I found a hatch prob from an 86 TA that has the rubber wrap around on it. Can they be painted over? or will I have to replace it?

 

The factory rubber spoiler will split and crack over time. Especially if the car lives in an outdoor environment. The spoiler has a metal core that rusts out.

 

If it is black rubber and in good shape, go ahead and use it, but I would not paint it. Leave it as black rubber. As punkmaster98 stated, the inner steel frame that rusts, swells and causes the rubber to split. They all do it unless its on a super low mileage car that lived in a climate controlled garage.

The '87'-'90 rubber spoilers were painted. Lots of flex additive in the paint, but the paint still cracked. They really should have never been painted and I would not waste my time or money painting a rubber one.

When that rubber one does split if it isn't already, then an aftermarket fiberglass one is your best bet. Those can be painted no problem. Plus, they are a lot lighter weight.

 

Thank you both for the info! I think I would be better off buying the new one from hawksmotorsports, but not sure if that will work with the hatch that is on the car. The previous owner put a 91-92 style hatch with the flat v6 spoiler. I really don't like it.

 

You will need a hatch that had a wrap around spoiler. There will be slots in the black metal trim around the window to attach the mounting clips.

 

This one actually looked decent before we removed it to paint the car. The new fiberglass wing is so much better and a fraction the weight

 

That's a good point. Even if they look OK, this is typically how they will be underneath and inside and won't survive being removed.

It's one of those things where if it's on the car and looks OK, just leave it be. If there is reason to remove it, then trash it and get the fiberglass.

 

I wonder why GM used such an outdated design on those aero wings? They already had a lot of experience at that time with fiberglass, SMC (sheet molding compound) and other materials to make spoilers. Not only was the metal/urethane spoiler super heavy, but the untreated metal would corrode inside and then expand leading to the urethane rubber swelling up cracking and splitting from the pressure.

It was like they were using the older technology, poured urethane over a metal sub structure, from the early ‘70’s GTO/Firebird front bumpers. The regular pedestal type spoiler was fiberglass/SMC and even the larger spoiler on the ‘91-‘92’s was a similar design. It just seems weird they would use that type of (early ‘70’s) technology to make those aero wings. Also, I’m sure it was more expensive to make compared to a fiberglass/SMC spoiler of the same design. No bean counters involved concerning that decision?

 

not with the Hawks fiberglass wing,it installs similar,you still use the two mounting screws on the wings but you don't need the clips for this one,it mounts a little different.