Turbo tail rust...

springerman55 · 11-10-2010, 07:35 AM

I have an '83 SC which came with the sport package that included the turbo tail. This turbo tail has the semi-hard "grained" rubber lip on three sides of the tail. Apparently the right rear corner of the tail underneath the rubber is rusting and pushing the rubber piece up (separating from the metal deck lid frame due to rust build up). Has anyone ever seen this before with the turbo tail? Is this common? I assume the rubber lip piece is glued to the metal part of the deck lid? Obviously this will not be taken to Maaco to get fixed. I need to find a veeery good body shop in the Austin area who knows Porsches and what they are doing. Any insight out there?

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Its most likely the steel bolt attachment that's molded into the rubber rusting, it does happen.

Mattcamp · 11-10-2010, 07:47 AM

Here ya go....have fun!

Look what I did!!! The ultimate Whale Tail Rubber stud replacement.

springerman55 · 11-10-2010, 08:09 AM

Amazing! Unbelievable work! So I have a couple questions and assumptions now that I have seen some photos (prior to exploring on my car).

The turbo tail base is made of fiberglass?

Any visible rust would have to come from the studs and/or the internal brace the studs are attached to?

Is the rubber portion of the turbo tail even available to buy anymore?

Sounds like this is something that I can tackle myself and would not need a body shop at all. Thanks for the post, very informative!

Mattcamp · 11-10-2010, 08:25 AM

Rubber can be found but it was about $500 (new) last time I checked. Be very picky about used rubber that you would buy. Might find a nice used piece for a couple hundred. I would just ditch the tail but that's just my opinion...

Wil Ferch · 11-10-2010, 08:46 AM

Not to hijack ... bit if a new tail is in the cards....then I have a very nice Shaw/Getty Carrera/RSA tail that I was beginning to prep and use...and then plans changed. Weighs at least 1/4 or less of the factory unit ( why put weight up high and back where its not needed?)

Option....paint it body color or paint it with a black-surround to mimic the rubber....all one piece and light, no rust.

PM me if interested.

springerman55 · 11-10-2010, 09:04 AM

I'm not sure right now exactly what I will do. I was never a big fan of the TT on non-turbo body but the TT was part of the sport package (from what I've read and remember). The sport package came with the sport seats with extended lumbar, short shift, sport suspension, extended steering wheel hub and a few other goodies (along with a $10K option price tag when the car was new). The baggage piece was the TT. The car is an immaculate, low mileage, all original car so I'm not too fond of making drastic body changes but any option is open I guess. I found an original replacement rubber lip online for $549 (apparently the forum won't let me list the source, it keeps putting asterisks in place of the source)...

Wil Ferch · 11-10-2010, 11:51 AM

1.) My Carrera style tail....upin further thought.....wouldn't be right for you by having a different mounting area/mounting base....others...feel free to PM if this tail should interest you.

2.) You may want to check the price/availability of a new piece from here....your host.

Wil Ferch · 01:51 PM

part number 930 512 021 00 turbo spoiler rubber lip.....

from our host...about the same price.

Toggle this number into the upper left hand corner of this thread page.

RatBox · 11-10-2010, 03:15 PM

springerman,

I'm curious, are you speaking of the 3.3 type tail. Or the 3.0 ?

Bob Goding · 11-10-2010, 03:19 PM

the same brand of rust that destroys the front 'Smile'

Wil Ferch · 11-10-2010, 04:46 PM

Ratbox:
Recall that a "Carrera" tail as used in the 84+ cars was not available in 83 with Springerman's sport package. His tail would therefore very likely be the 3.3...as an "add-on" to the stock steel lid.

springerman55 · 11-10-2010, 09:07 PM

Ratbox:

I am not sure which turbo tail is which. Personally I referred to the '84+ Carrera style tail as a "whale tail". The top surface of that type of tail is very flat compared to the tail on my car. The tail on my car has a very distinct, slightly elevated ridge around the edge. I would say about 2" tall (the ridge) molded into the rubber lip. The vent/grill surface of my tail is pretty flat as is the rubber lip except the very edges of the rubber lip. Does this description help?

Wil Ferch · 11-11-2010, 09:38 AM

It's what I said.....the 930 tail.....as used for the Turbo. Your center-section plastic "base" is probably the "deep" one, with a "back-wall" almost vertical up-n-down...right?....and doesn't look like the underside of the top wing?

Wil Ferch · 11-11-2010, 09:45 AM

Like this.....right? -->

springerman55 · 11-11-2010, 10:03 AM

Yes just like that one (the rubber lip anyway). The base on my car has vertical panels on all three sides of the base...

springerman55 · 11-11-2010, 01:05 PM

I was totally wrong. I looked at my car again after my previous post and my turbo tail is exactly like the one on the red car above. The aft panel of the riser curves back to blend in with the curvature of the tail.

Wil Ferch · 11-11-2010, 03:10 PM

Prolfile and back end shots.....cribbed from some wonderful "for sale" cars....

Bob Goding · 11-11-2010, 03:18 PM

Picture that 'Box" as the housing for an intercooler.I think these may have been the only bolt on [to the engine cover] ones----the earlier pre-intercooler and carrera tails
were integral with the engine lid?

Wil Ferch · 04:24 PM

The earlier ones were typicallt one piece. By 84 all the tails, whether Carrera or Turbo....were "bolt-ons" to a stock type lid. Correct, the "deep box" section of the turbo base allowed space for the intercooler. Germany's version of the "power bulge" on American muscle cars that couldn't quite fit the high-rise manifolds and carbs under the standard hood. The metal lid for a Turbo therefore had a larger air opening cut-out to make room for the intercooler that would otherwise protrude.