I was just told today that in order to change my standard spoiler to a euro (wrap around) spoiler on my 85 TA, I have to change the whole hatch,because the euro, clips to the rail along the bottom of the glass. Is this true?? can I use the euro spoiler with my original hatch some how?

 

by far the easiest way is to use a hatch with those clips. however, it's certainly possible, though quite a bit of work, to find/make similar clips and weld/eopxy them. you'll also have to do some bondo work to cover the different holes that the two different spoilers mount to.

 

I would recommend getting the whole hatch, as patrick said, you would have to fab up brackets plus get the old holes covered. Also unless you are buying the $400+ spoiler from ramair hood.com, I wouldnt bother, they crack and look like crap after a few months. I am in the process of changing from aero to regular bar style. The body shop wanted more to fill in the old holes not including re-painting just the lid, than it was to get one from a junkyard, so having someone fab up brackets too is gonna be a waste of money. Unless you can do it yourself of coarse...

 

Definitely get a hatch from a T/A that already has the brackets. It would be a major PITA to try and rig something to work when used hatches are cheap. Also- as Kaps said, don't bother with a stock wing, get a fiberglass replacement. Even the ones that look good from the outside (if you could actually find one) are rusting inside and about to look crappy. Plus, they weigh a ton. My hatch struts wouldn't even think about holding up the hatch with my stock GTA wing. They work perfect with my fiberglass 4th gen wing.

To mount my new wing, I had to drill out the rivets and take off the wraparound spoiler clips from the hatch glass frame. I threw away the clips, but here's a picture of what they look like.

 

nother good point, I got new struts for the hatch, they barely worked, still had to pull the hatch up with the old spoiler mounted, When I took it off it was heavy as hell, plus when I opened my trunk up the lid shot right up and almost bashed me in the chin.lol People with this wing looking for a weight reduction should remove the wing!! Also as he said when I took mine off, there was moosh and crap on the inside, like it was falling apart from inside out.

Advice, if you get another hatch, take off your old one before you go to the junkyard, I brought a truck with me thinking it will fit in it, it didnt and the yard wanted to charge me extra to take my old hatch that was perfect all they were gonna do was turn around and sell it.

edit, hey firebird, could you point to where you drilled to take off the old clips? Thanks

 

thanks for the reply guys. Ill probably just keep my bar style for now, Its in mint condition. One problem Im having is,the spoiler is rattling like crazy. I tried to tighten It up as much as possible ,but still rattles a little. I was thinking about putting some small pieces of rubber or something to absorb the vibrations.

 

The bar style lasts longer. BTW I have seen the fiberglass spoilers and man are they awesome. Fit and finish is alot better than original. It's lighter and stronger. You can even order them colormatched to your paint if you have the original paint code.

 

Sure. I stuck masking tape to the 1/4 panel right below where the clips used to be.

 

Is that what you meant, or did you mean the actual spot on the clip where I drilled? You have to drill out the spot welds that are on the bottom of the clip (the side of the clip is pictured previously.) You'll be able to tell because the metal is dimpled in where the weld is. It's kinda scary drilling into the frame that holds the hatch glass.

 

yeah, I just looked and looks right, wanted to make sure before I f*cked it up and break the glass. Thanks!!

 

I broke my hatch glass once while I was trying to mount a 4th gen spoiler on my car. Made a loud pop and a huge mess inside and outside of the car.
Remeber, make sure there isn't glass under the decklid when you are drilling, makes the glass really fragile.

 

actually, i think i have an '86 hatch with the clips in the phila region i'm willing to give away for anyone who'll pick it up....

also have a cheap aero spoiler that needs some work off an 88 GTA

just reply if you want either