1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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This weekend I undertook the whaletail restoration project on the 90 Red SPG. I took the tail off, separated rubber from resin frame/fiberglass/whatever it is (what material is this exactly BTW).
This tail has perfect rubber, but starting to get bubbles under the surface where the internal metal fixings are rusting. I want to catch it before the rubber is shot (it still looks new otherwise). I have been covering the rear of the car w/ plastic EVERY time it rains to prevent the tail from getting wet, so I really need a better fix. The frame portion of the tail is in fine shape but has one crack where who-knows what happened. So there'll be a patch + repaint soon.
I've cut out the long metal strip with the studs that protrude from the rubber. Made one slit in between the studs on teh rubber and just pulled it out. Man that metal is rusted all to hell.
Everyone I've read about just epoxied in new studs with epoxy. Some have tried to simply not use fasteners to reattach rubber to frame; however I can see that failing at 110 MPH someday and it'll stress me out. So I'm going to try and find an aluminum strip in the right shape (shouldn't be too hard), and re-insert into the rubber with new studs.
I was looking at the front bumper aluminum backing on a spare bumper -- it has almost the same curvature AND is almost identical thickness. So perhaps I can try and cut a section of this aluminum piece to repurpose for my tail.
Will keep you all posted and I promise I will put out a FAQ w/ pics... but I'm hoping this is a permanent fix to the rubber rusting out from the internals. I am seriously obsessed with fixing this whaletail.
posted by 64.3.24...
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