Hi.. I'm just hoping someone can give me some pointers with a front spoiler (2 piece) installation I'm doing on my LX four door.
I'm trying to get a nice even gap around the indicator lenses of about 1/2 inch.... however, the problem I'm finding is that the spoiler doesn't seem to sit high enough unless I put cutouts for the brake air scoops in both the front nose panel and the radiator support panel.
If I cut out the panels slightly to allow the brake ducts in, I am also cutting out 2 of the nose panel mounting bolt anchor nuts.
I don't have any issues doing the cutouts (they wouldn't be very big) but I just wanna get it right the first time.
I've noticed looking at pictures of other front spoiler installations on LH/LX's that there is a wide variation in the heights of the spoiler (looking at the gap between the bottom of the indicator lense and the cutout in the spoiler below it)..... of course which effects the mounting height of front flares if they are fitted... which in my case they also will be.
Thanks for any help!
Jason
LX front spoiler installation help?
Started by
_78GroupC_
, Mar 05 2010 11:09 AM
18 replies to this topic
#2
StephenSLR
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Posted 05 March 2010 - 11:54 AM
the spoiler doesn't seem to sit high enough unless I put cutouts for the brake air scoops in both the front nose panel and the radiator support panel.
If I cut out the panels slightly to allow the brake ducts in, I am also cutting out 2 of the nose panel mounting bolt anchor nuts.
Where the air dam sections press up against the radiator support panel there should be a hole for the bolt to pass through. You undo the nuts and the bolts go through these holes in the spoiler then tighten up the nuts again.
If you don't have bolt holes in the upper section of the spoiler air openings you may have to drill them.
s
#3
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 05 March 2010 - 12:52 PM
There are lots of different molds used to make fibreglass spoilers, some should be scrapped.
You would be better off modifying the spoiler using a technique similar to this or buying a different spoiler than cutting the body.
This is a Wilsons Fibreglass front spoiler. The indicator cutouts follow the indicator recess in the front panel. Note the hole in the brake duct for the bottom panel bolt.
You would be better off modifying the spoiler using a technique similar to this or buying a different spoiler than cutting the body.
This is a Wilsons Fibreglass front spoiler. The indicator cutouts follow the indicator recess in the front panel. Note the hole in the brake duct for the bottom panel bolt.
#4
Posted 05 March 2010 - 12:59 PM
I don't think I've ever seen one that sits as close as 1/2" to the indicators, it should be lower than that
#5
dattoman
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Posted 05 March 2010 - 09:13 PM
I see you have a steel rule fetish to go with your clamp fetish Andy
#6
LXCHEV
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Posted 05 March 2010 - 09:26 PM
For comparison, here is an Alfa Fibreglass front spoiler:
It's been over 10 years since I fitted it.... but I remember it wasn't hard & I didn't hit any problems. I'm not running brake ducts though.
It's been over 10 years since I fitted it.... but I remember it wasn't hard & I didn't hit any problems. I'm not running brake ducts though.
#7
_78GroupC_
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Posted 06 March 2010 - 08:02 PM
Thanks everyone for helping clarify this for me..... none of the spoilers or flares that I bought have signs of where the correct locating holes should be or anything.
I know it's no big deal... I think I prefer the spoiler sitting a little lower where it's supposed to anyhow.
I have seen spoilers that appear to sit higher though... I guess they are just a different reproduction?
Thanks again
Jason
I know it's no big deal... I think I prefer the spoiler sitting a little lower where it's supposed to anyhow.
I have seen spoilers that appear to sit higher though... I guess they are just a different reproduction?
Thanks again
Jason
#8
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 06 March 2010 - 08:49 PM
Undo the two bolts under your nose cone that correspond with the holes in the top of the brake ducts. Do the bolts up, and work your way round to the wheel arches looking for nice even gaps. The two big bolts make everything pretty stable.
Sometimes you need to sand some meat out of the back of the spoiler where the glass is a bit thick/globby to get them to sit that little bit better.
Should turn out like this:-
^ The last one I installed from scratch.
When you finally get it all fitted up, turn your front wheels full lock, as you may have to trim a bit back from the inside back edge (turn the wheels and you will see).
You may have to fit and remove four or five times to adjust things to get a good fit, cut things, etc.
Sometimes you need to sand some meat out of the back of the spoiler where the glass is a bit thick/globby to get them to sit that little bit better.
Should turn out like this:-
^ The last one I installed from scratch.
When you finally get it all fitted up, turn your front wheels full lock, as you may have to trim a bit back from the inside back edge (turn the wheels and you will see).
You may have to fit and remove four or five times to adjust things to get a good fit, cut things, etc.
Edited by Yella SLuR, 06 March 2010 - 08:52 PM.
#9
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 06 March 2010 - 09:08 PM
Here you go, this is the hole I'm talking about. What's with all the rulers?
I do this one first, the one to the tab beside the indicator next, then one in the back of the wheel arch.
When you do the bolt I'm talking about, it goes through three layers of sheet metal, and are prolly the worst ones to get in. Once they are in, the rest are easy. I do the ones behind the number plate last.
A sign of things to come!!!
This is only how to put on an LH front spoiler, not an LX............only jokes, they are the same.
I do this one first, the one to the tab beside the indicator next, then one in the back of the wheel arch.
When you do the bolt I'm talking about, it goes through three layers of sheet metal, and are prolly the worst ones to get in. Once they are in, the rest are easy. I do the ones behind the number plate last.
A sign of things to come!!!
