I have always wanted one of these closed mouth chin spoilers and am planning to get one, but am worried about the horror stories of getting them nicked up all the time.

Is there a way to re-inforce them to make them stronger and less apt to break ? Is it really that difficult and expensive for them to be made in urethane ?

Can they be coated with something or made like that Rhino bed stuff ? I have no idea if that is practical or even possible just looking for a better solution than driving on pins and needles.

I can't answer your question but.......Who ownes that car that you have pictured above??

------------------

1985 2m4
Saskatoon, Sask Canada
Visit the Saskatoon Fiero Club Website at
http://www.freewebs.com/saskatoonfieros/
Come chat with us at our Forum
http://saskfiero.suddenlaunch.com/

after breaking the one on my last GT 3 times - i stopped using fiberglass and epoxy and switched to kevlar and evercoat flexible body putty.. it never broke again

quote Originally posted by ToonTownfiero: I can't answer your question but.......Who ownes that car that you have pictured above??

The car used to belong to slammed87GT but he sold it. It actually looks like that except for the photochop.

When finished my choptop will look like that except it will be torch red with different wheels and a few extra body mods.

Hmm.

1. Don't lower the Fiero,
2. Install 25.1 diameter tires upfront,
3. Pray? or

The second is of the bottom of the front flare.

------------------

Archie's Choptop conversion #11, #15, Redux & The Stealth

Curley, that's awesome. You find the most creative ways to use old body parts.

There are two types of fiberglass chin spoilers,

1) those that are broken
2) those that are not broken yet.

I prefer the lawrence/skitime chin spoiler made from a recyled nose. It's not quite the same look, but it's not going to crack the first it hits something. Wost that will happen is the paint will crack and you repaint it. I folded mine over in half getting the car on the trailer and it bounced back.

it would be nice to have a chin spoiler made from carbon fiber.

quote Originally posted by FieroWannaBe: it would be nice to have a chin spoiler made from carbon fiber.

as yes - so then it could get banged around, get craze marks, spider cracks, and break

the only valid reason to use carbon fiber is for weight savings -

quote Originally posted by Kohburn: as yes - so then it could get banged around, get craze marks, spider cracks, and break the only valid reason to use carbon fiber is for weight savings -

For the look doesn't count? For most people thats a valid reason. However he is right, that is a dumb spot for carbon fiber.. For anyone that has actually used the stuff knows that it has nothing protecting it but a couple layers of clear coat..... Not really the best for that spot..

------------------

Custom Fiero Fiberglass

quote Originally posted by madcurl:

Going to steal this idea. I have the old front end sitting in my shead. Well not the head lights, they look to much like a bug

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 12-21-2005).]

I checked into getting my chin spoiler rhino lined and was quoted $35. I don't know if it would provide any structural support but at least you wouldn't have to paint it everytime it caught a rock or was bumped by a parking curb I'll probably get this done on my car this spring so I'll let everyone know how it goes.

------------------
http://www.raceme.cc/helmet/

quote Originally posted by helmet1978: I checked into getting my chin spoiler rhino lined and was quoted $35. I don't know if it would provide any structural support but at least you wouldn't have to paint it everytime it caught a rock or was bumped by a parking curb I'll probably get this done on my car this spring so I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Rhino lining is just a thick gravel guard. Go to your nearest parts shop (Autozone) and get a gravel guard in a can, or if you have your own tank / air gun, then just get it in a tin and spray it through your primer gun. Its really not that hard to apply. However if your lip spoiler is plastic and not fiberglass it may crack just as easily because it doesn't flex like urethane does... but it is easy to touch up.. If you use the can. I will let you know now that it does look like crap! Either of the above choices... I am not a fan of textured paints..

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: Going to steal this idea. I have the old front end sitting in my shead. Well not the head lights, they look to much like a bug

Hope you did not get confused ? WHat curly used was a chopped and modified closed mouth spoiler, what jscott used was from an old front end.

Food for thought.

http://lambolounge.com/Front/Bumper/Skid/skip-plate.asp

quote Originally posted by exoticse: Hope you did not get confused ? WHat curly used was a chopped and modified closed mouth spoiler, what jscott used was from an old front end.

