j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

I've got an 87 TA with a cracked up rubber wrap around spoiler. It's the only imperfection on my otherwise flawless car. I don't have the money to buy a fiberglass replacment at the moment. I was wondering if a firebird deck spoiler with 3rd brake light would bolt up in the same location. I assume it would, can't think of any reason that it wouldn't, I just want some reassurance. thanks, Jamie

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

You will need to fill the original mounting holes and grind the mounting tabs off of the window trim. Or replace the window trim.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

So the flat deck spoiler won't bolt up into the stock location of the wrap around spoiler?

Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

you'll have the mounting tabs on the hatch glass molding that you'll have to remove, and I'd bet the holes in the decklid will need to be welded up and have new holes drilled.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

ok. thanks, I'll head to the JY and take a few measurments and see.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

absolutely not,as mentioned above,you will have to fill in the holes and drill new ones. I bought the 4th gen styled fiberglass wing for my car and still had to do this.I'm not 100% sure if the factory style fiberglass one mounts directly to the factory location,but I believe it does.

Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

I too am pretty sure the fiberglass one is a direct fit, but he says he doesn't have enough money.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

yeah, I'd like to get a fiberglass one. they look aswesome. but spending $350ish on a spoiler just isn't in the cards right now. so I figured I'd jsut go with a flat firebird deck spoiler. thanks for the help guys. appreciate it.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Get an OEM 4th gen wing from the junkyard. We got ours for $100 each. Filled the original holes, drilled 2 new ones, extended the center posts, snapped off the tabs on the window trim and done! You can see in my pics, where the welding was needed.

BUT.....get one from an earlier 4th gen, like a LT1 car. We haven't figured out what the cutoff date is for the change, but his was from an earlier car, and fit better. It'll allow you to retain the wrap-around look.


On my friends 91....






On my 87 GTA....

87draggta

How did you extend those mounting tabs

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Stacked plexiglass, bonded together, cut/sanded to shape, then a skim coat of body filler or fiberglass can be used to finish the surface. We haven't finished mine. When the weather gets warmer come spring time they'll be finished.

The original bolts were used to bolt the plex extensions to the wing. We intended to use them to bolt to the deck too, by using some threaded inserts, or a lag bolt, that cut its own threads, but neither one of us ever have. Just the 2 outer bolts (10 mm, IIRC) are holding our wings on.

87draggta

I am having a problem finding a spoiler. When i got my car someone had took the spoiler off and filled the holes with black silicon. The whole thing is pretty rigged up

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

That's how my 84 TA was exactly. it was bad. I ditched the entire hatch and got a new one with a spoiler from an 82.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Another reason to do a 4th gen wing swap. Good 3rd gen aero wings are getting hard to find, and the fiberglass ones are $300+

87draggta

No doubt, there aren't any in the junkyards around here. Everyone crushes them as soon as they get em. I almost thought about not even putting one back on, and just filling the holes.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Just go "naked"....

TA In Progress

iTrader: (3)

The repro fiberglass aerowing does bolt into the factory mouting location (at least mine did!).

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

I've gotta have a spoiler on mine. I tried the "naked" look. couldn't do it. Lukily my local JYs are full of 3rd gens. I can usually pick up a 3rd gen spoiler for about $25. a 4th gen for less than $100.

87draggta

I can find plenty of 4th gen. But finding time to make it work is the hard part, but finding money to buy a direct bolt on is even harder. It will be spring before I'm ready anyway, and I'm mostly track but I like a spoiler

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

you might get lucky at the j/y and find a good one,but is highly unlikely.
Not totally impossible though.I have gotten a few lucky shots at my local j/y.
1.91 gta complete tpi intake setup.from the plenum,runners,lower intake,air filter assm. intake tube and wiring harn. for $50!!!
2.two dashpads in mint condition $15 each
I guess keep looking around,and in the meantime if you can,save a few bucks here&there and get the fiberglass repro. model since it has been verified to be a direct bolt on.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

A 3rd gen pedestal wing, or areo wing? I find it VERY unlikely you are finding $25 aero wings. Most of them have cracked, because thurethane they are made of, doesn't live very well.
----------
Yep. My fiberglass one had recesses in the bottom, to fit over the stock clips on the window trim.

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

It's always possible though. I once picked up a nice '91 Formula wing for $15.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

any 3rd gen spoiler is usually $25ish at the yards around here. 3rd gen's are PLENTIFUL around my area. an old high school friend of my moms owns a local yard, he's got around 20 3rd gens at any given time. he lets parts from them go cheap because no one really comes after parts for them. I got an entire 84 TA smoked taillight set from that yard for $40, completely uncracked or damaged. But, back to the wing. He will let an aero wing go that cheap, but like you said, they're usually cracked.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

91/92s are already fiberglass from the factory, so they survive better. It's the 90 & earlier aero wings we are referring too.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

yeah jdezzy,the reason I suggested saving for a repro. model for you was because I thought you wanted to steer away from mods to your decklid/mounting tabs on the sides of the rear window.
As Stephen said,a fourth gen spoiler can be made to fit a third gen for a lesser cost,and a 91-92 spoiler will fit the car without any mods to the spoiler (but )you will still have to fill and redrill mounting holes on the decklid for your car.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

I may look into something along those lines. I was hoping to not have to do any modifications. wanted to just bolt something on, no muss, no fuss. but, I'll always go that extra mile to keep my ride lookin good. I'll go to the yard and see if I can find a 91 or 92. I don't think the guy I usually go to has one though.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

91/92s do not have the same mounts, so you'd still have drill new mounting holes, and fill the old ones, for a 90 and earlier car.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

yeah, Like I said, I don't really want to have to do that. But I could prolly pick up a 91 or 92 wrap around spoiler for pretty cheap. as cheap as I could pick up the flat deck spoiler that I was originally thinking about...I might as well go with the look and just redrill the holes.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

Thats exactly what I would do if I were in you're position.
If you can get a 91-92 spoiler for that price go for it!

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Formula/TA 91-92 wings are plastic

I have a busted one if youd like to see

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

Plastic or fiberglass...either way it's better than the crappy rubber ones.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

It lives longer, but I wouldn't call it "crappy". The older design looks better, IMHO, just made from a bad material (urethane, not rubber), that's all.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

Yeah, I like the look. but it was definatly a bad choice in material. I don't think I've ever seen one in good codition. my 87 is in mint condition, never even seen snow, and virtually no rain. I bought it off a buddy of mine for $400(he didn't want to pay for insurance and gas anymore)...and the only thing wrong with it is that spoiler.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

Damn,you only paid 400 for that car? You stole that thing!
No luck locating a wing yet huh? I saw one on ebay last night that was I honestly think the worst one(orig. rubber/urethane 85-90 one) I've ever seen.
Seller had starting bid set at $150!! I almost fell out of my chair laughing!

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

havn't gotten a chance to hit the yards yet. Too busy working. But, I've got the next couple days off so I'm gonna start making some calls and see what I can uncover. I was thinking I might buy a whole hatch if I can find one without defrosters, just so I don't have to drill any holes. I'm repainting the car come spring anyway. nothing wrong with the current paint but I put a buldge hood on it from my 84 becasue it's new motor won't fit under the stock hood and I love the look of it, and it's black, so I figured I'd just paint the whole car black.