Ducktail spoiler for 74 duster

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RogerCox

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Anyone know where to get a good quality one?
Heard abs is better than fiberglass? Want to paint it gloss black to match body paint.

thanks!
 
The only ABS ones are the original Direct Connection version. And honestly, they’re so thin and flexible I don’t think they’re best. They end up cracked a lot, especially in the screw pockets. Part of that is installation error, but still. At any rate no one is currently making ABS ones, you’d have to find a used original.

I actually prefer the fiberglass ones. MAS made the best one Ive seen, it’s the most accurate to the original except fiberglass. Not super heavy but stronger than the original DC ones. But they went out of business, so again, have to find those used.

The only one I know of being made at the moment is being done by Showcars out of Canada. It's a pretty good reproduction of the original DC spoiler. But the Showcars mold is a little off, the spoiler ends up being a little shorter lengthwise than the originals were. It's not much, maybe a little more than 1/8" per side. It's really just how the lip tapers out on the edge, that particular reproduction cuts the lip off a little flat so the whole thing ends up a little shorter. You end up seeing a little more trunk lid at either end of the spoiler. It's hard to tell, I have an original to compare it to though and you can see the difference when they're side by side

70-76 Plymouth Duster and Dart Sport Showcars Rear Spoiler | eBay
 
The only ABS ones are the original Direct Connection version. And honestly, they’re so thin and flexible I don’t think they’re best. They end up cracked a lot, especially in the screw pockets. Part of that is installation error, but still. At any rate no one is currently making ABS ones, you’d have to find a used original.

I actually prefer the fiberglass ones. MAS made the best one Ive seen, it’s the most accurate to the original except fiberglass. Not super heavy but stronger than the original DC ones. But they went out of business, so again, have to find those used.

The only one I know of being made at the moment is being done by Showcars out of Canada. It's a pretty good reproduction of the original DC spoiler. But the Showcars mold is a little off, the spoiler ends up being a little shorter lengthwise than the originals were. It's not much, maybe a little more than 1/8" per side. It's really just how the lip tapers out on the edge, that particular reproduction cuts the lip off a little flat so the whole thing ends up a little shorter. You end up seeing a little more trunk lid at either end of the spoiler. It's hard to tell, I have an original to compare it to though and you can see the difference when they're side by side

70-76 Plymouth Duster and Dart Sport Showcars Rear Spoiler | eBay


Yeah that one on eBay was the only I could find to. Thanks for the information about being a little to short, ideally I can find a MaS fiber glass one.

if anyone has one and wants to sell it please message me!

thanks!
 
I seem to remember that there was 1 or 2 members on here that were gonna try their hand at making them. Not sure where their at in the grand scheme of things. Kim
 
I seem to remember that there was 1 or 2 members on here that were gonna try their hand at making them. Not sure where their at in the grand scheme of things. Kim

yeah I saw those forums I messaged them but haven’t heard back.
Hopefully they do- more options the better!
 
Yeah that one on eBay was the only I could find to. Thanks for the information about being a little to short, ideally I can find a MaS fiber glass one.

if anyone has one and wants to sell it please message me!

thanks!

It took me years to find an MAS one. The original DC spoilers are easier to find, I’m sure they made more of those.

The showcars spoiler is a good one. I think all that really happened is that the tapered edge of the original was cut off making the mold, so instead of a shoulder that tapers all the way to the edge it tapers and then stops a little short of the edge. It only loses like an 1/8” off each side. I only noticed it when I had the showcars spoiler sitting next to an original DC spoiler. On the car it would be hard to tell unless you knew exactly what you were looking for.

It would also be pretty easy to fix with a little fiberglass. Pretty much all fiberglass parts need a little work. It wouldn’t take much. And at the price they sell for it’s less expensive than what you’d likely have to pay if you did find a used original or MAS spoiler.
 
It took me years to find an MAS one. The original DC spoilers are easier to find, I’m sure they made more of those.

The showcars spoiler is a good one. I think all that really happened is that the tapered edge of the original was cut off making the mold, so instead of a shoulder that tapers all the way to the edge it tapers and then stops a little short of the edge. It only loses like an 1/8” off each side. I only noticed it when I had the showcars spoiler sitting next to an original DC spoiler. On the car it would be hard to tell unless you knew exactly what you were looking for.

It would also be pretty easy to fix with a little fiberglass. Pretty much all fiberglass parts need a little work. It wouldn’t take much. And at the price they sell for it’s less expensive than what you’d likely have to pay if you did find a used original or MAS spoiler.


Perfect I ordered the one from Canada

what do I need to mount it? What type of screws were original?
 
Perfect I ordered the one from Canada

what do I need to mount it? What type of screws were original?

Originally the ABS ones came with little plastic push rivets, not screws. The backside of the pockets don’t sit flush against the trunk lid everywhere. People usually mount them with screws, which is probably why the originals are usually cracked in the pockets because a screw would distort the abs.

The fiberglass reproductions should be mounted with a sheet metal screw, I bought some stainless button head screws for mine.
 
ABS was a poor material choice, but was about the best at the time. So many better plastic materials out there now. Too bad tooling isn’t cost effective for someone to re-tool
 
I agree those things look killer
Would probably be cool if someone grabbed a fiberglass one, mounted it, covered the holes with some putty and then painted it
 
that’s what I was think of doing to!
Well then, you will need to rethink how to mount it or the cracks will show.

It needs to be fully glassed in rigidly so that wind and body flex doesn’t cause cracking of the joints. This means glass mat and an understanding of Custom of body work.

Research and learn and don’t try to learn the hard way...and you can do it.
 
Well then, you will need to rethink how to mount it or the cracks will show.

It needs to be fully glassed in rigidly so that wind and body flex doesn’t cause cracking of the joints. This means glass mat and an understanding of Custom of body work.

Research and learn and don’t try to learn the hard way...and you can do it.

yeah exactly. Mounting it with screws and then filling the pockets would look a like a kindergartner’s paper mache project.

You’d need to something more like the T/A and AAR cars did and mount that wing from below if you wanted to remove the screw pockets. And then it would be fiberglass work not just filler.
 
Make a fiberglass mold of your trunk lid where it mounts. Vacuum bag it.

upload_2021-1-29_13-21-2.jpeg


Then you need to build a welded frame out of aluminum that mounts on top of the mold you just made that that you can put studs in to mount it to your trunk.

if you don’t box in the fiberglass Duck Tail Spoiler it will warp and distort and pull away from the body and leave gaps.

upload_2021-1-29_13-27-27.jpeg


Hand laid fiberglass shrinks up like a Pringle and I’ve never bought a fiberglass panel that doesn’t need work to look right.

When you are done admire the work and craftsmanship. Because now your trunk lid will be so heavy you have to always hold it up with one hand.
 
Make a fiberglass mold of your trunk lid where it mounts. Vacuum bag it.

View attachment 1715679953

Then you need to build a welded frame out of aluminum that mounts on top of the mold you just made that that you can put studs in to mount it to your trunk.

if you don’t box in the fiberglass Duck Tail Spoiler it will warp and distort and pull away from the body and leave gaps.

View attachment 1715679957

Hand laid fiberglass shrinks up like a Pringle and I’ve never bought a fiberglass panel that doesn’t need work to look right.

When you are done admire the work and craftsmanship. Because now your trunk lid will be so heavy you have to always hold it up with one hand.
Looks nice. Kim
 
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