This is only how to put on an LH front spoiler, not an LX............only jokes, they are the same.
Edited by Yella SLuR, 06 March 2010 - 09:23 PM.
#10
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 06 March 2010 - 09:24 PM
Only different front spoiler is the LX SS and SL/R one piece from factory. Doesn't have the full brake ducts. I haven't really seen any others, all seem to be from the same mould, except for the one piece version of the two piece pictured above (one of them is on Yella ATM).
Edited by Yella SLuR, 06 March 2010 - 09:24 PM.
#11
A9X
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 12:37 AM
Andy is there anything you don't have at home?
#12
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 03:34 AM
Only different front spoiler is the LX SS and SL/R one piece from factory.
There may be only two factory style spoilers for the LH/LX but there are more different fibreglass molds and variations of front spoilers than you can poke a stick at. Every fibreglass spoiler manufacturer has made their own mold. Most have copied the factory spoilers, sometimes badly. Some have made one piece versions of the two piece spoiler with brake ducts and some have made deeper spoilers for race cars.
The photos above were originally taken for youngy to compare his Spoilertek one piece spoiler with my two piece spoiler. Youngy was not happy with the fitting around the indicators. It was easier to place a rule against the spoiler instead of using photoshop to edit in the measurements. The Spoilertek one piece spoiler is basically the two piece spoiler joined together in the middle with a number plate mount molded into the spoiler. It is quite different to the one piece SS spoiler.
Storage space and a working Torana.Andy is there anything you don't have at home?
Edited by ls2lxhatch, 07 March 2010 - 03:39 AM.
#13
Ando
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 06:12 AM
Thought I'd jump in on this one.
So which manufacturer would most Torana blokes recommend for correctness & best fitment for the SS-A9X fiberglass kit? Wilson kits have been recommended to me.
Rare Spares & Harrison Spares reckon they have the best kits! Has anyone had experience with the Spoilertech kits on Expensive Bay?
Is there any others out there that come highly recommended? I need to change the set on my car as it's been roughly fitted because of poor molding in the first place.
I don't mind if the kit costs a little more I just don't want to end up with the same cheap crap. It's starting to really bug me looking at my car!
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
So which manufacturer would most Torana blokes recommend for correctness & best fitment for the SS-A9X fiberglass kit? Wilson kits have been recommended to me.
Rare Spares & Harrison Spares reckon they have the best kits! Has anyone had experience with the Spoilertech kits on Expensive Bay?
Is there any others out there that come highly recommended? I need to change the set on my car as it's been roughly fitted because of poor molding in the first place.
I don't mind if the kit costs a little more I just don't want to end up with the same cheap crap. It's starting to really bug me looking at my car!
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
#14
StephenSLR
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 07:52 AM
I need to change the set on my car as it's been roughly fitted because of poor molding in the first place.
I had a one piece on my SL/R. It broke off over a cattle grid.
I then had a two piece from Wilson - nice fit.
One half broke off after hitting a perpendicular faced median strip, I turned a corner and didn't see it in heavy rain at night.
Wilson do sell halves so that was cheaper than replacing the lot.
After many scrapes on badly angled driveways, car parks with those concrete plinths, speed bumps, etc. that one finally came off on a very uneven hospital dirt/grass car park.
I never replaced it and haven't looked back, no more fears of scraping the darn things.
I've been long thinking of taking it back to the orig. SL/R look, no spoiler or bobtail.
Long ago my mates grandfather asked what it was, I said a spoiler, "you mean it spoils the look of the car?" was his reply.
Now I've been reminded the SL/R did have a one piece spoiler & I'm second thinking that.
I don't suppose there's any way I can find out what my car came out of the factory with?
s
#15
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 09:41 AM
I'm talking general styles. There are heaps of manufacturers.
At the same time, don't believe that because you are buying the spoiler from that shop that it is actually made there. I bought mine from a local shop, when it was delayed, they admitted that they order their spoilers from John Wilson, who isn't pumping out as many as in the past.
Based on that experience, always ask where they order their spoilers from, or do they mould them on site.
At the same time, don't believe that because you are buying the spoiler from that shop that it is actually made there. I bought mine from a local shop, when it was delayed, they admitted that they order their spoilers from John Wilson, who isn't pumping out as many as in the past.
Based on that experience, always ask where they order their spoilers from, or do they mould them on site.
Edited by Yella SLuR, 07 March 2010 - 09:41 AM.
#16
A9X
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 07:52 PM
Storage space and a working Torana.
Andy is there anything you don't have at home?
#17
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Posted 08 March 2010 - 04:07 AM
I don't think I've ever seen one that sits as close as 1/2" to the indicators, it should be lower than that
1974 LH front panel is different as the height of indicators was raised to comply with revised ADR rules.
The front spoiler is a dead giveaway.
#18
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 08 March 2010 - 07:52 AM
^ so which is higher lower? I think the indicators are both the same height LX and LH. They are the same in the LH/LX pics above.
Edited by Yella SLuR, 08 March 2010 - 07:52 AM.
#19
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Posted 09 March 2010 - 05:27 PM
just bought a spoilertek kit from qld , there a bit thin ,well the ones i got anyway ,bob tail not straight enough on the curve ,all fitted perfecty though, bit worried my black ones when i go out in the summer how there going to warp , we will see in six months time . front spoiler sat around 27mm down from blinker on my lx thats where it had to go so front wheel flares covered the original guard
Edited by toranajohn, 09 March 2010 - 05:31 PM.
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