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88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Hello everyone,I am new to the forum and this is my first post. If it is in the wrong forum, I apologize. Direct me to the correct place to post my question and I will do so accordingly Quick “about me”. I purchased a brand new GTA back in 1988, fresh out of high school. Took me about 6 months to realize that at my age I could not afford the payments at that time, plus the outrageous insurance. Sadly I had to sell the car. Fast forward many years and I just bought another one this week. Its in overall good shape, but of course needs a little work. One thing is the car does not have the spoiler/wing, whatever its proper name is. It was removed, I am told because the paint cracked and peeled, like so many others have. I am looking to purchase a replacement. A friend in the auto body business recommended I get a fiberglass aftermarket one because it would hold up better (he too owned a GTA some years ago). Which leads me to my question. Can anyone here recommend a good one to buy, or which manufacturers or companies to look into? I know that sometimes aftermarket parts don’t really fit right. I did try searching a bit and saw some discussions about replacing them, but no recommendations which is the best to purchase; so I hoped I could pick the brains of some current owners that might be able to point me in the right direction. Thank you so much in advance. I look forward to reading and learning from these forums. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Welcome aboard Skullie. Glad you were able to find another GTA. Fiberglass replacements are available from at least two sources. Neither would qualify as a 100 point prefect "concourse correct" replacement. There are some subtle differences, but ones casual observers will not notice, nor even some knowledgeable ones. Hawks Motorsports is one of them. Classic Industries is another. If you search threads here, I think you will find the consensus is that the Hawks pieces fits better, and more often. On some cars, it is virtually ready to go out of the box. On others, some work is required. The Classic piece seems to require more work, but can also be made to fit. It's a matter of degrees I guess. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question DynoDave, thank you very much for the reply. I see the links here on the forums to Hawks so I will give them a try. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person so appreciate the help. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question You're welcome. I have one I plan to add to my car when I get a little paint touch up done in the coming years. I fully intend to hand the box to my body man and let him handle it. I'm not messing with it. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Yeah I'm fortunate enough I have a friend who does auto body and paint so he said he will put it on for me. Thanks again for the tip to Hawks. I see a few things I can use in their catalog. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Welcome to the site, and back to GTA Ownership!!! Good luck with the car, and good advice posted on spoilers. They are much thicker at the forward "points" than the original. But they look close enough for 95% of people, and certainly will last longer. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Hi and thanks for the tip. I downloaded Hawks catalog and just looking through it. The car is on its way to me now, being transported. I'm excited to get it. I've tried to familiarize with some of the other posts regarding the spoiler. Its too bad they don't make a style like the 70's model. I think that would look nice. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Having purchased both the Classic Industries and the Hawks wings, I highly recommend the Hawks version. The two we received from Classic were almost an inch too narrow to mount to the glass. The Hawks one fit right on with no additional work required. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question show car parts has one. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by Beater79TA
(Post 6238581)
Having purchased both the Classic Industries and the Hawks wings, I highly recommend the Hawks version. The two we received from Classic were almost an inch too narrow to mount to the glass. The Hawks one fit right on with no additional work required. That's a good comparison, from someone that's tried both on the same car. Thanks Beater79TA. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Thank you all for the advice. I absolutely appreciate it. I am ordering from Hawks. My car shipped today, I should have it by the 30th. Title will be in hand tomorrow. I'm getting excited! |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by mmadden55
(Post 6238602)
show car parts has one. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question I have not I do know they have been making them a long time I plan to in the near future though. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by mmadden55
(Post 6240657)
I have not I do know they have been making them a long time I plan to in the near future though. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by Beater79TA
(Post 6238581)
Having purchased both the Classic Industries and the Hawks wings, I highly recommend the Hawks version. The two we received from Classic were almost an inch too narrow to mount to the glass. The Hawks one fit right on with no additional work required. Damn answered my own question Classic ind sells OER too :( |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question I purchased a wrap around spoiler, for my 88 GTA, from Show Car last year, I had no problems whatsoever, shipping was fast, install was easy and it fits great, I can take some pictures if you want |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by wayshegoes
