Does air dam effect coolant temperature much. While working on a/c condenser, I removed it to clean and paint and seems temp increased while driving.

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FIEROBUG!!!!!!!!!!

Depends on the engine/cooling system condition/etc, but when I ran my 2.5l without an air dam, no difference.

Are you talking about the Air Dam that goes around the nose or the Flat Piece under the nose that directs the air to the RAD? if you are talking about the flat peice it is very important to have. I swapped out my front fascia for a F355 nose and did not reinstall it and my temps went all kinds of wacky! in town it was ok but at freeway speeds it got hot. not enough air was going through the rad at higher speeds. Short answer is YES! you need that piece.

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88 Formula CJB Arrived Finally. #689 of 1252
Time to start Working TONY!
There are Two kinds of Fiero's : Notchies and Donors!

I removed a flat metal piece that connects to the dam. I did not remove any flat plastic under nose if that is what you mean.

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FIEROBUG!!!!!!!!!!

quote Originally posted by fierobug: I removed a flat metal piece that connects to the dam. I did not remove any flat plastic under nose if that is what you mean.

OK, that should not affect air flow to the radiator then.

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88 Formula CJB Arrived Finally. #689 of 1252
Time to start Working TONY!
There are Two kinds of Fiero's : Notchies and Donors!

I removed a flat metal piece that connects to the dam. I did not remove any flat plastic under nose if that is what you mean.

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FIEROBUG!!!!!!!!!!

Tell us which model/year/engine please.

Bottom breathing cars need something to drive fresh air up into the radiator. Smaller engine cars like something with a 4 cyl dont get hot enough on their own so it may get away without the air dam. Corvettes, Camaros and Firebirds were notorious for overheating on the highway without them.

The flexible sheets attached to the radiator around the edges are critical as well.

SORRY. the auto is an 87gt V6, took it for a ride and the temperature went back to its usual 1/3 way up, after reading other member temperature readings I understand there is something wrong other than just taking off thr air dam. will check OVER the whole cooling system LATER. Am in the middle of AN a/c conversion and need to focus on that. ITS ALL good though, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thANKS EVERYBODY.

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FIEROBUG!!!!!!!!!!

"in the middle of an A/C conversion". If you mean you do not have A/C now, and will when you are done, it is even more important to have the air dam. You will generate a lot more heat from the A/C coils, thus increasing the amount of heat going into the radiator. So if this is the case, make sure to get this done right away after the A/C so you do not increase the chances of overheating.

fierobug and others,

Don't suppose you have a picture of this deflector do you please? Does it vary by model? I have an 86 SE but don't have a deflector and no Fieros around to compare with.

Cheers
PK

Will definitely have air dam back on when condenser goes in. Thanks for explaining that the ac coils get so hot though, didn't know that. Will try to get picture of air dam up. sd card not working right.

Here are a couple of photo's of the air dam:





It basically just helps to force the air through the radiator, and keeps it from going up over the top.

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 05-22-2011).]

Thank you John. I have the top and side ones....the bit I never knew existed is the one the runs along the bottom of the car and forces air up. I found a good picture of it: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/057067.html

Was hoping it was rubber and could be folded and posted but apparently this might not be possible. Might need to get resourceful as finding one here is unlikely.

Cheers
PK