Sorry to bring this back from page two, but. I need to know if an 03 type dam will fasten to my 99 bumper. Also, I would like to compliment Jmathews on his idea of using landscape curbing, cool idea. So help me out guys. any info?

 

I DID copy some eco nut tree hugger somewhere along the way heh heh.

 

No need to apologize! Your question is exactly what this thread, and this forum is intended to answer.

The short answer is not quite plug and play... an 03 air dam will not easily mount to a 99 bumper, even though they might visually look perfect together externally.

I am STILL looking for a picture of what the latest and last version of the 99-04 front bumper design looks like in order to help folks clearly visualize the differences. The changes are very subtle, and probably escape the notice of most people, but the changes DO materially effect the manner in which the lower factory air dam is mounted.

There are AT LEAST four different versions of lower factory air dam. The basic part number will be the same between them all, but the prefix (design year/model/department) and suffix (revision letter code) will vary and differentiate depending on the design.

My 2000 had no lower air dam, just like yours. I bought one for the then new Excursion, and found that it relied on a blocker beam to mount... which I didn't have either, like yours doesn't. The mounting tabs were situated halfway up the dam. So don't get one for a 2000 Excursion. (This is the piece I ended up using as my "double dam" air dam #2).

My neighbor crunched his front 99 bumper. Twice. The first time wasn't so bad, so I gave him my flawless original 2000 bumper, in a direct swap for his old dented one. He was very happy. I didn't mind, because I had planned to change bumpers anyway. Then he really crunched my 00 bumper, so I gave him back his 99 bumper, (This story really doesn't add any info, I just think it is funny).

In the meantime, I started looking for take off front bumpers from the young bucks who prefer buckstop bumper replacements that weigh almost as much as the truck itself. Early bumpers had only one cross brace per side. Later model bumpers had two cross braces, and more mounting holes on the lower lip that facilitated the mounting of a lower air dam. I found a later bumper that had both sets of cross braces as well as the holes for the air dam. Heck, the take off came with the air dam.

Just about anything can be fabricated. John's very clever use of landscape edging material for a lower air dam is a great (and good looking) example. But I suspect at least for the first air dam, you'd like to take advantage of the fact that Ford already designed one, so might as well find and use it.

I suggest looking through the local classified ads for take offs to see what you are able to find. If you post pictures of the lower back lip of your current metal bumper, I might be able to help you sort out which lower air dam to order from Ford, if it comes down to you having to buy a new one (if they haven't already been obsoleted, which is also possible, given that 10 years has passed for all models now).

We can keep this thread alive as long as it takes for you to get what you want!

 

So... aside from looking good, did any of you with air dams experience a noticeable change in any way - or is this essentially bling?

 

I did it cause all the new trucks dams are really low for mpg's. I put on a lot of road miles and thought it might help. Had it on for a year or so but I can't say if it's helped any, but what the hell the price was right

 

Ouch! A put down to "essentially bling"?? Coming from you, Tugly, that's hitting a bit below the bumper!

 

I took mine off and saw no difference, but then again look at my truck.

For the trucks lower to the ground, or even lowered trucks, air dams make a difference for sure.

If you go to PSN there is a guy who gets something near 30mpg (26 to be exact, after the fact) out of his truck, verified, but he made the truck in search of high mpgs. Its got everything. Including a conveyor belt rubber material front air dam.

There was an article in Diesel Power Mag. In the article they did mistakenly report a 2 mpg gain for a 203 tstat, but the actual gain reported was 0.6 mpg.

 

I only ask because Stinky is blingless so far. Everything I've done has been all about what Stinky can do, not how he looks while doing it (with exception of the back tailgate and repairing damage after being hit).

Saying that - he is due for a steering wheel makeover and a set of rims, but I am in no rush for that. My next project is front springs and a MAP sensor. So... all the members convulsing over Stinky's steering wheel and headlights will have plenty to banter about for a while longer.

 

FWIW, here is what I did. I took an air dam off of a 2010 4x4 f350 and put it on my 2003. It doubled the length of the factory dam. Maybe 1/4 mpg better. Around town I didn't notice any difference but when strictly on the highway there was a difference.

Didn't mount up perfectly so I made a couple 90 degree aluminum brackets to mount it. It is very solid.

 

That '10 dam looks surprisingly like it belongs there, 7.3Excursion4x4 (even though it is doubtful you did it for looks). The whole point is to minimize the amount of air getting under the truck, and do so with some subtlety, as opposed to the bolted on conveyor belt approach.

Fischer-Price gets it...

 

FYI:

"Effects Of Air Dam (Ford F350 pickup)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I finally got my air dam testing done. Six fill-ups over 2200 miles. three with air dam vs three without air dam.

Without air dam: 26.34 MPG
With air dam: 27.00 MPG

That equates to $1.72 less per fillup at local prices."

Here's the link:

Effects Of Air Dam (Ford F350 pickup) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

Yes, that is Dave Whitmer's truck.

(Before my '91 CSXsi was stolen, I used to subscribe to instant emails with EcoModder.com Wow, it says that I was last online on 10-24-12...)

Finally, I like the guy's comment that essentially you could put an aluminum fishing boat, stern to the cab, bow to the rear, on top of a rigid tonneau on the back of the pickup and accomplish the same thing that Dave did with his custom tonneau cover -- with a dual use!

 

I get that you are all about function, not form. What I don't get is how/why you dismiss the doubled or deeper front air dams of Dave Whitmer, John Matthews, 73Excursion4x4, and indeed, Ford Motor Company as "bling" merely for looks, when it is quite evident that the effort is all about air management that effects what the truck can "do".

Ford isn't alone. A recent article on the 2015 GM trucks revealed that the new Silverado and Sierra spent more time in the wind tunnel testing than any previous truck in GM history. A close look at their new lower air dams reveals the implementation of many of the same principles that Dave W. discusses in the articles that Tim has linked, including an even deeper dam directly in front of each front tire... an important detail that you might have noticed that both of our Prius's have.

My installation had more than just the economy function of those above. Just like your one socket to serve both 1/2" and 13mm needs, my secondary air dam also serves to direct more air into my lower cooling scoops that are ducted to the OTA transmission cooler.

 

This is all pretty neat. However, these units are best described as "Bricks". There is little or no Air Flow Design. If I were cross country driving continually towing trailers for a living..... Maybe. Other than that .... Just Bling... Money better spent elsewhere.

 

"[T]hese units are best described as "Bricks".

I beg to differ. Dave Whitmer described my van as an "Amish barn."

 

I'd describe Stinky as a "Safe". It's where all my money is locked up, with about the same aerodynamics.