Duck Bill/Tail Trunk Spoiler

[nicholasdilallo]

Hi I've been trying to get around to posting this thread of this custom trunk I made for my 135. It is NOT carbon. It is probably 15-20lbs heavier then a stock trunk. This was my first time doing anything along the lines of body work. I think it came out pretty good, some may disagree and that's fine. It's also fine if you think it should've been carbon but I didn't want to spend that type of money in case I messed up. I made this trunk with under $600 including buying a spare trunk (I still have my original) as well as paint included in the $600.

I started out with getting some thin, but strong enough that it wouldn't bend easily, aluminum pipe. It looks flimsy but you can lift the whole trunk up by this pipe. I positioned it how I thought the design I was going for would flow, drilled holes and bolted this pipe to the trunk. When I did this I realized I was nuts. But kept going. After that I taped it up and added the fiberglass layers. Yes you can see I did not sand down the trunk to the bare metal of the trunk yet but if you're in you're garage with a belt sander that crap takes forever. I did sand it a little so the clear coat was gone just to help with adhesion of the fiberglass. After fiberglass I started sanding the area where the bondo would go. This is very time consuming. Once I got down to the bare metal I added a layer or two of bondo. When I got to that point I realized it would take too much bondo/time to fill in the sides so that it flowed with the lines of the trunk/car. So I got some little pieces of aluminum pipe and bolted/self-tapped those into the trunk. Sorry I have no pictures of the aluminum pipe I added to the sides. Then I added fiberglass and bondo to the pieces. And from then on I just spent hours sanding and smoothing and shaping and adding bondo to the places that needed it. Repeated that a few times. Then sent it for paint. Which they wet sanded for me and helped smooth it out a bit more. Then painted gloss black. Thank you for looking. Take care.

[flinchy]

nick pls

but seriously, i wouldn't have guessed you did it like that!

any plans to re-do it in future sans the pipes and liters of bondo?

[nicholasdilallo]

what is sans pls

[kprocivic]

+1 for being different.

[fastdrivingjr]

Love it!! And the different factor is Great.. Today everyone's afraid to step out of line and try something new.. Your car rocks

[LW50]

Originally Posted by nicholasdilallo

what is sans pls

It means "without."

Personally, it's not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the work put into it.

My only concerns would be the copious amounts of bondo and the aluminum rods. Because of the shape, there's going to be a significant amount of stress on that part at speed, and I can see the bondo cracking eventually. Also, I'd watch the underside of your trunk lid carefully for galvanic corrosion at the attachment points.

[pinmagic]

A bit much for my taste, but it looks like you did a good job on it. LOVE the color of the car.

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by kprocivic

+1 for being different.

thank you!

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by fastdrivingjr

Love it!! And the different factor is Great.. Today everyone's afraid to step out of line and try something new.. Your car rocks

I agree. thank you ))

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by LW50

It means "without."

Personally, it's not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the work put into it.

My only concerns would be the copious amounts of bondo and the aluminum rods. Because of the shape, there's going to be a significant amount of stress on that part at speed, and I can see the bondo cracking eventually. Also, I'd watch the underside of your trunk lid carefully for galvanic corrosion at the attachment points.

Thank you. And it's possible, in time maybe but at this moment the car will blow away before the spoiler falls. You can probably use it as a skateboard ramp lol. as for this corrosion u speak of i guess we'll play it by ear. I'll let u know if such atrocities occur

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

A bit much for my taste, but it looks like you did a good job on it. LOVE the color of the car.

yeah I get that a lot. but most appreciate it as well. thank you

[Andrewcoja]

Does it smash through the window when you open the trunk?

[RW Carbon]

Bump for being different. Can respect the amount of time and work that you put into her!

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by Andrewcoja

Does it smash through the window when you open the trunk?

unfortunately not

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by RW Carbon

Bump for being different. Can respect the amount of time and work that you put into her!

thank you!!!

[Gray_Panther]

It flows well with your car. I would definitely honk and shoot you a double thumbs up if i was driving next to it!

[Joaco135]

Very different, maybe few inches smaller and few wider will look better.

Can you post the brand and specs of the wheels?

Thanks,

[twin fed]

very cool, way to be different. I love it!

[darkrom]

Well done and good work I just personally hate the look. Too tall. If you did the same but smaller it might be more my style...but its YOUR car!

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Well done and good work I just personally hate the look. Too tall.

+1.

[A_Squared]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Well done and good work I just personally hate the look. Too tall. If you did the same but smaller it might be more my style...but its YOUR car!

+1. Just does not look proportionate.

[nicholasdilallo]

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

It flows well with your car. I would definitely honk and shoot you a double thumbs up if i was driving next to it!

that's what's up. thanks man!