should i leave my air dam on?

[99chevytahoe]

I have a stock 99 tahoe 4wd at stock height. I hit a pretty big pothole wich broke my air dam on both sides by the tires. I didn't feel like looking at a half broken airdam so i took it off and i had to take it off in such a way that i will have to replace it if i decide to because the mounting brackets are snapped off. I did some reading and saw sone things about how the air dam helps handling and engine temp but all i want to know is:

Will having the air dam off screw with my mpg that much?
Will it effect engine cooling and handling on said tahoe?

I could care less about how it looks with or without it i just dont any long term affects.

 

[lesterl]

Some
Some
I would put it back on....

 

[99chevytahoe]

Some
Some
I would put it back on....

Well thats like 80 bucks and then finding the right hardware to mount . Im gonna waitwait and buy one with some fogs on it.

 

[lesterl]

Definitely, if gonna spend the money ought to get something cool.....

 

[99chevytahoe]

Definitely, if gonna spend the money ought to get something cool.....

Im thinking i could just cut out holes for fogs..
The only problem is the plastic around where the bolts screw into the air dam is broke and still attatched to the bolts. How can i reattach that plastic to the air dam and then
to the bumper?
80 bucks is alot for a air dam

 

[lesterl]

Get some plastic welding rods and a large (higher wattage) soldering iron with a chisel point.....