I got a good deal on my 91 bird because it had been through a hail storm. Besides some dents I haven't fixed, the only damage left is the spoiler -- hail impact caused a long front-to-back crack to form on the underside and this part (on the passenger-side middle) of the bottom part to separate from the top and hang down (See picture).

I tried using some JB Weld inside a while ago, but it seperated again when it got cold out a month or so ago.

Is there anything I could do to make it stay together and look decent again? What about repainting? How hard is it to get the spoiler off (to paint the underside)?

Or would you just look into getting a new spoiler?

Thanks!

 

To remove it, you open the hatch, and remove the trim piece from under the hatch panel, There are 4 Screws (I think) might only be 2. Then lower your hatch & push forward or pull back. If I remember right, I had to push it forward.

Its a Formula

John

 

OK, so what would someone who knows what they are doing (ie body shop, not me) do to hold the cracked and separated part back together? Or should I look into salvaging a spoiler? Anybody?

Thanks for the advice on getting the spoiler off. I didn't know it was that easy... I guess I should've at least taken the panel off and looked before asking...

 

Those spoilers have a reputation for breaking.

There is a company that makes a really durable replacement for them, I just can't remember who.

 

You might try using SEM's flexable parts filler. Available at automotive paint stores.

 

The company that makes Fiberglass replacements is GTAuto Accessories.

As for fixing your existing spoiler, I would forget it, pay the money & get a fiberglass one.

The reason they split seems to be related to the construction of the spoiler. If you notice, everywhere there is a bubble or a split, there seems to be a metal attacement point underneeth the Urithane. This Steel piece rusts, and when it does it causes a buldge, then eventually it splits open.

On mine, I have a good spoiler yet, but I am still planning on replacing it with the fiberglass one when I get my tax returns.

When I originally painted mine, the car was in a minor hail storm, & the spoiler cracked everwhere a hail stone hit it. I took a D/A & sanded thru the paint, & thru the layer of rubber that was oxidizing. I have had no problems for the last 3 years.

Remember to paint the Urithane spoilers with a flex-primer & flex paints.

John

 

Thanks for the advice. I'd like to buy and paint a new fiberglass spoiler, but I am on a poor student budget right now and all the money I'd saved, I spent on my exhaust a few months ago. That will be the next thing I save up for, but maybe I'll try to patch the old one for now...

 

Why not put fiberglass resin on it.I did it to my spoiler,the bracket for the brake light had broken off and I put it back on with extra reinforcement.

 

If you put the resin on it you might be asking for problems. If the spoiler was fiberglass or some sort of hard plastic it might work. Unfortunately it is made of urithane, like the bumpers, and it is a little too flexable. Probably the first time it got hot or too cold out side it would just seperate, because the materials would expand & contract at different rates.

John