Duck tail Questions

[panos]

Hello,
Trying to find and install a duck tail onto my 1974 911. I want to make sure that I do the duck tail right but also do it for a modest price. Is there any difference in performance, or anything else for that matter, if I go with a fiberglass tail? Would anyone recommend a steel reinforced tail or an all steel tail? As for installation would I need to trim anything to make sure the tail fits properly?
Thanks,
Panos

Below I have posted a FB tail for sale. Would I have to find hood shocks and/or a grill for it?

[racer_X]

+ 1 for the duck tail questions, I want one too!

[Rot 911]

There is no "all steel" ducktail. The original was a steel deck with the fiberglass tail bonded to it. There is a guy in the classifieds that still makes them (Sonjay I believe, but could be wrong). They are relatively expensive. Next are the many manufacturers of the all fiberglass tail. The vary in quality, but most will need a bit of finessing to fit properly. Mine needed a lot of work to line up properly (GT Racing tail). You only need one lid shock for the tail. If you have the early metal grill, it will fit without modifications. The later plastic grill needs a bit of the fins trimmed to fit. I bought a metal grill off a guy in the classifieds.

[Drdogface]

Sonjay is the guy and he's in Orlando. I have one and love it. I bought an extra lid in the classifieds to have him install it on. He used to have extra decklids as well or you can use your own. You can have him paint to match factory color or send it primed only. Can't recall the price but it's good quality.

[Schmierung]

R2RSR in Escondito, CA makes a nice one.

[panos]

Originally Posted by Schmierung

R2RSR in Escondito, CA makes a nice one.

Would you possibly have the contact information for R2RSR? I live nearby Escondido and that would be perfect but I could not find them on the internet anywhere.

[Schmierung]

The website is indeed down...... Location is 2750 Auto park Way( near country club) Escondito.760.978.4292
These are custom built one at a time. You can get the right angle or radiused reinforcement on the underside.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

There is no "all steel" ducktail. The original was a steel deck with the fiberglass tail bonded to it. There is a guy in the classifieds that still makes them (Sonjay I believe, but could be wrong). They are relatively expensive. Next are the many manufacturers of the all fiberglass tail. The vary in quality, but most will need a bit of finessing to fit properly. Mine needed a lot of work to line up properly (GT Racing tail). You only need one lid shock for the tail. If you have the early metal grill, it will fit without modifications. The later plastic grill needs a bit of the fins trimmed to fit. I bought a metal grill off a guy in the classifieds.

Beautiful car!!

[attamz]

I just got a Mashaw one a few months back, and it needed minimal work. I was even suprised as to how few pin holes it had after primer. Overall I would say it was excellent quality for a fiberglass piece.

[djdsc]

I just installed a Getty FG duck on a ’74 with my son. We are not paint and body guys and knew that we were not going to spend days and $$ for the perfect fit. The car will be stripped and painted in the next few years so we were looking for a presentable fit and finish for the time being.

As shown in Rot 911’s post and photos, for the perfect fit you usually need to do some grinding and filling for exact gaps and blends at the corners and rear cowl and prep the deck for paint as usual when installing a brand new lid. The Getty web site has instructions with photos for mounting their duck to give you an idea of what they suggest.

We did nothing to adjust the fit and gaps on the Getty, just prepped and painted. We are more than pleased with the bolt on results.

[jackb911]

The one I have came from Rennspeed. It was purchased from a fellow Pelican who never installed it on his car for $200 as I recall.

These are usually less expensive than the Getty/MA Shaw ones but it fit very well right out of the box and needed very little final finishing work. However, after running it for a few years it developed a crack in the fiberglass at the lower rear edge. It was an easy30 minute repair when I repainted the car last year and is holding up fine.

Here's a pic in primer after the minor repair.

I believe Jack Olsen's Black Beauty also runs a Rennspeed ducktail. The Getty and Shaw ones are probably better but the Rennspeed ones are great "bang for the buck" if you are on a budget. It has the correct side profile, unlike some of the el cheapo ones on the market.

The Stratton ducktail that uses a OEM steel frame is the way to go if you have the funds. Last time I checked they were around $800+ shipping.

[DohertyCM]

the first picture in this series looks exactly what I got, fiberglass.
Got it, Fit it, and had it painted and it looks and operates great!

[nimskov]

+1 on Sonjay - expensive: yes, but its the best out there - period.

I tried a fiber glass one off ebay, and ended up returning it, the fit was simply too poor and the stability also sucked.

If ya want the goods, you'll have to pay for it.

[qikcpa]

i got one a few days ago from getty. $299. very pleased.
no fitment issues. gaps looked even. took about an hour to put it on. no a/c.
i have not prepped or painted so i can only speak for the physical dimensions.