Custom Dovetail Spoiler

[DreamRyder1963]

I was looking through an older issue of Modified mag last night and they mentioned that one of the featured cars used a homemade front spilter made from fiberglass covered birch wood. It dawned on me that I might be able to use a similar process to made a custom dovetail spoiler for my corvair project. Has anyone ever seen this done, or know how well it will hold up to the downforce?

[jlcustomz]

Particularly in boat construction, it can be common to have wood reinforcing fiberglass. Modern vette floors have balsa wood squares in their construction . Also the Morgan Aero coupe supercar I saw on velocity channel is still made with numerous wood parts. I've also used wood under previous custom fiberglass auto parts.

Not sure what size & shape you're picturing, but for example some 3/8" to 1/2" thick by 4 to 6" tall hardwood bolted to maybe aluminum angle brackets & covered in a few layers of mat & resin would likely be much stronger than the average fiberglass part.

Also to the doubters, one properly encapsuled, wood rot won't happen.

[WallaceMFG]

Based on my dad's experience with racing model airplanes, balsa and fiberglass can be extremely strong if its treated right. Maybe search around on some model airplane sites to see if you can find any leads on how to treat the wood

[Munssey]

Instead of wood, a composite honeycomb panel can be used to get the structure and strength (and would be lighter too) but more expensive.

Just more options to discuss.

[DreamRyder1963]

I decided yesterday to run over to Lowe's and see about picking up a wood broad to experiment with. While I was there I started to think about final wieght and cost. It dawned on me that high density foam broad would work the same and weigh close to nothing. I picked up a sheet of insulating foam an I have the spoiler also completely shaped. It is craved and I will sand next. I will then reinforce it with fiberglass mat and reisin.

[Munssey]

For strength, consider using Epoxy and not polyester resin. Use a foil layer between your foam and resin or else it will eat away at your foam.

Good luck!

[DreamRyder1963]

Thanks for the tip.

[DreamRyder1963]

I wanted to give you guys an update. I stacked sheets of the high density foam and then carved out the shape I wanted. I wrapped the final carving in aluimun foil and I have applied the first layer of fiberglass. I have started to sand this layer so I can fill in low spots with the next layer.

[TheJDMan]

Don't they make surfboards out of high density foam covered with some sort of epoxy or glass?

[MrQuick]

it would be kinda cool to see the wood.

[DreamRyder1963]

I thought about the wood but it would have been hard to find a single peice of bosa wood to carve. Plus in my experience bosa wood is hard to carve (breaks apart along the grain).

[MrQuick]

Im terrible with fiberglass so I like to use the stock spoiler as a base then add to it with metal. I can do metal.

[DreamRyder1963]

That looks great Mr Quick. Unfortunaly they don't make spoilers for an EM Corvair, hence why I am making one from scratch.

[MrQuick]

its looking great though!!

[Munssey]

Looking good, sir! Lots of body work to go but your on the right track

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

got pics of it on the car?

looks like its gonna be epic

[DreamRyder1963]

Not yet. I will see if I can get it on long enough to take a pic.

[DreamRyder1963]

Here is it held up to the car as if it was bolted on.