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I know i have this car for sale but I would still like to know if anyone knows. Why did GM make this out of this foam that deteriorates in sunlight? And is replacing it the only fix?
Seems like it should be restorable, but I don't know what would stick to the surface well. Maybe just bondo and sand it smooth. SEM makes a flexible coating that works well, I've used it before on cracked rubber stuff but nothing with that level of deterioration.
From: Franklin, KY near Beech Bend Raceway, Corvette Plant and Museum.
Car: 1992 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 5.0L L03 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Why is this?
You don't fool with trying to fix these aero wing spoilers and damn sure not one that is in as bad a shape as the one you have is. When they start going bad they don't quit going bad. They rot from the inside out and they don't stop until they have rotted out their mounting points on the hatch decklid and they still keep rotting until nothing is left of them. They are a cancer that doesn't respond to any treatment except cutting it out before it spreads.
You can pretty it up and make it presentable enough to push the problem off on the next guy if that's your thing. But don't waste no time and effort trying to fix it up nice and expect it to last if you keeping the car. Might as well take your time, effort, and money and light it on fire.
If you decide to keep it, Hawks reproduction is the way to go. It's very light and of good workmanship. Previous owner replaced his rotted oem then had it painted flat black like the oem for 1986 models.
On mine the extensions that go forward along the glass have already rotted out the mid mounts. The front ones are the only ones keeping it from looking like a wet noodle. I've got to order a hood from hawk anyways, I might go ahead and get a spoiler for this one. Even unpainted it will look better than this.
Seems like it should be restorable, but I don't know what would stick to the surface well. Maybe just bondo and sand it smooth. SEM makes a flexible coating that works well, I've used it before on cracked rubber stuff but nothing with that level of deterioration.
The problem is that once the paint flakes off and exposes the rubber underneath moisture makes its way down to the steel core. Which begins to rust, and then swell, which splits the wing, exposing more of the core, and more splitting...etc.
These spoilers are NOT worth any level of repair attempt. Once they go, you need to replace them with a fiberglass replacement.
The only time it would be acceptable to 'restore' one would be if you were attempting to restore some 1 of 1 unicorn where a fiberglass replacement would destroy the 'value' of the car since it was no longer original. But lets be honest, one of those cars probably sat its entire life in a climate controlled garage and its spoiler is going to be JUST fine.
You don't fool with trying to fix these aero wing spoilers and damn sure not one that is in as bad a shape as the one you have is. When they start going bad they don't quit going bad. They rot from the inside out and they don't stop until they have rotted out their mounting points on the hatch decklid and they still keep rotting until nothing is left of them. They are a cancer that doesn't respond to any treatment except cutting it out before it spreads.
You can pretty it up and make it presentable enough to push the problem off on the next guy if that's your thing. But don't waste no time and effort trying to fix it up nice and expect it to last if you keeping the car. Might as well take your time, effort, and money and light it on fire.
Right now when I drive my GTA, the forward strakes of the wing want to flop around like a willie in the wind! lol. Once I hit 88mph it starts waiving its arms like in the air like it just don't care!
Its really time to rip the spoiler off my car, but then I have to seal the holes it left behind till I put a fiberglass one on it.
If you decide to keep it, Hawks reproduction is the way to go. It's very light and of good workmanship. Previous owner replaced his rotted oem then had it painted flat black like the oem for 1986 models.
Never been a fan of two tone color schemes but the black on white looks pretty good. Is the wing painted in a matte finish?
I kinda like it without the center mount tail light too.
But I think I like the high mount tail light less than having it in the middle of the wing.
With a Fiberglass wing it would be awesome to put a LED brake like strip into the rear of the wing so it didn't change the shape of the wing at all. Kinda like the 4th gens.
I kinda like it without the center mount tail light too.
But I think I like the high mount tail light less than having it in the middle of the wing.
With a Fiberglass wing it would be awesome to put a LED brake like strip into the rear of the wing so it didn't change the shape of the wing at all. Kinda like the 4th gens.
