StratfordShark

Installed new spoiler yesterday, and all was good except that the holes at rear of spoiler where it attached to under tray, don't line up square with the 3 spring hangers - can just about hit them but they are right at edge of holes. Those hangers take the screws which attach under tray to rear of spoiler.

Only now have I found Dwayne's write up https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...re-w-pics.html fitting a spoiler (same part I have ) to his '87. I'm intrigued by photo below in his written-up as it shows him fitting speed nuts to the spoiler at the holes where it mates to under tray. In his earlier car, the hangers just seem to hook onto the spoiler, but I can't make out from the pictures what's happening.

Anyway he attached under tray by screwing into these speed nuts, not into the 3 spring hangers. I could do this, but am baffled by his photo that appears to show the speed nuts magically being pushed on through solid material! Is there actually a kind of flap in spoiler at that point? It looks like the centre one is being pushed around the plastic ridge, but if you look at the mounted left hand one, it sits ahead of that ridge. How? Mine's all buttoned up now so can't take under tray off to check, but maybe someone here can explain those speed nuts? I didn't attach any there, just relied on going through the holes on spoiler, and into the speed nuts that are tacked onto end of spring clips.

Thanks

scottw383

I just replaced the spoiler on my '87 last weekend. It looks SO much better than the one that was on there. It must have been replaced at some point in the past because it was also the 'new' part with the holes in front. but it sure was all beat to hell, as were the splash shields.


Regarding your question -- there is a steel (painted black) reinforcement at that edge. That's what he's attaching the speed nuts to. I think he also notes that he placed the hangers between this steel piece and the plastic spoiler body.


I didn't do it that way. I attached the speed nuts directly to the hangers, mostly since that's how it was before I removed the old spoiler. Either way works. I actually think that Dwayne's method is a little nicer since the speed nuts are clipped on to a much beefier piece of steel (rather than the relatively thin hangers). In either case the load path is similar enough where I don't think it really matters which way you do this. And I don't know the correct factory method since my spoiler was not the original one.


One more thing -- I did not have to trim the new spoiler like Dwayne did. I had no clearance problems with the flaps at all. I have verified that they still function perfectly and they don't seem to get that close to the rear edge of the new spoiler. Did you trim the spoiler like Dwayne did? Just wondering.

dr bob

On my '89, the three middle screws originally go through the tray, the spoiler, the into speed nuts in the springy steel hangers under the radiator lower support. The two outer screws engage speed nuts in the spoiler.

I made a support bracket from aluminum that matches the profile of the front "ears" on the tray, the ones that get screws in the frame rails. I put threaded inserts in the bracket so I can use machine screws in front. The original spring straps just sit on top if the new one. Pics next time I'm under the car.

scottw383

I should have also noted that the steel reinforcement is riveted to the plastic spoiler near the ends of the steel piece. The steel reinforcement also functions as the two end speed nuts were the two outermost belly pan bolts thread into. Recall that there are five belly-pan-to-spoiler bolts and only three hangers with speed nuts.


You can see some of this in the pictures below. Sorry it's not the greatest quality but hopefully you can see what's going on.

StratfordShark

Thanks Scott. I had no idea there was steel piece there! My car is buttoned up now ready for its annual government safety test, but I'll take under tray off and check that afterwards. At same time I'll see if spring hangers can attach there. You've explained a lot as the other thing puzzling me in his excellent write-up was reference to attaching hangers to steel piece!

I didn't have to trim spoiler at all, as on my MY91 there are no cooling flaps which gave him that problem but obviously didn't get in way for you.

The new spoiler was same as the old one (n=brainwave - I can see if that has the steel reinforcement piece) except that the old one did have original looking screws right at the front, going up into those long L-shape brackets that he just screws to bumper cover. The countersunk screw heads sit in cup washers at each side. Using the old spoiler as a guide, I drilled 2 3mm holes at same point in new spoiler, so it could attach to those hangers. It seems like over-engineering to me, as I can't see why spoiler would droop with the 3 attachment screws going into speed nuts on each side anyway, including one very close to those long L-brackets. Maybe someone knows why they're necessary? Porsche either thought not, or forgot those holes!

StratfordShark

Thanks Dr Bob - yes the outer holes for the under tray of the spoiler have those speed nuts, so the attachment there is easy. It was the inner three holes where I was having trouble lining up with the speed nuts on the spring hangers (original arrangement on my car), so if I can use speed nuts on spoiler there instead that would be good.

Would love to see pics of your threaded bracket next time you're under there - sounds a less fiddly arrangement.

StratfordShark

Doh! Just been in garage to look at old spoiler and it's got the obvious steel reinforcing strip making handy spot to attach speed nuts and slide the hangers! Of course it was hidden from me once spoiler was mounted on the car.

Thanks all for solving mystery.

scottw383

Glad that helped.


Regarding the L brackets: mine were present but not attached to anything at the lower end. I figure that whoever replaced the spoiler years ago didn't know what to do without holes in the "new" spoiler, so they just left them hanging. I figured I might as well attach them to *something* so I followed Dwayne's lead and simply screwed two screws (with washers) through the bumper cover. At least the brackets are doing something -- supporting the bumper cover -- and not just hanging there doing nothing. Those two screws are then hidden under the spoiler so they are not visible, so it looks clean.

dr bob

The little steel spring brackets attach to the bottom radiator support with one screw each. Loosen the screw, rotate the spring as needed, tighten. Those are sorta flexible to allow a little give if you ride up in something. When they do, load is added to the screws for the wheelhouse liner, and something breaks usually the plastic liner. I added the stronger bracket to help save the liners really. Plus those "ears" on the tray were suffering from the flexing. So the bracket saves those too.

StratfordShark

Thanks Dr Bob I misunderstood earlier - misread as spoiler ears which go into frame, not the under tray ears. Your arrangement very smart for saving the liners. Also smart of Porsche to build in some give with those springs, but that is at expense of liners!