Dam, Dam, Dam

[kbarlow]

Anybody know what "MXB - Air Dam-Front" is? At the price of this option I may have to reconsider my purchase.

Ken

 

[David Muench]

I assume it's the same as the air dam option on the 2nd gen trucks. . It's an approx. 2" tall air dam sticking down from the bottom edge of the front bumper.



I don't know if anyone's ever proven how useful they are. . I skipped it on my 2001 because I would of had to cut it up to put a front reciever hitch on it.

 

[KCJackson]

I ordered the air dam on my 96. It was in place for three years. After a bumper bender in 99, it has gone the last three years without it (dealer replaced bumper but not air dam). I did see a decrease in fuel economy of about 10% highway, and 20% city-suburban - a loss of an honest 2 mpg from when the dam was in place.



Not scientific, and I am replacing the dam shortly in a mild restoration project.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Dam prices

That dam was a $15 Canadian Dollar option. That works out to around $9 US. Wonder how they do that. A replacement on the old trucks was a lot more than that.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

It probably costs them around $0. 30 to manufacture. Replacement costs are almost ALWAYS way higher than when originally purchased. Back in the 80's a motorcycle magazine took a model (don't remember which one now) and priced out every part buying it at retail to assemble an entire bike. The bike that cost $3,500 brand new if the parts where bought individually was over $150,000!! My brother is an ME for Ford and a dash piece that costs them $1. 70 to produce is sold over the counter for $300. There are other costs to take into consideration like the development cost, tooling costs, etc - but the manufacturers make a FORTUNE on parts sales. Look at our trucks, a lift pump on a 24v bought from Cummins is $150 - the same exact pump (with the Cummins sticker on it no less) bought from a Dodge dealership is $300 - so if they were paying what we pay to Cummins (I'm quite sure they're paying less than that) they are making a 100% profit on it!!! I personally think it's criminal the amount of money they make on parts sales.

 

[kbarlow]

Steve

Has DC ever explained the reason for it? There must be a pro or con for it because it is inexpensive and could be included in the package.



Thanks Ken

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by KCJackson

I ordered the air dam on my 96. It was in place for three years. After a bumper bender in 99, it has gone the last three years without it (dealer replaced bumper but not air dam). I did see a decrease in fuel economy of about 10% highway, and 20% city-suburban - a loss of an honest 2 mpg from when the dam was in place.



Not scientific, and I am replacing the dam shortly in a mild restoration project.

That's some pretty serious mileage loss !!! Hell- if that's the case, adding one should be good for at least 70HP!!!:-laf !!! Seriously, are you sure those claims are correct??? I'd love to hear from you after you get one back on. I took mine off so I could install some driving lights. I have not noticed any real difference.



Kev

 

[KCJackson]

Kev, the difference is in our trucks. You have a 2500 4x2 - I have a 3500 4x4, MUCH higher off the ground and thus more susceptible to changes in airflow. Visually, the air dam doesn't look like much (not a driveway scraper like with a lowrider ground effects kit or a NASCAR air dam), but it really does do the job.