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If you take measurements of your truck and then junk yard hunt you might find something from the newer trucks you can adapt to yours.
The newer ones keep air from going under the truck where it gets trapped and hurts MPG.
I know someone did a MPG test years ago on a 80's pick up and added one and it helped a lot I just dont remember what he used for the test.
I also think he had it on the bottom of the bumper and not the lower radiator support as it would have been to far back and the air would then be pushed out to the back side of the tires.
I also want to say it was not a vary tall one, maybe 6" if I remember right?
Dave ----
Do you envision this spoiler being just below the bumper or replacing the bumper? Will it be integrated with the fender as viewed from the side? That would visually lower the truck and could compliment other "ground effects" pieces.
I would like to attach it to the bottom of the bumper. Probably not deeper than 3" 4" inches. I lowered already so I dont' want it to become a hazard. Not thinking wrap around at all.
I would like to attach it to the bottom of the bumper. Probably not deeper than 3" 4" inches. I lowered already so I dont' want it to become a hazard. Not thinking wrap around at all.
Sounds like a plan, maybe cut /. fab from 1/8" aluminum? I once did that on a car, then it was slanted forwards with two braces to hold the angle (like NASCAR cars used in the '70s) too, not just a "wall" .... hit a big ground hog one day, cut it might near in half. YUKK! People at the "Burger Doodle" were pointing, etc. I had to go to the car wash before my GF would eat with me..
If it slants forward and is on the bumper the air will not have any place to go as it is trapped in a pocket between the spoiler & bumper before blowing off the ends.
Now if this forward slant spoiler was mounted to the front side of the lower radiator support the air would be forced up into the radiator and help on cooling when moving. The extra air flow thru the radiator would also go across the motor and engine bay to cool them too.
A air dam comes straight down, no pocket, and the air blows off the ends.
I dont think much more air would be pushed thru the radiator for cooling.
A radical approach would be to lower the bumper and let it serve to direct more air to the radiator. This would require modifying the front frame horns which would not be trivial.
Dentside Econoline's from maybe mid 80's till the end of the dentside style had a small one attached to bottom of front bumper. Not sure if it was all models, saw most on E150's, maybe adaptable?
On the 80's F100 / F150 fuel miser model yes there was such a thing, it used a spoiler below is the part number dont know if the vans used the same or not as I dont have that information.Spoiler / air dam under bumper 80-86 E1TZ 10001A06-A
I had a 76 E350 dent and it did not have anything under the bumper so it may have been only in later years and / or lighter models
Dave ----
Did it help in the MPG dept. or you did it mostly for looks?
How did you attach it to the bumper?
Dave ----
Hard to tell but I got 25mpg on a recent 150 mile jaunt. I had no previous comparison with my motor and trans. My previous 460 and 3 speed would have gotten 8. Can’t hurt direct airflow around Vs under.
I used a piece of angle bolted to the bottom of bumper and then pop riveted to the angle, but just wrapped around the edges and zip tied. To stiffen it up I put a piece of narrow and thin flat bar at the bottom of the spoiler and riveted the plastic to it. Just stiffens it up.
I'm thinking straight down about 3" with maybe a curve or bend on the ends and a bend in the middle to match up with the bumper.. Main idea is to keep air out from under the truck on the highway. It would probable help air to the radiator but I don't have any cooling problems
I'm thinking straight down about 3" with maybe a curve or bend on the ends and a bend in the middle to match up with the bumper.. Main idea is to keep air out from under the truck on the highway. It would probable help air to the radiator but I don't have any cooling problems
Sounds exactly like mine. You could use metal and paint the rivets as an option, but be warned it probably would get bent. Fairly simple project. I used race car spoiler material from Summit Racing for the actual plastic.
People at the "Burger Doodle" were pointing, etc. I had to go to the car wash before my GF would eat with me..
