Adding a tail / chin spoiler -- couple questions

[rwilner]

Hi All,
I'm adding a tail and chin spoiler to my 1984 carrera 3.2, I did a bunch of searches but still have a few questions. I'll be purchasing the tail attached to a decklid and having it painted, so I can keep the stock decklid pristine and original.

1. Will my non-tail, non-rear-wiper decklid AC condenser bolt up to the whale tail decklid?
2. If I buy a 930 tail, can I swap out the 930 rubber lip ("tea tray" I think) for the carrera style rubber lip ("whale tail")?
3. Any other fitment issues I should look out for when bolting a 930 decklid / tail to my carrera 3.2?
4. Do I need to drill any holes to mount the chin spoiler, or are all the mounting points there from the factory?

Thanks!
Rich

[DRACO A5OG]

1. If the tailed lid has the area to receive the wiper.
2. No, the carrera tail's base is different.
3. No, but you will need a dual strut to keep that heavy sucker up, but side effects it will be hard to align and not sit properly when closed. The proper way is to find a turbo hinge for the passenger side and place a strut there to equalize the pressure when closed.
4. If oem, there should holes to receive the chin spoiler from the factory.

PM me if you get stuck.

Jim

I have both but no wiper.

[rwilner]

Thanks Draco!!

I may need you to elaborate on #3, or point me to a thread. Is the turbo hinge a bolt on or a weld in?

[michael lang]

I don't know about the rear as my car is like yours with the normal non-spoiler decklid. The front you will have to drill holes in the valance, even if it is OEM. The chin spoiler kit comes with everything you need and should only take about an hour to an hour and a half to install. Mine took just over an hour and I had never done one before. I used spring clamps to hold the spoiler in place so that my holes aligned perfectly and all I did was get both sides perfectly adjusted, measure twice, drill once and then install the mounting hardware. I did that procedure for each of the eight holes. Worked like a charm!

[DRACO A5OG]

Bolt on, it has a hole to recieve the additional strut, you can use standard struts on each side.

[McLaren-TAG]

Can't speak for other variants but my tail works perfectly well with only one strut. I've got a Carrera tail but all of the AC has been removed from the car so perhaps the loss of the condenser and associated hardware has more than made up for the weight of the tail.

[Cattler]

Here are a couple of threads you'll find useful:

930 spoiler with Carrera Rubber Lip

Some advice on chin spoiler installation (pics!)

I agree with Jim re: the need for two gas struts--one on each side. I don't have the second fitting installed and noticed having two on one side wasn't working properly re: alignment. I now use the old school wooden dowel.

Dave

[DRACO A5OG]

Dave, just reminded me, align with the struts off, it is much easier.

[Peter Zimmermann]

I use a double strut, they are NOT the heavy duty variants, on the left side of the 3.2 liter Carrera tail on my SC. Works fine. I did have to find center, using a plumb-bob strung from the center of the cowl, through the center of the hood badge, to find the middle of the valance so that I could drill the first hole. Obviously, my valance, original on my '82 car, was not pre-drilled; I don't think any of them are but I could be wrong.

[rattlsnak]

Which tail are you looking to add, a 930 tail or a carrera tail? (please don't add a turbo tail to a non-flared car, just looks ridiculous).

[rusnak]

1. If the "new" tail/decklid have a wiper and you want to use it, then you will have to buy a new condenser. My advice is to buy the condenser along with the tail from the same seller.

2-3 The Turbo tail will look funny but yes.

4. Yes you must drill holes. I started with the ends. Bolt them on first, then it's easier to find the center.

[rwilner]

I found a great deal on a 930 tail and lid, so leaning that direction right now.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Hi Rich,

Do you have a Turbo-look 84 or a standard Carrera? If you have a standard Carrera, my Turbo front lip/spoiler won't work, so no need to come over tomorrow night.

If you have an M491 car, it will work fine.

[rwilner]

Shaun,
It's a standard carrera. Glad you checked in on the thread!

Thanks anyway buddy.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Glad I saved you the trip. Will have to have a beer some time.

[uwanna]

I have an original 930 complete tail assy on my '80SC widebody conversion. One thing you will run into is the size of the opening in a "real" 930 decklid. The opening is much larger to fit the intercooler.
When you use a 930 tail on a non turbo with A/C, you will need to fabricate some sort of panel to block off part of the opening to make sure the inflow of cooling air flows through the A/C condenser and NOT around it. I used a sheet of sturdy black plastic, carved and cut to fit mine. Works just fine! Good luck!

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by rwilner

I found a great deal on a 930 tail and lid, so leaning that direction right now.

Go for it! So you can join the "ridiclous" crowd

[javadog]

A couple things... You definitely have to drill the holes in the front and the extra bracket for the right side strut was spot welded onto the firewall. At some point, I think they might have started installing the right side mount on all the cars but I'm not sure of that. You can probably install the bracket with a decent epoxy and some stout rivets.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by Peter Zimmermann

I use a double strut, they are NOT the heavy duty variants, on the left side of the 3.2 liter Carrera tail on my SC. Works fine.

I use the same setup on my turbo tail. Two standard struts on the left side. Has worked
perfectly for 20yrs, with the original pair of struts I installed back then!