No I see what he did. Mine will look like his when I am done, well mostly

quote Originally posted by exoticse: You coated them with that or you made an entirely different one using those materials ??

I ended up replacing most of the center section with it - the curved areas were still fiberglass

I have my fiberglass spoiler molded in and HAVE NOT ever scraped bad enough to crack, gouge, or chip any from it!

You either "learn" not to be so aggressive with it, watch out for curbs, be aware of "Where the front end is" AND about how low it is to the ground.( me 5 3/4" ) or you dent, break, and tear it and other things up ! it is that simple!!

If you WANT to go "scrapin" then have a spoiler made of urathane. Like Jscott's only in the closed mouth design. at least you will just shave it down to nothing over time.

------------------

88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. 12" Vette Rotors,Custom stuff done

Some very good input here. Big thanks.

Any other advice, experiences, or alternatives ???

i am doing a front lip too this spring befor the car comes out.....same one as in the pics, buuuut im adding a nice little touch to it which will help with looks, aerodynamics and i suppose the scraping aspect too....

ill post pics when the car is completed in april/may.

You could always just get a closed mouth and then just shave the sucker down.... A friend of mine has one, when he first got it he chipped and cracked it, but luckily that was before the paint job. His car wasn't lowered either. I can see it breaking off if your car is lowered, but if its stock height, it shouldn't be too bad.

quote Originally posted by revin: I have my fiberglass spoiler molded in and HAVE NOT ever scraped bad enough to crack, gouge, or chip any from it!

Revin - has your car been lowered?

quote Originally posted by revin: I have my fiberglass spoiler molded in and HAVE NOT ever scraped bad enough to crack, gouge, or chip any from it!

its pretty flat in texas isn't it?

no the car is not lowered yet ( I am thinking of a 1/2 cut on the springs) and I have coilovers on the back
Tx flat?!?!? some spots mainly road constrution
BUT it all comes down to how hard you are on your car!
Get really stiff shocks and poly and MAYBE you will have less of a chance to scrap! Getting on and off the trailer is a feat in itself!

------------------

88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. 12" Vette Rotors,Custom stuff done

[This message has been edited by revin (edited 12-22-2005).]

quote Originally posted by revin: no the car is not lowered yet ( I am thinking of a 1/2 cut on the springs) and coilovers on the back Tx flat?!?!? some spots

Hmm... that could explain why you have not had the "interference" issues that others have experienced!

quote Originally posted by opm2000: Food for thought. http://lambolounge.com/Front/Bumper/Skid/skip-plate.asp

i've actually thought about this (still have all my old skateboards from the late 70's and 80's), but i wasn't sure if it wouldn't be worse. the wheels would have to be just a fraction lower than the spoiler or they'd just be in the way themselves.

also considered curb feelers (shut up, shut up), but i figure i have the strereo up so loud most times i wouldn't hear them anyway, and they wouldn't do much protectionwise either.

what i think i'm going to try is some material at work that's like (if you're familiar with skateboards) the old tail tap things you put on the back of your skateboard. something that would slide a little better over a rise in the road and replaceable with another piece once it wears down.

this was at gettysburg in 04

it is rubber so it flexes

quote Originally posted by exoticse: Any other advice, experiences, or alternatives ???

Here's another alternative for those who have crashed the IRM front spoiler. My first one was reinforced using steel and everything known to man to protect it. Well, after the third time, the IRM pieces was laid to rest in my "I'll get back to you bin." Years later I thought about using "only" the sides.

As you can see in the pic, only the sides are used. Yes. Spoiler-flaring or garbage dumping 101. This is the best option if your car is lowered. You have to pretty lazy to tear-off the sides.

Edit: Oh yeah, the side too are bolted on and glassed over.

------------------

Archie's Choptop conversion #11, #15, Redux & The Stealth

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 12-22-2005).]

As the producer for the majority of chin spoilers out there, I'll offer my 2 cents worth.

