Water in Firebird Spoiler
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Car: 1989 Formula
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 5 sp
Axle/Gears: 3.45:1
Water in Firebird Spoiler
Greetings all,
Did a search for this but didn't find anything...
My '89 Formula spoiler is slowly filling with water (I live in the Seattle area w/o a garage / not the smartest choice I've ever made :-P
Has anyone run into this problem before (I can't possibly be the first...) and how did you deal with it?
I've considered drilling very small drain holes at the lowest points on each side that I can but hate to add holes where there were none... Any other ideas???
Did a search for this but didn't find anything...
My '89 Formula spoiler is slowly filling with water (I live in the Seattle area w/o a garage / not the smartest choice I've ever made :-P
Has anyone run into this problem before (I can't possibly be the first...) and how did you deal with it?
I've considered drilling very small drain holes at the lowest points on each side that I can but hate to add holes where there were none... Any other ideas???
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Car: 1989 Formula
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 5 sp
Axle/Gears: 3.45:1
Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
Don't think so, whole car is painfully original (i.e. tired - in process of replacing original radiator and hoses today...) and no signs of rear pieces/parts being removed or replaced and no signs of any accident damage repair...
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Car: 1989 Formula
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Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
Thanks but that's not the issue I'm having right now.
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Car: 1989 Formula
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Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
When I raise the hatch I hear water running downhill into the sides - don't see where it gets in and nothing comes out in either up or down position.
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Car: '84 Firebird TA & '87 Camaro LT
Engine: 350 V-8 & V-6
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 & 3.42
Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
Sounds like the front or back seam has split open. I didn't have water in mine but had to reglue both the front and back seams. Keep the car covered or inside most times there is rain/snow out, so not much chance for water. Tap on the spoiler, see if you get a rattling sound - may mean you have a loose seam.
Just checked the style of spoiler, your wrap-around may not have the same seams as the one on my '84. Can't hurt to check though.
Just checked the style of spoiler, your wrap-around may not have the same seams as the one on my '84. Can't hurt to check though.
Last edited by Hal87; 01-02-2013 at 10:04 PM.
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Car: 1989 Formula
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Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
Worth checking out, thanks for the suggestion - hoping the sub-freezing temps these last few and next several nights don't cause any harm before I can get the water out ... looks like a car cover is in my future!
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
The factory formula spoiler is a rubber sponge like material, water won't "run" thru it.
You may have a base firebird spoiler or fiberglass formula repro on it? Or, you may have water in your decklid?
You may have a base firebird spoiler or fiberglass formula repro on it? Or, you may have water in your decklid?
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Car: '88 GTA, 90 Formula
Engine: 5.7 TPI, fed growth hormones
Transmission: 700r4 4u2?
Axle/Gears: 9bolt
Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
As stated in a previous post, these spoilers have a steel skeleton. Water gets pulled up into them from capillary action from where they bolt to the back lid. The steel skelletons rust and delaminate, and the rust expansion of the steel cracks and distorts the urethane of the spoilers, also causing voids or channels for more water to gather in. If you have external "lumps" in your spoiler, your skeleton is rusting, and it is only a matter of time before it splits the urethane body, after which deterioration accellerates.
Repair is problematic. I sectioned the spoiler and cut out the badly rusted skeleton where it had expanded the spoiler, then glued it all back together and sealed it up. Many, MANY hours of work. The best bet is if yours is still dimensionally intact, pull it off the car, dump a bunch of rust inhibitor (Naval jelly or similar) down the studs into the steel skeleton, then seal it up with marine grade silicone, and hope for the best.
Or just step up and get an aftermarket fiberglass spoiler and be done with it.
Good luck
TA
Repair is problematic. I sectioned the spoiler and cut out the badly rusted skeleton where it had expanded the spoiler, then glued it all back together and sealed it up. Many, MANY hours of work. The best bet is if yours is still dimensionally intact, pull it off the car, dump a bunch of rust inhibitor (Naval jelly or similar) down the studs into the steel skeleton, then seal it up with marine grade silicone, and hope for the best.
Or just step up and get an aftermarket fiberglass spoiler and be done with it.
Good luck
TA
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Water in Firebird Spoiler
Only steel I knew about in the spoilers was the little metal circle clips where it clips 2 window. I guessed it had something around the decklid mount also. I never have taken one apart to see the steel frame work.
I'd like to see it! Do you have pix of it??
I still dont think you'd "hear" water running thru a closed cell sponge like material.
Its a urethane like the early pontiac bumpers, to repair it properly, you need to use 3M's flexible parts repair material.
OP post a pic of the spoiler your working with.
I'd like to see it! Do you have pix of it??
I still dont think you'd "hear" water running thru a closed cell sponge like material.
Its a urethane like the early pontiac bumpers, to repair it properly, you need to use 3M's flexible parts repair material.
OP post a pic of the spoiler your working with.
Last edited by TTOP350; 01-03-2013 at 02:12 PM.
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