Monte SS front air dam

[-83MONTESS-]

Alright I have a question that has been bugging me for awhile. I understand the idea behind the front plastic air dam is to move air up and through the radiator. That's all fine and dandy but what about the cars, like the Monte Carlo SS, that have a box that seals the radiator opening to the front grill? What purpose does the air dam serve then? My original plastic one was broken so I ordered a new aluminum one from JT Racecraft. After it got here and I started fitting it I realized that it seemingly serves no function on my car because the radiator is sealed to the grill. Am I overlooking something here?

 

[pontiacgp]

in your case it would serve no purpose for cooling but I would leave it on. I like that it protects the front of the oil pan from getting hit with debris

 

[oldtinsmith]

The "air dam" creates a low pressure area BEHIND the radiator to "pull" air through the radiator (same reason why a "pull fan" works better than a "push fan" for cooling) for more efficient cooling. It's not there to "push" or "ram" air through the radiator. That's why it's on the SS Monte even though the SS Monte has the radiator box.

Doug

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Ok I will leave it on for both reasons brought up. I guess it does make sense that a low pressure area would be created behind it drawing air up into the engine. Would it make sense to cut about a 3" section out of the air box where it meets the core support? That way air would be coming in from the grill and it would be coming up from the air dam? Im not an engineer just spitballing here.

 

[foxtrot]

The "air dam" creates a low pressure area BEHIND the radiator to "pull" air through the radiator (same reason why a "pull fan" works better than a "push fan" for cooling) for more efficient cooling. It's not there to "push" or "ram" air through the radiator. That's why it's on the SS Monte even though the SS Monte has the radiator box.

Doug

Great info - I don't know why but never thought of that.

Mine has been missing for years on my Olds powered gbody and it runs a little warm on the highway and at idle. Runs cool on secondary roads. Plan to add the air dam back in the spring, as well as replace the under-drive pullies with std Olds crank & wp ones.

Sorry for the hijack.

 

[oldtinsmith]

I would not cut a 3" section out of the air box. I'm pretty sure the old saying applies here: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I'm sure that most (if not all) Monte SS's didn't have an overheating problem from the factory (I don't remember any recalls). If I wanted to draw more air through the radiator, I'd put a wider (in length) air dam on my car. When (or if ) I ever get my El Camino done, I'll be putting the 46 inch wide air dam I got off of a loaded optioned 1978 Grand Am. That should draw more higher air pressured air THROUGH the radiator. The low pressure area created by the air dam won't draw air up into the engine compartment, it will pull the air down from the radiator. ... I'm not an engineer either! What I,ve said here is from my own research into this subject (Air dam!).

Doug

 

[motorheadmike]

Look under a C4/C5 Corvette or 3rd/4th Gen F-body same deal about creating a low-pressure area behind the radiator (especially considering they don't have forward facing grilles) with large air dams. The air box on the Monte serves to help air speed through the small grille opening and across the surface area of the radiator into a low pressure area within the engine compartment... where all that heat transfer goes from there is your problem.

 

[pontiacgp]

I don't think that plastic piece has anything to do with cooling or creating a low pressure area behind it to draw air down from the radiator. The stock set up has a shroud that has an opening just slightly bigger than the fan and I think around 10" back from the radiator.