S4 Wing install on an OB?

[MPDano]

Hello all! I know this has been done, but was wondering about the mounting points, as the OB Hatch is different. I took a quick look without actually having the wing in hand, but does anyone have pics of how they mounted theirs? Under Hatch Pics

[Landseer]

Well, here's how NOT mount one. (actually, not an S4 but the hatch construction is revealed and may help you with your concept)
This is the car I bought for $4500 BTW. It goes downhill from here.

[Fabio421]

The hatch is different on the inside but nothing major. You will need to drill new holes and fill the old ones. The trim around the hatch window will need to be changed as will the wing windows, seals and trim. There are also holes near the wing windows that need to be filled as well.

Sorry, no pics handy.

[Mrmerlin]

AHH what??
Dont add an S4 wing to your OB it looks better without it, and for function it doesnt do much unless you driving over 90mph..
OTOH if you need a good drink holder for tailgating then drill away

[Mrmerlin]

The WSM should have the dimensions for where to place the S4 mount holes its in the body section

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Landseer

Well, here's how NOT mount one. (actually, not an S4 but the hatch construction is revealed and may help you with your concept)
This is the car I bought for $4500 BTW. It goes downhill from here.

Oh Gawd Landseer.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Fabio421

The hatch is different on the inside but nothing major. You will need to drill new holes and fill the old ones. The trim around the hatch window will need to be changed as will the wing windows, seals and trim. There are also holes near the wing windows that need to be filled as well.

Sorry, no pics handy.

Hi Fabio. What old holes are you talking about? My car never had a rear spoiler. I think your talking if I already had an S Spoiler installed. Si?

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

...if you need a good drink holder for tailgating then drill away

Of course this is the only reason. My son needs a place to put his Sippie Cup

[SharkTech]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Hi Fabio. What old holes are you talking about? My car never had a rear spoiler. I think your talking if I already had an S Spoiler installed. Si?

Si Leo, when the "S" spoiler comes off the trim needs to be replaced with updated S4/GT trim to account for where the spoiler "acted" as windows trim. Obviously this does not pertain to you, as you are already ready already, haha... And, holes need to be filled from the S footprint once removed, which I had taken care of during body work, repaint, all good.
I have already removed my "S" and retrofitted S4 trim, full delete, ready to mount my S4 spoiler as well. Keeping an eye on this thread awaiting some brilliant pictured, step by step instructions listing the best mounting point, etc. (fingers crossed )

I am a little hesitant to go drilling into my hatch, especially since my body work and paint have been done, and the car is now flawless. I will wait a bit more as I continue to research, etc.

Good luck.

[Fabio421]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Hi Fabio. What old holes are you talking about? My car never had a rear spoiler. I think your talking if I already had an S Spoiler installed. Si?

Yes. Thats what I was talking about. If you have a pre S car then you are good to go. Just drill a couple of hole and away you go.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Fabio421

Yes. Thats what I was talking about. If you have a pre S car then you are good to go. Just drill a couple of hole and away you go.

Cool, but I am hoping to find a pic of a pre-S that installed an S4 wing. This will give us an idea of a proper place to mount it and where the holes are put. Like Landseers pics, there is a bump all the way up the underside of the hatch. Just drilling a few holes may not be all there is to do.

[Fabio421]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Cool, but I am hoping to find a pic of a pre-S that installed an S4 wing. This will give us an idea of a proper place to mount it and where the holes are put. Like Landseers pics, there is a bump all the way up the underside of the hatch. Just drilling a few holes may not be all there is to do.

Place the wing where you want it and mark the holes.

Drill the holes then continue drilling all the way through the second "layer" of steel

Get a drill bit that is larger than the socket that will fit the hardware and use that to enlarge the hole on the inside of the hatch. This is for access.


I have a wing on my 78 widebody but it isn't a stock wing so the spacing is wider. The person who installed it didn't do the greatest job but if you want, I'll be happy to snap a pic for you.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Fabio421

Place the wing where you want it and mark the holes.

Drill the holes then continue drilling all the way through the second "layer" of steel

Get a drill bit that is larger than the socket that will fit the hardware and use that to enlarge the hole on the inside of the hatch. This is for access.


I have a wing on my 78 widebody but it isn't a stock wing so the spacing is wider. The person who installed it didn't do the greatest job but if you want, I'll be happy to snap a pic for you.

