Lower air deflector

[Pistonbroke]

My lower air deflector is in need of replacing. Do they actually perform a worthwhile function?

Do they act as protection for the underside of the engine, do you need to have one?

Any idea how much they are to replace?

[T3rminator]

I was told it maintains efficiency of the radiator, as well as protection.
May also have an effect on the stability at very high speeds?

[FGII-XR6]

it also asists with aerodynamics and noise

[RG]

All true, also I wouldn't like to drive a AU V8 in summer through heavy traffic without one. That is why they were put there and why they should stay there. Try to get one from a wrecker if possible as the tray itself is pretty expensive. The rear plastic mounts that screw to it are good value though.

[poolkeeper]

I just came from the wreckers looking for one, with no success

[sly]

I've had 3 or 4 new ones... keep wiping the mofo's out... last one taken out by a Rottweiler travelling at 100km/h (relative velocity that is!). They are something like $60 or $80 new. You'd be lucky to get one from a wrecker, buy a lottery ticket if you find one.

[ronwest]

I've got an aftermarket front bar and ended up making one from 6mm rubber sheeting from Clark Rubber.
Cost about $25.

[poolkeeper]

Do you think sheetmetal will work ok, as a replacement??

[The Monty]

I havent had one for around a year and a half, lost it when I had a boo boo.
No noise, temp, or any other differences that I have noticed, except I found a large piece of quartz up near my rocker cover one day, no idea how it got there, lol.

[mik]

i replaced coolant hoses on the weekend and havent put it back on yet it does`nt seem to affect the engine tempreture so far, it will be going back on though , i could be wrong but it might also affect air flow in the engine bay regarding water spray and dust.......i`m thinking more of the alternator not that we see much water these days :(

[61galwagon]

They do effect the aerodydamics i ripped mine of after hitting a parking barrier :togo: , the car was very flighty at speeds over 115km not fun :

[The Monty]

I go over 150 on the strip and its dead stable, not a movement at all. Until you look at the person next to you and start drifting into there lane.
Maybe I could go faster if I drove in a straight line, lol..

[ronwest]

I also didn't have any issues without it. Fitting it was more a precautionary measure for when we are on long trips.
I really don't need a preventable problem when we are halfway to Nowheresville.

[v8falconsrule]

i recently asked our ford master tech at work recently and he told me he'd seen video footage- i presume wind tunnel or similar- showing how the undertray helped to smooth out the airflow both into the radiator and also under the nose of the car. he said without it the fan forced air tended to flow down and back around the front of the vehicle then sucked back into the radiator grille again...probably not the best way to cool an engine

[all4fordau]

I repaired mine with a soldering iron and some strips of plastic cut off ice cream containers. The thermo plastic that they use for ice cream containers melts at low temps but has really good adhesion properties. You just feed it into the damaged area like solder. Many a damaged bumper bar etc has been repaired using this method with great results. I live down a very pot holed dirt road and had wiped my air deflector out not long after I purchased my beloved au. I repaired it with this method and it is still in one piece today, 3 years later. It is fiddely, but will save you dollars and gives that enjoyment factor if you love to fix em yourself.

[blackers10]

i dont see the need for hte big ugly bit that hangs down at the back of the deflector tho?? its damn ugly and seems to look more like a cause of drag rather than aerodynamics

[mik]

Originally Posted by all4fordau

I repaired mine with a soldering iron and some strips of plastic cut off ice cream containers. The thermo plastic that they use for ice cream containers melts at low temps but has really good adhesion properties. You just feed it into the damaged area like solder. Many a damaged bumper bar etc has been repaired using this method with great results. I live down a very pot holed dirt road and had wiped my air deflector out not long after I purchased my beloved au. I repaired it with this method and it is still in one piece today, 3 years later. It is fiddely, but will save you dollars and gives that enjoyment factor if you love to fix em yourself.

good stuff...... mine is fairly tatty lookin i`ll give that one ago cheers.