Air dams

[Packer fan]

Hi,

My use is for around town and an occasional track day or auto cross.

I am wondering if there are any air dams that are adjustable so I can use it around town and then lower it for the track. I like the look of them for every day use and then the effectiveness on the track. I saw the DWC splitter and may also put that on but it sounds like a air dam is more effective.

[Bob Cowan]

I used the Dark Water air dam a while back. Easy to install, easy to adjust. Created a lot of down force, and allowed for higher cornering speeds. BUT, it also created a lot of drag, and decreased my lap times on the bigger tracks. I took it off, and I think it's still in my basement somewhere.

[Dewey McBride]

I've been thinking about this too. Over 100mph the car isn't as stable. I saw on facebook a guy got an air dam or front spoiler and rear diffuser. He said it's night and day over 100mph.

[Bob Cowan]

Spoilers and splitters are much more efficient than dams. I have seen these Backdraft spoilers fitted to the FFR body. The results are said to be good. For a street car, this would be my first choice.

https://www.iconicparts.com/front-spoiler.html

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Nice looking. Wonder about driveways & speed bumps though.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I made one 10+ years ago using 1" square aluminum tubing and 3/8" thick conveyor belt rubber. The metal frame ends 2" or so above the rubber so that it can deflect if necessary which rarely happens.



It uses 2 pins and 2 thumbscrews to attach and can be put on or removed in one minute. The rear struts are intentionally sacrificial so that it can hinge/fold under with a hard impact such as digging in during an off track excursion (thankfully untested!). Dig around with a search on the other forum and you should find a write up with some photos that I posted when I made it.

I experienced much the same as Bob...it helps plant the front at triple digits but you can feel the additional drag at that speed.

Jeff

[Avalanche325]

For autocross, you need pretty big high angle spoilers / wings to be reasonably effective. They would be pretty silly looking on the street. Most autocross is a 2nd gear, less than 70mph event. Look at what they run at SCCA national Solo. It looks like they stole parts off of a sprint car. The track is different.

Here is one of the fastest autocross cars that there is. They'd be sweet on a Cobra! LOL
Solo-nationals-Perry-Bennett-ACME-Special.jpg


The track ones do look good. I am pretty much an old school look guy though.

I was going to do a Track Night in America at Daytona tonight, but had work stuff get int the way. It is pouring down rain anyway and there is no way I would run a high speed track with nothing but concrete walls in the rain in a Cobra. Watching footage, 140 is common and I saw 160. I am sure some aero would be a big help on the high banks. I was honestly sweating a little thinking about signing up.

What speed would you guys say these start getting light?

[Jeff Kleiner]

What speed would you guys say these start getting light?

100ish

I don't think an air dam such as mine really adds downforce so much as it prevents some of the air from getting under the car and lifting it.

Jeff

[frankeeski]

One thing to remember is that ride height is going to play a big part in how/what the front air dam contacts. Kleiner runs his car pretty low as do I. I run mine 3-3.5" in the front and about 4" in the back. At that height my air dam was dragging on everything, it's no longer on the car.

[Packer fan]

Spoilers and splitters are much more efficient than dams. I have seen these Backdraft spoilers fitted to the FFR body. The results are said to be good. For a street car, this would be my first choice.

https://www.iconicparts.com/front-spoiler.html

I think this might be a good option along with lowering the car a bit more.

Thanks all,