(Post 6246336)
I purchased a wrap around spoiler, for my 88 GTA, from Show Car last year, I had no problems whatsoever, shipping was fast, install was easy and it fits great, I can take some pictures if you want |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question show cars bodyparts, google that i just looked on site but didnt see the wrap around spoiler anymore, perhaps sending a email seeing if they still have them other than that paradise alley down TO area has spoilers for GTA, i cant say anything on quality, i can though on service received, terrible, only takes cash, and couldnt gurantee he would have one as you cant pre pay, so if he sells out, and you drive all the way there then you are screwed, and he will not ship |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question I'm from Toronto as well, and I'm not a fan of the guy that runs Paradise Alley, his parts are over priced, and I second the terrible service from him. As for Showcars Bodyparts, I have a fibreglass ram air hood from him, and while my dad and I had to do a bit of work to it in terms of adding a bit of resin to strengthen up a few areas, I love the way it looks compared to other ram air hood on the market. Showcars does take a bit of time to make parts for you when you order them from him, and communication isn't always the best from him, but as long as you stay on him, he'll get the parts made for you (it helps being only a 30-45 minute drive from him, We just picked up the parts rather than having them shipped, and he gave my dad and I a deal on two ram air hoods, so both our T/As match). They might be a little rough, and need a bit of sanding, filling, and finishing, but the end product is worth it. The hood I have fits great, looks awesome, and weighed 28 pounds painted vs 100+ pounds for the stock GTA hood. Here is a link to his 82-92 firebird body parts that he makes. Scroll down to the "Fibreglass Rear Spoilers" section, and its the second one down. From the picture there, the spears on the end of the sides of the spoiler look just like the stock ones, vs the "fat" spears you see on the Hawks version. http://www.showcars-bodyparts.com/firebird8292.html |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question OK I see that now, If I buy a reproduction I'm going to get the 91-92 Aero spoiler as I swapped that out 10-12 years ago when my 87 split and I don.t have the trunk lid anymore, anyway they don't offer that - was surprised how many hoods/spoilers they don't have pics listed? kind of hard to sell when you don't know what you're buying the ram air hood pic looks nice tho |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by Longshot08
(Post 6246136)
Have a link? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question Any one ever heard of factory spoiler being restored? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by wayshegoes
(Post 6246336)
I purchased a wrap around spoiler, for my 88 GTA, from Show Car last year, I had no problems whatsoever, shipping was fast, install was easy and it fits great, I can take some pictures if you want Can you please post them? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question hawks says it dosnt mount like factory? what dose that mean? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by firebirddude142
(Post 6259731)
hawks says it dosnt mount like factory? what dose that mean? The "arms" that go around the glass has clips you can screw into the fiberglass if you don't have a car that came with the aerowing. If you have a car with the aerowing mounts you can just put screws into the fiberglass and the screw heads slides into the factory clips. Mine had indicators cast into it to show you where to put the screws for either option. The main body mounted just like factory. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by Aviator857
(Post 6259783)
I bought mine before hawks started making them (almost 15 years ago) but unless I'm mistaking I think they are the same mold. (could be wrong so this only goes for mine EDIT:: mine either a ramairhood or GT Auto they seem to be gone now, but they were the first to make these and was the first to make the 4th gen style designed to fit the 3ed gen car-- I do recall they had some growing pains at one point with shipping delays etc -- lol memory lane https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...questions.html) The "arms" that go around the glass has clips you can screw into the fiberglass if you don't have a car that came with the aerowing. If you have a car with the aerowing mounts you can just put screws into the fiberglass and the screw heads slides into the factory clips. Mine had indicators cast into it to show you where to put the screws for either option. The main body mounted just like factory. |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
(Post 6246818)
Any one ever heard of factory spoiler being restored? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
(Post 6246818)
Any one ever heard of factory spoiler being restored? |
Re: 88 GTA Spoiler/Wing question
Originally Posted by TTOP350
(Post 6260169)
I would think the best way would be to carefully remove the metal framework out of the bottom of the wing, rebuild it out of stainless, then put it back in and add the funky material to cover it back up. |
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