Stock front airdam for 73-80 Worth picking up?

[1774btcrew]

Added picture of actual air dam As a lot of you know I spend a lot of time locating and selling parts for 73-87 Chevy and GMC trucks. For the first time ever I have came across not one but two stock air dams for the 73-80 trucks. I see the 81 and newer periodically but never 80 and older. I pulled the one I found today and set it aside. The wrecking yard isn't super cheap so I don't want to spend much money if it isn't worth it. It does have a 1" tear at the bottom in the middle. I would think it would be short work to repair. Thinking about getting it for my own truck. It will give the illusion of it sitting lower. It looks like the one in this picture.

[54Caddy]

I picked up the last two in the gm parts system a few months ago. they are nice. truck is just too low for it. any chance one of the two is the 3 piece design??

[1774btcrew]

I know the one I pulled today is one piece. The other one I didn't look at too closely.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I think the correct front air damn for 73-80 is a three piece part and hard to get. Most people adapt the later model one piece air damns to these trucks and those ones mount to the bumper

[bluex]

That's my truck in that picture an that's an 81+ airdam I modified to fit... It bolts to the bumper where the correct one bolts a little further back on the frame....

Here's a correct one..





It appears that the split should be there as I doubt Ken would keep a broken one on his long. Especially since he had everything off for those upgrades....

[RandyP]

1980 was the first year of the single piece air dam and was a stand alone part.

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by RandyP

1980 was the first year of the single piece air dam and was a stand alone part.

Thanks for the info. This Blazer was all original so I doubt it was a newer part. The picture above was referenced as it was the only 73-80 I found with a front air dam.

[RandyP]

Did it bolt to the bumper or to the core support? They did not attaching the air dam to the bumper until 81, as already mentioned. 80 and below were attached to the core support and were less visible since they were further back.

[1774btcrew]

To be honest with you, I was in a hurry and just zipped it loose with my impact so O wasn't physically under the truck not I think it was bolted to the core support. I am hoping to run back by there today to grab it.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Did it bolt to the bumper or to the core support? They did not attaching the air dam to the bumper until 81, as already mentioned. 80 and below were attached to the core support and were less visible since they were further back.

That is how I remember it. ^^

'80 and earlier had a flat blade under the radiator support to push air up into the radiator.

'81 and later had the three dimensional air dam mounted on the bottom of the bumper to push air around the outside of the truck (and prevent it from going under).

K

[1774btcrew]

I went ahead and picked it up. It was on a 4x4 Blazer. 2 of the bolts actually mounted to the front spring hangers and 2 mounted where the inner fender well mounts to the core support.

[TexasJeff]

I have an 80 and it is a flat blade type like Keith mentioned.

[1774btcrew]

I am back home and plan to try to get it mounted up this week and see how it goes.

[1774btcrew]

Picture of actual air dam is now up

[Skunksmash]

Do they serve much of a purpose on these old trucks? I know on some newer cars, your car will overheat without it. Found that out the hard way. But what do they do on the 73-87 trucks? I was thinking of getting a new one since mine has a couple cracks.

[1774btcrew]

I don't really know since most of these trucks are missing these.

[bluex]

You're Welcome For The Info Btw.....

An As I Stated Earlier, The Airdam You Have Won't Look Exactly Like The One Pictured On My Truck Since It Mounts Further Back An Not Right On The Bottom Of The Bumper...

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

Do they serve much of a purpose on these old trucks? I know on some newer cars, your car will overheat without it. Found that out the hard way. But what do they do on the 73-87 trucks? I was thinking of getting a new one since mine has a couple cracks.

It was placed there as an aid to engine cooling (specifically the '73 - 80 part).

Keep in mind, though, some of these parts are there because of a test result in some extreme case, like pulling a trailer at GVW up Townes Pass in the middle of the summer. You might not need it based on your duty cycle.

The '81 to '87 part was added as an aerodynamic improvement.

K

[xrcr]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

It was placed there as an aid to engine cooling (specifically the '73 - 80 part).

Keep in mind, though, some of these parts are there because of a test result in some extreme case, like pulling a trailer at GVW up Townes Pass in the middle of the summer. You might not need it based on your duty cycle.

The '81 to '87 part was added as an aerodynamic improvement.
K

Ya think it worked???

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by xrcr

Ya think it worked???

Every little bit helps.

But - yes. As we moved forward and the EPA requirements became more and more stingent we'd spend a lot of money on .001 here or .001 there (and they do add up).

The little "bump" feature on the nose of the '78-'80 hood? That was placed there as an aero improvement too.

K