Wedge Rimmer's front rally spoiler installed on my TR8

[Darrell_Walker]

I just finished installing Rimmer's front rally spoiler on my TR8, and I'm quite pleased with the result. Still need to paint it, which I'll do in a couple of months when it stops raining here in the Pacific Northwet, but the gray gelcoat doesn't look too bad with my Argent Silver paint.

https://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RB7175

 

[DNK]

I want details, Darrell
Every slimy bit

 

[Darrell_Walker]

I want details, Darrell
Every slimy bit

About the rain? Missing it already?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

The stock front spoiler that came on my car was pretty beat up. I patched up some of the holes, and was able to dye it a more even color, but it still wasn't beautiful. Very good reproductions are available, but I don't think it is the best looking spoiler either. Many of the Wedges in England seem to have aftermarket spoilers, so I started checking out the sources. I settled on the "works rally type" spoiler that Rimmer Bros carries.

The spoiler is quite reasonable, but shipping for such a large item is quite expensive. I added a bunch of other items to at least spread the shipping across a larger order.

I was surprised to see that the gel coat was a light gray, I had assumed it would be white. I do eventually plan to paint it, but is it very serviceable as it.

It took a bit of fettling to get it fit. The passenger side only took a bit of trimming (a coarse file cuts the fiberglass quickly), but the driver's side took a lot more work, both filing and filling. I used a paste-type epoxy to fill.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

The stock spoiler attaches with three bolts along the front, and two on the ends that you reach from inside the front fender. The new spoiler had a place to attach to the one of the front holes, and tabs to connect at the stock locations inside the fender. I decided to use nylon hardware, my thinking is that if I were to hit something, perhaps the hardware would let go instead of shattering the fiberglass. I used a #10 screw on the center, and also added two holes inside the wheel well (the only two holes I had to make in the car for this). For the mounts inside the fenders, I used epoxy to attach two 1/4" flanged nuts to the fiberglass tabs, and nylon bolts with stainless steel fender washers.

I used some silver-gray welting intended for Trans Am wheel arches. I'm not 100% happy with that yet, there are some sharp bends that could be improved. I tried to overlap the welting, thinking that I couldn't make a nice miter, but I'll need to put some more effort into that. I used gel super glue to tack the welting to the spoiler while installing it.

I plan to paint it body color as some point. I considered black, thinking it might tie into the black lower body. But I found a picture of red TR7 with a similar spoiler in black, and it is just too much black up there.

 

[DNK]

About the rain? Missing it already?

OH, we get rain here
Monday morning almost 5 inches in just short of 2 hours.
I finally got gutters put on the place yesterday.
What's up with the no gutters in the south

... but the driver's side took a lot more work, both filing and filling. I used a paste-type epoxy to fill.

Is it to stiff to shave some on the back edge then pull it to the body with screws?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Is it to stiff to shave some on the back edge then pull it to the body with screws?

No, but on the driver's side, I shaved the entire lip off, and still needed filler. They just cut too much off.

I still need to sort the fog lights. The original brackets interfere with the spoiler (they are pretty large). I'm sure some angle iron will solve that. The lights may need to be a little more forward than before.

 

[DNK]

Darrell- Is that the version that most said they had to cut in half to ship?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Darrell- Is that the version that most said they had to cut in half to ship?

It would be cheaper to ship if you did that, but then you have to put it back together. Rimmer didn't ask (or offer) that. S&S or Robsport (I don't recall which) did offer that as an option. I think their spoiler is a bit different, doesn't have the two extra holes.

 

[DNK]

By the way
What good is the side shot of the car with it on
Get your knees wet and take a front on

 

[Darrell_Walker]

By the way
What good is the side shot of the car with it on
Get your knees wet and take a front on

Better?

 

[HerronScott]

Darrell,

I like it!

Scott

 

[DNK]

Better?

View attachment 27399

That's what I'm talking about.
Does it handle better at 105 MPH?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

That's what I'm talking about.
Does it handle better at 105 MPH?

Like it is glued to the road

 

[Darrell_Walker]

I got around to painting the spoiler, use a spray can from Automotive Touchup. Pretty good match, the new paint has a lot more metal flake in it, so it looks a bit lighter (the original paint is more like a gray with bits of metallic than what new cars have for silver). I also made up some new mounts for the fog lights, but I need to adjust them a bit as they are a little crooked. Probably were before, but didn't really stand out against the black spoiler.

 

[DNK]

Those stock shocks?

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Those stock shocks?

It had Konis when I got it, they are still there. I'm running the springs from Woody.

 

[DNK]

Shoot, I meant springs
Head slap
Why does yours sit so low then?
can you measure your fender opening on the front and back to the middle of the wheel, please

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Why does yours sit so low then?
can you measure your fender opening on the front and back to the middle of the wheel, please

12 3/8" front, 12 5/8" rear

 

[DNK]

Tanks
Will check tomorrow