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Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

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Old Jan 30, 2017 | 10:15 AM
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Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Got some thoughts on rear spoilers for these cars, and wanted to get some opinions, or see if by some miracle someone has done this.
Everything below is just personal opinion.

85-90 Aero spoiler- Pros- Hangs off the edge of the decklid a bit, has a nice looking upward angle.
Cons- Looks cheap IMO, no real character to it.

91-92 Aero spoiler- Pros- Does not look cheap.
Cons-Sits too far forward, does not have enough upward angle imo.

4th gen spoiler- Pros- Hangs off the decklid nicely, aggressive styling.
Cons-Has TOO much of an upward angle on a 3rd gen IMO.


With all that rambling, heres what I was thinking. What if someone took a 4th gen spoiler, and rather than building the center posts up to fit.....shaved the sides that wrap around the glass down, and only built up the center posts slightly, or not at all?

I am thinking, that would address the upward angle on it from too much, to in line with the 85-90 angle. It would hang off the back edge of the decklid a bit, unlike the 91-92 spoiler, and probably match the body lines of a 3rd gen perfectly.

Thoughts? By any chance has anyone tried this with a 4th gen spoiler, rather than building up the center posts, and keeping the stock "angle"? If not, any photoshop gurus who could tinker with it?

Thanks!
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Old Jan 30, 2017 | 12:15 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

That's exactly what I did on mine, I cut the sides down almost a half inch then built the centers up to match up to the deck lid.






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Old Jan 30, 2017 | 12:56 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Pictures. 4th gen spoiler looks awful on thirdgen but if the angle is fixed it could be good.
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Old Jan 30, 2017 | 01:56 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Originally Posted by battman
That's exactly what I did on mine, I cut the sides down almost a half inch then built the centers up to match up to the deck lid.







Now that looks good! Question for you on it, if you had wanted to, could you have went even lower on the sides (to the point where the centers did not need built up at all)?

Just wondering how much you can take off the sides.

Thanks for the pics!
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Old Jan 30, 2017 | 04:17 PM
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Car: 87 GTA, 88 GTA, 92 TA, 72 RS SS
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Thanks! It could have gone a little lower on the sides without much problem. I don't think you could totally get away with not building up the centers and make it look right, the spoiler would set too low.

I spent a lot of time test fitting to get the height correct so I didn't hate it... The look of the spoiler on the car has grown on me to the point where I'm probably going to keep it.
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Old Mar 29, 2020 | 02:14 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Excellent! I just posted my own thread with the same question about shaving down the outer supports.

I am more inclined now than ever to do just that.
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Old Apr 5, 2020 | 12:46 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

I am a HUGE fan of the 85 to 90 aerowing. I replaced my split original one with one form Hawks. Fit is ok, But there mount system is not factory, which I may modify it to. I had to sand down the third brake light housing a bit because the gap is smaller than factory. Overall I am happy with it.
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Old Apr 5, 2020 | 07:16 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Originally Posted by Hawkeye1980
I am a HUGE fan of the 85 to 90 aerowing. I replaced my split original one with one form Hawks. Fit is ok, But there mount system is not factory, which I may modify it to. I had to sand down the third brake light housing a bit because the gap is smaller than factory. Overall I am happy with it.

I am a huge fan of the originals, too. The aftermarket sits way too thick. Not as nice, IMO
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Old Apr 5, 2020 | 07:56 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

85-90 works the best. The 4thgen looks out of scale on a 3rdgen to me and doesn't flow with the body lines.
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Old Apr 6, 2020 | 11:29 AM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

Yes I agree. I am not a fan of the 91 aerowing spoiler either. Just to big. I like the 85 to 90 because it fits the body line.
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Old Apr 6, 2020 | 12:02 PM
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Re: Firebird Formula/GTA rear spoiler rant/idea question 4th gen

85-90 works the best. The 4thgen looks out of scale on a 3rdgen to me and doesn't flow with the body lines.
Totally agree, when you put things from different gens together they usually look like Mr. Potato Head because the eye is used to seeing the original. The 4th doesn't match lines at all even if it is quality work it jumps out like a sore thumb.

Personally, if I wanted a more aggressive look I would start with an 85-90 hawks wing and add some flavor to it with glass work. Something as small as deleting the third brake light makes them look nice and clean from the back while retaining the comfortable-to-the-eye classic original look too. Couple that with some quality bodywork and I bet its a better look than you think, but everybody has different tastes.

Battman, you have the best looking application of 4th on 3rd Ill give you that but I can still tell!
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