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Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
So I recently purchased a GTA (Actually won't have it until tomorrow) and the spoiler is in terrible shape as are most if they have not been replaced. I found a guy on Craigslist who will give me an OEM spoiler in what he says is fantastic condition for $25, and until I am ready to repaint the whole car I would love to do this as a holdover. My question is, would it be possible to fiberglass over the rubber spoiler? Obviously this would weight a lot more than just buying a fiberglass spoiler and be much more work, but would obviously be a lot cheaper. I'm just not sure how compatible the foam used to make the stock spoiler is with fiberglass. Anyone care to offer a suggestion?
Re: Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
Not sure I understand why you want to fiberglass it...
I'd imagine what your talking about would be technically possible, but you'd have to have some extremely good workmanship to get it to come out right. Unless you've worked with a ton of fiberglass, your likely just gonna ruin the spoiler.
__________________
1984 Camaro Matrix 3 'Vert
1985 Firebird "Green Machine" (Parted Out)
1991 Firebird *RIP* (Rust in Peace)
1996 Camaro Z28 (Sold it... wish I had it back)
2009 Nissan Cube (Daily driver)
Re: Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
Quote:
Originally Posted by campin1983
Not sure I understand why you want to fiberglass it...
I'd imagine what your talking about would be technically possible, but you'd have to have some extremely good workmanship to get it to come out right. Unless you've worked with a ton of fiberglass, your likely just gonna ruin the spoiler.
I guess the reason would be that the OEM spoiler will proably just crack the paint off again in no time, so I would consider doing that as a way to prevent that from happening but to save over the $500 it will cost me to get a fiberglass spoiler shipped to me. I guess I just wanted to see if it was feasible or if it would completely destroy the spoiler. For $25 if it was theoretically possible, I figured I was willing to take that risk
Re: Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen
If the $25 on is "in fantastic condition"....Get it REGSRDLESS of if you use or just flip it.
An original condition, no cracks or splitting urethane one is like GOLD, to the GTA purists community! (which i'm proudly NOT a member of )
Interesting... Thats good to know although I don't completely understand why. I have been wanting a GTA for years and finally did it, but I remember my cousin bitching about the cracking spoiler on his GTA back in the late 90s). Maybe I won't molest it with fiberglass then, and might just do a holdover DIY paint job until the car is ready to be painted in a year or 2.
Re: Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
I just replaced my spoiler with the fiberglass one from Hawks. The original was still on the car and looked horrible when painted. The fiberglass one looks INCREDIBLE and unless you touch it, you can't tell the difference.
That said, if you can get an OEM and keep the car GARAGED, you may never have to replace it.
That said...if you do replace it with a fiberglass, you may have to do a little modification. The one I got from Hawks is nice, but just a HAIR shy in width, so we had to cut the original clips off the car because the spoiler wouldn't sit right on top of them despite the notches. My body guy was able to pull it off so it looks like there were never any clips there to start with, but if you can get an original and keep it nice, go for it...especially for $25.
I went with the fiberglass one, and I couldn't be happier with the finished product from my body shop. The problem I ran into with the original is that the paint would NOT stick to it. In weeks, it looked AWFUL.
__________________ Bethany, 1988 Pontiac GTA
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1983 Black and Gold Trans Am LG4--GONE, but never forgotten...
Re: Potentially Crazy GTA wrap around spoiler question
I was able to find an original in good shape for my wife's car, in a year of driving the car after paint it is starting to crack. In my opinion go fiberglass and be done!