diverman

I just left the dealer after having my second oil change. They called me down to the car to see if I wanted them to remove the center air dam. They explained that any cars with the Z51 dry sump option should not have this center air dam. I must have had a skeptical look on my face because they showed me the PDI form spelling this out. In all fairness they were not the people who did the PDI. I did a search on this and it has been touched on before, so to those that have already seen this I apologize. I hadn't seen it so I thought others might not have either. Anyway if you have a center air dam it should't be there, a few small screws and it comes right off. Just an FYI.

davepl

All Stage 1 Z06s come with a center air dam and a dry sump, so on its face it can't be literally true. Unless you mean they should all be removed at PDI, I suppose.

When I upgraded to Stage 2/3 I opted to retain it because I didn't have a reason to remove it, but I am curious as to why they remove it for Stage 3. I figure less air under the car equals more downforce, so why remove it?

HighBeta

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RonC7

The front center deflector may be required depending on your aero package. Only Z51 shows NO for all options.

See the link.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ages-1314.html

Ron

diverman

As the mechanic explained it to me was it's not a matter of what aero package you have. It's about not installing it on anything with the Z52 dry sump. it apparently inhibits oil cooling. What I don't understand is why they would even ship it with any Z06 and then tell the dealer not to install it.

h3mpking

I had it on my stage 1 aero Z06 until it ripped off while unloading the car off of a trailer. I haven't replaced it yet. No one has given me a good reason or explanation of what it does.

NSC5

None of the Z06 should have the center air dam and as the posted PDI indicates any vehicle with Z52 (dry sump) should not have it; Z52 is part of the Z51 package and is also standard with the GS and Z06. I ordered my Z06 with stage 1 aero and had ACS skirts installed at the museum as part of PDI; it did not have the center dam installed-only the two small side dams.

See post #8 in this thread for a scan of the PDI instructions: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...6-air-dam.html

Nice that the dealer caught this mistake. Was this a different dealer than the one who did the delivery?

h3mpking

Thanks, NSC5, for posting the link. Weird that they would ship the center air dam at all then according to the PDI. I have had 3 stage 1 aero C7 Z06s and they have all had the center air dam. All the ones I have seen at dealerships have had them as well.

sTz

Interesting thread. My Z06, w/Stage 1, has the center air dam installed.

NSC5

With all of the posts I just went out and took another look to make sure mine didn't have it It must be cheaper to just send the entire dam package with every vehicle. For those people who need a replacement front dam there should be plenty available via the forum.

Darkvet

Stage 3 and mine does not have it.

davepl

So are you saying my Z06 did -not- have it from the factory and it must have been installed by the dealer? In that case, I'll remove it.

I'd be hesitant to actively remove a factory piece, but if it's something that got installed at PDI incorrectly, I'll take it off. But how would I know?

Do we know where all these Stage 1 Z06s are getting them? It seems unlikely all those dealers would have made the same mistake, but the logic of the dry sump cooling should apply to all of them, you'd imagine.

capevettes

Odd that dealers would spend the time to do something they shouldn't be doing. Hard enough to get them to do the things they are supposed to.

My Stage 1, 2016 does not have the center piece.

h3mpking

I didn't notice any lift or anything strange while running high speeds with the center air dam removed with stage 1 aero.

NSC5

I expect the dealer is so used to installing pieces on the base (non-Z51) C7 that it is done out of habit. Unless they read the PDI sheet carefully the dealer prep person won't catch the footnote for Z52 nor would that person likely know what Z52 means since is isn't an option code you can order by itself.

diverman

Yes it was.

It's my understanding all front aero parts and skirts are installed during PDI.

-HAIRBALL-

My Z is a Stage 1 and it did not come with the center air dam.

Poor-sha

The center air dam creates lift. It is there to aero balance the car with the smaller stage 1 spoiler. It is supposed to be there on stage 1 only.

davepl

The purpose makes perfect sense, but I'm confused about the "lift" part. I'd think air would stack in front of the dam, creating lift in front of it and downforce behind it, with the dam itself the "teeter totter" on which those forces balance. No?

Either way, I'll remove mine at next oil change or whenever I have it up next. Thanks for the info!

rbartick

My Stage 2 car did not come with the center deflector. It does have the side pieces under the bumper.