wooddashexperts spoiler install
08-14-2008, 05:16 PM
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wooddashexperts spoiler install
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/119992/spoiler2.jpg"></center><p>As promised, here are pictures of the spoiler I installed. I got it for $217 painted from wooddashexperts.com. The installation was not too bad, but it took a lot of guts to drill through my trunk lid. I used BD's post on removing the trunk liner, which was very simple once you had the right torx bit. Have a couple of your friends hold the spoiler in place and use masking tape to help mark the ends of where the spoiler goes in order to help line it up more easily later. The spoiler has 5 holes drilled in the bottom for the screws they supplied. I actually went to Home Depot and got a little longer screws, because the ones they provided looked a bit short for my comfort. Wooddashexperts gives you some plastic drill guides that you put in the holes and then when you align the spoiler, you tape down the ends of the drill guides that stick out. When you lift the spoiler off, the guides stay in place--you'll want your friends to help you with this part. You use a small drill bit that goes down the plastic dril guides to make the pilot holes. Then, you remove the drill guides and use a larger bit (as per the enclosed directions) to drill the holes for mounting the spoiler. In order to get to the screws from inside the trunk, you have to drill through the inner skin of the trunk lid with a larger bit in order to get a socket into four of the five holes. Be very careful when you do this because there is some wiring for the brake lights in there--I barely missed the wiring when I drilled through. I then primered all of the holes to prevent rusting.
The spoiler itself bowed up some and was not a perfect fit, so I heated it up before mounting to make it more flexible. I waited for a 90+ degree day and placed the spoiler on the hood of my black car for a few hours. Then I used an extension cord and wrapped the spoiler in a heating pad and let it simmer for a while longer. Not very professional, but it got the job done. Of course, this meant that my helpers had to use microfiber cloths to protect their hands when they held the hot spoiler. I fed the screws through the drilled holes so a little of each was sticking out. The spoiler has two strips of two-sided tape/gasket on the bottom and I thinly spread some strong (4500 psi) epoxy between the two gaskets as a safety measure. Just to be extra safe to prevent water from getting in, I used silicone sealant on the inside where I screwed the bolts. You have to work fast at this point. Right before I put the epoxy on, I pulled the edges of the paper off of the edge of the gaskets so that it stuck out the sides of the spoiler. I then closed the truck again and had my helpers line up the spoiler. I lowered the back seat, put on a head lamp, and crawled into my trunk where I could get the center and outer screws started in the holes in the spolier. I then got back out and pulled the paper off of the gaskets. Then, I had my helpers push down really hard on the spoiler to seat it all the way and I crawled back into the truck to tighten the screws all the way. Make sure your friends are strong and push down with all of their weight so there's no bowing. One of mine didn't and I ended up stripping one of the holes in the spoiler and, as a result, there's a slight bowing at that point in my spoiler. There's only one shot to get it right.
I think the end result turned out pretty well and saved me several hundred dollars. I'm glad that I went this route.
The spoiler itself bowed up some and was not a perfect fit, so I heated it up before mounting to make it more flexible. I waited for a 90+ degree day and placed the spoiler on the hood of my black car for a few hours. Then I used an extension cord and wrapped the spoiler in a heating pad and let it simmer for a while longer. Not very professional, but it got the job done. Of course, this meant that my helpers had to use microfiber cloths to protect their hands when they held the hot spoiler. I fed the screws through the drilled holes so a little of each was sticking out. The spoiler has two strips of two-sided tape/gasket on the bottom and I thinly spread some strong (4500 psi) epoxy between the two gaskets as a safety measure. Just to be extra safe to prevent water from getting in, I used silicone sealant on the inside where I screwed the bolts. You have to work fast at this point. Right before I put the epoxy on, I pulled the edges of the paper off of the edge of the gaskets so that it stuck out the sides of the spoiler. I then closed the truck again and had my helpers line up the spoiler. I lowered the back seat, put on a head lamp, and crawled into my trunk where I could get the center and outer screws started in the holes in the spolier. I then got back out and pulled the paper off of the gaskets. Then, I had my helpers push down really hard on the spoiler to seat it all the way and I crawled back into the truck to tighten the screws all the way. Make sure your friends are strong and push down with all of their weight so there's no bowing. One of mine didn't and I ended up stripping one of the holes in the spoiler and, as a result, there's a slight bowing at that point in my spoiler. There's only one shot to get it right.
I think the end result turned out pretty well and saved me several hundred dollars. I'm glad that I went this route.
08-14-2008, 05:27 PM
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More pictures
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/119992/spoiler1.jpg"></center><p>
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/119992/spoiler3.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/119992/spoiler3.jpg">
08-14-2008, 05:37 PM
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looks nice and clean!
=( that it wasn't bolt and go, that you had to heat it and conform it.
although mine was the same way, same method different style...
nice pics!
although mine was the same way, same method different style...
nice pics!
