Roof Spoiler

[BAS]

On the Hawk roof spoiler, what is the most effective way of locating the ends near the filler caps as there aren’t any studs bonded in.
What are my options?
:confused:

[guy mayers]

I just used some self tappers all those years ago....... The threaded studs on the top will hold the spoiler in place permanently and the sides seem just fine with 2 or 3 screws so long as the fiberglass is thick enough. If you're not entirely happy with this then put a couple of rivnuts in a thick piece of ally and then trim to the shape of the base less enough to allow you to recess the ally into the base and fiberglass it in.
The rear spoiler usually presents a little more of a challenge though...... Often the boot panel curves one way and the spoiler the other leaving a large gap in the middle. If you use self tappers here they will pull out in time. I solved this on my car by drilling the mounting holes on the boot first then offering the spoiler up and drilling through for the correct alignment. The spoiler was secured temporarily using self tappers until everthing was in the right place. Then it was all dismantled and rivnuts were set in thin ally sheet that was then bent to the shape of the inside of the spoiler and fiberglassed in place with a bolt through them to (1) keep the plate in place as the glass cured and (2) make sure the rivnut was set at the correct angle so the bolts could be easily threaded from inside th boot later.
Hope this is of help! Call me if it needs clarification!
Guy

[CorseChris]

Not Hawk but equally applicable I suppose....

I put some thick stainless plate, tapped M6, into horizontal slots cut through the upright about an inch up from the base. Plates held in place with polyester resin, then the small defects filled over. Bolts then pass through from underneath and up into the plates. Used this method for all 4 fixing points as the Corse spoiler wasn't provided with any studs. (Might be in future as it's clearly worthwhile).

Rear spoiler much as per Guys method except I used 'floating nut' plates held in place inside the spoiler with small pop rivets - they hold themselves in place when you do up the bolts from inside the boot. The rivets are just to stop them falling off and turning.

Foam filled my boot spoiler as well.

[BAS]

Thanks for the tips, I’ve just used PK screws until I make up my mind, and to try & speed up the build.

[BAS]

Chris

When you foam fillled the boot spoiler did the foam distort it as the foam expanded? :rolleyes:

[CorseChris]

Hi Brent,

I was concerned about that myself so I did it in a couple of easy stages. First one filled most of the middle section, then I filled in the two ends. I did it off the car and was careful about how much of the mixture I applied. I also held the shape of the spoiler by locating it in the trusty Workmate at an appropriate point. Got it about right as it only expanded a short way beyond the fixing line, so it was easy to trim back. Gentle sand with some very coarse production paper and the jobs a good 'un.

I'm not familair with the Hawk spoiler mouldings so can't comment if this technique would work or not. The Corse spoiler has an open mounting face with a small return lip.

Certainly makes it feel & sound more solid and glad I did it. I will be running a fine bead of Sikaflex between spoiler and body once it's fitted, so water shouldn't get inside.

[guy mayers]

So the water will sit on the spoiler instead? Then it fills in the channel around the bootlid before overflowing in the only possible direction! Into the boot! Leave a drain channel at each corner of the boot area where the spoiler attaches to cure this! I'm sure you can glass in a channel but I'd hate to think what a boot ful of water would do to the handling!
Guy

[CorseChris]

So the water will sit on the spoiler instead? Then it fills in the channel around the bootlid before overflowing in the only possible direction! Into the boot! Leave a drain channel at each corner of the boot area where the spoiler attaches to cure this! I'm sure you can glass in a channel but I'd hate to think what a boot ful of water would do to the handling!
Guy

Guy, frankly I'm dissapointed - you should know me better :D . There is already a drain that runs from the lowest point of the 'pool' formed by the body shape/boot lip/spoiler that will prevent this problem........

[ANDYG]

Beat me in answering that Chris...........cos i knew that one!! :D ;)