1986 Corvette Ground Effects
- Ground effect bumpers lower the front of the car.yellow race car image by goce risteski from Fotolia.com
Ground effects lower the front, sides and sometimes the rear bumper of a vehicle. For a 1986 Corvette, there are some options for ground effects, although there is not as wide of a selection as there is for newer vehicles. The pieces are usually made from fiberglass or polyurethane, and must be painted to match the color of the vehicle. - Lowering the front bumper helps direct air flow around to the sides of the Corvette, reducing the air pressure under the car. This helps, albeit minimally, with control in tight turns. One option for a lower front bumper is model 103441 from Extreme Dimensions. This bumper is made with their Duraflex material and, according to the manufacturer, has a lower rate of shipping damage. The bumper comes with installation instructions, but professional installation may be required.
- To continue the lower line established by the lower front bumper, you can install side skirts on either side of the vehicle. To create the ground effect, these help prevent air from entering under the vehicle from the sides. Like the front bumper, the side skirts are typically made from fiberglass or polyurethane. Extreme Dimensions offers side skirts to match the front bumper for the 1986 Corvette. These come in six pieces, three for each side of the vehicle.
- For the 1986 Corvette, there are rear bumpers available to complete the ground effect look and style. In the case of the Corvette, the ground effect lowered bumper replaces the entire rear bumper of the vehicle. As such, it costs a bit more than some products for other vehicles. Extreme Dimensions offers a rear bumper to complete their ground effect kit for the 1986 Corvette for about $400 as of 2010.
- Some people elect to just add the front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper. However, you can add a rear wing (spoiler) as a finishing touch. The wing attaches to the trunk of the Corvette and gives the vehicle the look of a street racer. Extreme Dimensions model number 103448 is a "C-force wing" for the 1986 Corvette.
