Judging Interest for LOW flexible front spoiler Options

[VaccaRabite]

Last week I approached Mikey914 about making a flexible front spoiler similar to the NLA Flexdam. He went to Camp see what I was on about, and noted that it was fiberglass and rubber and asked Morph about making the glass part.

Verdict: it can be done. But, is there interest?
This is what we are talking about:
(IMG:http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/John1/914_rubber_spoiler.jpg)

So. Are we interested in such an item? Cost would likely be in the $110 to $120 range, depending.

You would get all the benefits of a really low spoiler, without the worry of killing it on the street every time you approached a speed bump or random twig or driveway.

As a car moves swiftly down the road, air does under the body of the car as well as over the top, which produces lift. A low air dam blocks that airflow, and helps keep the car attached to the road at speed.

Plus, they look cool.

So. Who wants one?

[Gint]

I like 'em. Looks really cool.

But wouldn't removing a lot of air flow under the car would decrease the draw from under the engine compartment and possibly compromise cooling at least a little bit?

[blitZ]

I am interested. I have a LE dam, which I've managed to crack on some parking curbs. This looks like a good solution.

[MDG]

I'm not looking for one but a friend has been searching in vain to find a replacement for his Flexdam. I'm sure there are plenty of others in the same boat.

Of all the aftermarket spoilers I've always liked the looks of these best. A lot of guys take the lower rubber skirt off and just run the upper FG section. In that configuration, IMHO, they look nicer than the factory LE spoiler as they follow the lines of the bumper better. The LE spoiler always looks kind of bucktoothed to me.

a member here - Kargeek's - superb white car has this.

they'd sell

m.

[VaccaRabite]

I like 'em. Looks really cool.

But wouldn't removing a lot of air flow under the car would decrease the draw from under the engine compartment and possibly compromise cooling at least a little bit?

Actually, it should draw more. The area under the car would be a big low pressure zone, drawing heated air from the cooling tin and puling it away from the engine. Its the same premise as the flaps directly in front of the engine bay on the 75-76 cars.

That said, I'm not an engineer. I did not even sleep in a Holiday Inn last night.

Zach

[Mikey914]

We are currently looking at building these, I like the idea of the rubber taking alot of the abuse that would normally damage the lower section, allowing for a closer ground clearance. Again, I think there is some room for improvements on this that will make it stronger, and perhaps we can even get it slightly lower. The key is the demand. Before we spend thousands in tooling we really need to see how many people have an interest. I know this market is more limited to the preformance side, but there may be enough interest to do these.

Any feedback helps.

Thanks,
Mark

[ConeDodger]

A buddy of mine could make that with stuff from Home Depot! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Bruce Hinds]

Hey Mark,
Great idea, I'll get one for sure. I've run one on my V8 for the past 20+ years. The upper part(fiberglass) needs to be made just a little stronger. They have a tendency to break around the mounting points, and the top edge on the sides just ahead of the wheel well.

I can send you some pics if you want to see one that's well worn. Mine's also been modified for the radiator intake, that might be an option for for the GT guys too.

[andys]

Would it be lower than say the deep valence with brake ducts; this one:

This one already snags and scrapes on most everything. The rubber part would see quite a bit of abuse if it were lower, me thinks. Also, would it be intended to fit a flared car?

Thanks,

Andys

[Mikey914]

The re-inforcement at the mounting points was one of the items we had discussed. It should sit lower than the GT style, and yes the bottom lip will take alot of abuse. The idea is that the rubber section could be replaced without having to buy a whole new one. I think I have an example from which we can evaluate the failures of the original to make some improvements.

Keep the input comming, there's always room for improvement.

[Mikey914]

A buddy of mine could make that with stuff from Home Depot! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

"Yeah, but my dad is a TV repair man and he has an awesome set of tools"

[jfort]

I am interested in this, too. Would like it to match with GT flares if possible.

[PeeGreen 914]

I would be intersted I guess. If the cost is that low why not. Gives me a few different options. My really low airdam is cracked at the moment and I am going to fix it and put a splitter on it. I will use it mostly for track stuff. This would be good for the rest of the time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[dkjens]

I had one of those on my '74 914 some 15 years ago. The fiberglass part does have to be made very strong, especially where it attached to the bottom of the front fenders. This point is where the fiberglass part is being ripped out, when attempting to back away from a situation where the lip has gotten a little hung up (parking blocks, drive ways, curbs etc.).

[jhadler]

Interested.

But I'd be looking for brake ducts and an oil cooler opening as well.

-Josh2

[Al Meredith]

We had one on an EP racer years ago. I think I still have the rubber part. As I remember, The rubber had an extruded square slot along the top and you threaded that over round head bolts heads inserted from the rear. Then tightened the nuts and secured the rubber with no visable mounting hardware . I think I still have the rubber if a piece of it would help you to fabricate a new one. Maybe even a picture.....I'll look in the shed tomorrow and post a pic. Al

[roadster fan]

I like it. I am in. Perfect for everyday driving.

Jim

[ellisor3]

I would be in as well. I have been looking for this dam and it is not currently available anywhere I can find.

Will it work with front flares????

[arvcube]

i'd be interested for that price. I'd be interested in fiberglass bumpertops too.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Mikey914]

I'm working with James to produce this product (morph), we have discussed the flare issue, so far there are many different variations on the fiberglass flares, the steel are more consistent, we are going to set these up so that they can be used on both, and could be modified by the end user to accomidate whatever flairs you may have. This would mean they could be cut and spliced with additional fiberglass by the end user, to accomidate flaring it out more.

So, yes it will work with flares, but you may want to modify it for a more streamlined look.

Brake cooling we have yet to discuss.

Keep the imput rolling in.