part that rubs the ground integral with the body or an attached piece? If attached I would consider removal or having it deliberately shaved to prevent this rubbing. By the way would someone have mercy on the OLDGOAT and tell me what a "paddle shift" is? Does it have anything to do with discipline? Like if you miss a shift you get paddled? I've had a couple of TH400's with 396's attached but what is this new animal? thanks, even oldgoats want to learn.

 

[Grizzly]

My son has a new Pontiac GP with it on. They are just oversized buttons on the steering wheel to shift the automatic transmission. One for up, one for down, each time you punch it you get one gear. Rather a good idea I think. Grand Prix racers have been using them for some time, don't have to take your hands off the wheel to shift.

 

[WhalePirot]

The documentation that comes with the C-6 speaks of the air dam rubbing. I experienced it with one speed bump and backing up my driveway.

As my '84 is so low, I am quite accustomed to "45ing" most obstacles. That is, I slow and cross them at an angle close to 45*, that allows each front wheel, in turn, to raise the offending part of the car over the obstacle.

LOL >> OldGuy's discipline comment.

 

[Mr.Cool]

The C6 does not have a retractable air dam like the C5. It's just a very flexible 3 piece rubber air dam that does look like it is easily replaced. So far it appears to have very little wear on it even though it scrapes everytime I leave or enter my driveway.

 

[ajv73]

The C6 does not have a retractable air dam like the C5. It's just a very flexible 3 piece rubber air dam that does look like it is easily replaced. So far it appears to have very little wear on it even though it scrapes everytime I leave or enter my driveway.

I was about to say... my C6 does not have a retractable anything, was starting to wonder if it was an optional feature I didn't get. I didn't know the C5 had that, too bad it was left out of the C6. Bummer.

I get the same problem pulling out of my driveway; so far, it doesn't look damaged though.

 

[napacruzerC5]

The C5 was a bottom-breather which required the air-dam to direct air to the radiator. With the large "grill" on the C6, is the air-dam required to pull air in?

 

[Wafflekyd]

I can't say that I remember exactly where I read this, as I've read a ton of stuff on the C6. I read somewhere that the rubber airdam underneath the car is designed for low clearance to improve aerodynamics, and is also designed to harmlessly rub in certain instances - pulling into a driveway, etc.

I've read this does no harm.

 

[bobby1]

Take it off and let us know the details.