In order to use urethane, a steel mold is needed. That's a minimum $20K. Materials used to make the bumper would probably only be $23. A whole lot of chin spoilers would need to be sold just to break even before any profit could be realized.

Fiberglass chin spoilers are common because they're easier to design and don't require a huge initial investment. The mold is cheaper to make ($2-3k for a mold the size of a chin spoiler).

We have made the chin spoilers with a Kevlar strip along the front edge. That adds to cost and doesn't stop chipping or cracking if hit hard. A dead-on hit would shatter the spoiler regardless. The urethane spoiler will be more forgiving if hit, but is prone to leaving a crease if hit hard enough.

Fiberglass chin spoiler can be repaired by any body shop, or any one person using materials that can easily be bought. The urethane spoiler, if damaged, would be easier/cheaper to replace than repair.

Being the owner of several fieros with chin spoilers, I'm more aware of where I can park, and what I can/can't drive over with a chin spoiler. It almost becomes another one of your senses. I haven't broke one yet.

In the end, the fiero market isn't large enough to support the production of a urethane chin spoiler.

------------------
4 Indys, 1 is A/C delete
84 Black/Silver T-top custom
85 GT speedster project
86 GT Yellow
88 GT White, T-top, 5 speed.

However......
"Time is the most precious and perishable of my possessions."

Buy IRM, again! at www.fierowarehouse.com

[This message has been edited by 007DOUG (edited 12-24-2005).]

The Fiero with it ridiculously long overhang on the front needs something to even out that upward tilting nose. But it turns out the nose is tilted up for a reason, so that you can negotiate the car without scraping the nose everywhere you go.

Personally I love the way the closed mouth spoiler looks, but I don't think it would last a week if I had one.

I asked Doug to add his valuable opinion and experience to this thread.

Thanks a lot Doug for the input !

Keep the ideas and thoughts coming guys.

quote Originally posted by 007DOUG: As the producer for the majority of chin spoilers out there, I'll offer my 2 cents worth. In order to use urethane, a steel mold is needed. That's a minimum $20K. Materials used to make the bumper would probably only be $23. A whole lot of chin spoilers would need to be sold just to break even before any profit could be realized.

thats actually not entirely true - there are 2part urethane resins that can be layed up much the same as epoxy - and they come in a variety of hardness /flexibility) this is the same type of urethane used on the fieros poly bushings ..

the materials however are still not cheap so the spoiler would likely cost twice as much using the same mold and the same fiberglass.

The 90 Concept is actually your "best" option. Tweeking the Fiero Warehouse front spoiler in such away as to limit it's exposure. 2-3" is all that's needed IMO. That's why I would choose to tweeking or shaving it down somewhat. Otherwise, you're in the same ball park as Vipers, Lambos, and alike.

you can definitely reinforce these chin spoilers, but the best thing to do is learn how to drive!!! seriously, just remember that it's there and think ahead. Also, this is not rubber, it is the same spoiler as in the first pick, only we added 1 inch of rubber on to the bottom of it to take more air out from under the car.

------------------

FieroMojo (Lansing, MI) came up with an interesting idea. Steve told me but i forget what he used to craft this one. Some type of plastic something he got from the hardware store.

Steve more details??

[This message has been edited by exoticse (edited 02-05-2006).]

you can use the thicker garden lining plastic sort of stuff sold at home depot and what not.

quote Originally posted by Disillusion: you can use the thicker garden lining plastic sort of stuff sold at home depot and what not.

For garden lining plastic (if thats whats on the yellow GT) it looks pretty damn good. How is it attached to the bumper though?

------------------

The only other idea I can think of is buying a plastic welder. Eastwood offers a plastic welder that is capable of welding different types of of modern plastic. They offer different plastic welding rods for different types of plastics including urethane. Then you just have to figure out how to section a GT bumper, insert the urethane pieces, weld (or meld), and you’ll have a true urethane lowered fascia.
Disclaimer: I’ve never used one, nor seen one repaired. This item is marketed toward folks who want to repair urethane fascias, plastic body parts, etc., to make extra money.

Any other ideas floating around out there ??