Ruby_91_C4

I have read a few posts and watched videos of others struggling with the air dam fit.
I bought one myself from a vendor it comes from Auto Accessories of America made by CA(Corvette America, who is Top Flight).
Unless something happened that changes between 1990 to 1996 the quality of the Air Dams seems suspect
The outside pieces do not have the correct curvature and do not align with my old ones or the reinforcement/mounting plate holes (see pics)
The only option I see to solve this would be to cut triangles out to change the curvature and align the holes.

The major distributor seems to be Auto Accessories of America or Corvette America(Top Flight)
I have called a few places, but they seem use them as their source for the 1991-1996 3 Piece Air Dam
Zip Corvette seem reputable and seems to come from a different source, but they are backordered on their source unit December.

Is anyone else having the same experience or have source to get the correct ones?
Is it just life with old cards and aftermarket that we need to modify to fit?

'78CorvetteS.A.

Are you 100% sure they didn't send you '84-'90 air dam pieces!? Please post more pictures of the new and old ones individually, not stacked on top of each other👍

typical boomer

I was thinking the same thing.

I just put a set on my '84 and they look very familiar. Purchased mine from Zip.

Ruby_91_C4

They came as a 3 piece kit listed for 91-96
I compared them to my old ones and that is when I noticed the difference
The center piece was correct for the 1991 C4 as it has a different center support and is much different than the early C4s

Unless the company screwed up and packed them wrong
I am going to try another vendor and see what comes

If I have the same issues I will have to cut some reliefs into the plastic to allow it to bend and be secured correctly

C4 Steck

I haven’t done this before but… is there any give to the new pieces that could get them to line up with the bracket holes? I didn’t realize they would be so rigid. Maybe if you softened them up with a hair dryer or low setting on a heat gun?

typical boomer

I definitely had to bend mine inward to get the holes lined up with the metal retainers. Also had to buy longer bolts as the kit Zips sells were too short.

Ruby_91_C4

that is my concern
I have a feeling I will just have to make what they sell in the market work

typical boomer

Once mine were installed they looked fine. No weird wrinkles or folds in the corner pieces.

Ruby_91_C4

I bought another air dam and same issue with the outside pieces.
Here was my final solution and it went on with no issues.

I decided to cut reliefs on both sides with a pair of straight tin snips.
My logic was the 3 small center bolt holes lined up with the reinforcing piece, so if I did small reliefs centered between the outer and next inner small bolt holes (5-1/2 cc, so 2-3/4" to center) on both sides, I would have minimal bending vs doing one relief on one end.
I did not measure the angle, I just went with my gut feeling.


I also had to make my own center support angle bracket as my car did not have one.
I found a picture of it online with a measuring tape for reference.
I pulled it into Bluebeam software and scaled it to add dimensions.
I used a piece of 1/2" conduit.
I just flattened the ends with a vise and did a final flattening with a hammer.
I drilled two 1/4" some holes and bent the ends in a vise.
Painted it black and it fit perfect.
I only found used ones for $30, so this was a lot more cost-effective solution vs what I found online.

wilcar

Are the 84 Z51 and non Z51 spoilers the same?? Nice paint job!!

typical boomer

My understanding is that non Z51 had 3" spoilers and Z51 had 4". All the aftermarket spoilers seem to be 4" these days, luckily my '84 is Z51.
The paint is a 22+ year old "burgundy" (?) respray. The original red shows through in paint chips around the mirrors. Look close and notice the tread pattern of the Toyo RA-1 tires. Matches factory original 255/50 r16 and works with the 8.5" front and 9.5" rear wheels. A little tire noise with the roof on but not bad. They will probably age out before I wear them out.

wilcar

I have 245 50 16 tires on my 84 Z51 and have had no problems with them. Will probably go with 255s when these wear out. 255s are getting pretty expensive these days!

drive it

I used a heat gun turned up high to mold to fit on replacements.

Bill Chase

Bought the cheap ones from mid America Corvette for my 91. A heat gun and some patience and they fit just fine.