Perfect. That's a great tip to drill through both layers, then follow up on the underside with a larger bit for a socket to fit through. Thanks Fabio!

Is our hatch steel or aluminum?

[SharkTech]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Perfect. That's a great tip to drill through both layers, then follow up on the underside with a larger bit for a socket to fit through. Thanks Fabio!

Is our hatch steel or aluminum?

Hatch is Steel.
Aluminum was used for doors, hood, and detachable front fenders...

[rhjames]

Leo--

I have found that many folks mount the S4 wing too high (too far forward) on the hatch of an OB.

In my eyes (don't start...), the rear edge of the wing needs to be parallel with the rearmost edge of the rear bumper cover when viewed from either top-down, or from the sides. The rearmost edge of the wing should not be rear of the bumper cover, just even with it. This placement will even work if you choose to keep your "S" spoiler on the hatch as well (doesn't apply to you).

once you determine this placement, trace the outside edges of the wing (where it contacts the hatch), then use a piece of (tracing) paper to trace the underside of the wing mount surface and bolt holes, then cut the mounting holes out of the paper and the outside if the paper tracing, and then place on the hatch matching up the outside edges and mark the bolt holes. Drill the holes using a bit slightly larger that the stud you will use to bolt this mess up.

I suggest that you use "Allen" head bolts and go thru the hatch with them threaded into the wing. If you use threaded studs and nuts, you will not have enough room to turn the nuts on the studs without beating in the sheetmetal excessively (see landseer's pics). using the hex head bolts will reduce, maybe not totally eliminate, this sheetmetal mess.Using flatwashers in this area will be tough as well---just use the hex head bolts.

using my method (placement), you will still be able to see rearward thru the rear glass, and the wipers will still have room to function.

wish I had some good pics to show this, but the hatch I had my wing on was sent to the crusher......

not sure why there are rectangular slots on the hatch in Landseer's pics....they are not necessary to do the wing installation,but the bolt holes pictured are in the correct area.

Hope this helps----

--R

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by rhjames

Leo--

I have found that many folks mount the S4 wing too high (too far forward) on the hatch of an OB.

In my eyes (don't start...), the rear edge of the wing needs to be parallel with the rearmost edge of the rear bumper cover when viewed from either top-down, or from the sides. The rearmost edge of the wing should not be rear of the bumper cover, just even with it. This placement will even work if you choose to keep your "S" spoiler on the hatch as well (doesn't apply to you).

once you determine this placement, trace the outside edges of the wing (where it contacts the hatch), then use a piece of (tracing) paper to trace the underside of the wing mount surface and bolt holes, then cut the mounting holes out of the paper and the outside if the paper tracing, and then place on the hatch matching up the outside edges and mark the bolt holes. Drill the holes using a bit slightly larger that the stud you will use to bolt this mess up.

I suggest that you use hex head bolts and go thru the hatch with them threaded into the wing. If you use threaded studs and nuts, you will not have enough room to turn the nuts on the studs without beating in the sheetmetal excessively (see landseer's pics). using the hex head bolts will reduce, maybe not totally eliminate, this sheetmetal mess.Using flatwashers in this area will be tough as well---just use the hex head bolts.

using my method (placement), you will still be able to see rearward thru the rear glass, and the wipers will still have room to function.

wish I had some good pics to show this, but the hatch I had my wing on was sent to the crusher......

not sure why there are rectangular slots on the hatch in Landseer's pics....they are not necessary to do the wing installation,but the bolt holes pictured are in the correct area.

Hope this helps----

--R

Excellent! Thanks Russ

[XLR8928]

Hey Leo,
I guess our non S base 928's have a leg up when upgrading to an S4 spoiler.
I plan on this mod as well.
-K

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by XLR8928

Hey Leo,
I guess our non S base 928's have a leg up when upgrading to an S4 spoiler.
I plan on this mod as well.
-K

Yupper. My S4 wing arrives Tuesday, so I'll tackle the job over that weekend. Mega Pics to follow of course.

[XLR8928]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Yupper. My S4 wing arrives Tuesday, so I'll tackle the job over that weekend. Mega Pics to follow of course.

How much did the little jewel set you back?

[rhjames]

I still have my S4 wing for sale, as well as two sets of "S" spoilers, if anyone is interested.

--R