Ok so a few months ago I decided I would back up into a truck for ***** and giggles. Not really but it happened anyway. So the end result, my deductible was $1000 so I would go ahead and attempt the repair myself. New parts painted and installed now except my rear spoiler and license plate holder.

Does anyone have any experience with installing a rear spoiler on a non SE trunk? I have my old spoiler from my old trunk. Someone told me there's a template that comes with the OE spoiler. I'm kinda scared to screw this up, but most shops want like $200 to install it.


So if anyone has any tips to drop or still has their spoiler template lying around please lemme know.


also... how the HELL do you get that rear license plate cover thingy off?

Thanks in advance

 

Try looking some more. I got mine installed here in Dallas for $70. Good luck.

 

I installed a touring wing on my mazda protege myself.

Lets jsut say it wasn't that easy. The mounting points required me to actually dremel cut openings fromt eh sheet metal.

But since its a maxima spoiler going on a maxima, should be easy.

Here's waht you do for template.

Stick something in the holes that are a bit longer so that you can probably put marker on it, or paint.

Align the wing, then PRESS DOWN on to the trunk lid.

Then you can mark where you need to drill.

USE A PILOT HOLE FIRST!! i mean use a very very thin drill bit for the first drill.

THen enure proper fit before proceed to drill a larger hole for the screws.

Take your time.

I acutally removed the trunk lid from my protege to install it, but thats not necessary.

I hope that helps you

 

hmm good lookin out.

Yeah i was told to drill pilot holes by someone i spoke to today, so as to avoid dimpling the metal around the hole.

the whole idea of drilling holes in my sheet metal makes me queasy, but as everyone seems to think they need to charge me 3 hours of labor for a 1 hour job, i might have no choice.

your paint/marker idea gave me another idea.. since i still have the old trunk what if i remove the spoiler from the old trunk, lay a big sheet of paper over it, and then just poke holes through the paper where the mounting holes ought to be?

anyway the priority is probably going to be the license plate holder, dunno how much longer i can drive around without a license plate.

 

i got my spoiler for my 2k GXE from SpoilerDepot.com and installed it myself.

no template needed! it came with little screw thingys that you screwed into the bottom of the spoiler (in the screw holes). they were threaded on one end (obviously, the end that went in the spoiler) and a sharp point on the other. you just placed the spoiler in place on your trunk. then, you tapped/hit down on the spoiler. removed the spoiler. that hitting down left nice little dimples = that's where you drill. very quick and easy.

my local nissan wanted $600 for the spoiler and install. or just $100 to install. i ended up getting the spoiler for $200 painted (from the address above) and installed myself in about 15 minutes.

 

update: i finally got the license plate holder off, apparently it was held on by some one way plastic pop rivets that were VERY thick. I didn't have access to them from the back, so I finally got ****ed off and took to my old trunk with a set of hedge clippers.. a few snips and a lot of shredded sheet metal later, they were in plain view... I took to them with the dremel and made short work of it. So now I can drive around at least, I got my license plate off.

So yeah, i think i've settled on the paper template method. I'll masking tape some butcher paper to the trunk, cut out the shape with an x-acto, and then put the spoiler back on so it'll poke holes where they holes ought to be... Banging down on my trunk to make dimples just seems like a Bad Idea (tm). I just took care of one dent, i don't need 3 more..

Anyone know what the stock spoiler is attached with aside from bolts? I think there's some kind of adhesive on there... I tried the heat gun and dental floss method but couldn't get it off, the dental floss kept on fraying. I'm going to try some fishing line later today. God this project is turning out to be way more of a pain than i thought.

Thanks guys

 

Good info on the template im going threw this as well after buying a stock wing to install on my 01 gle. I got it painted but the body shop wont install it without a template. Now I got the way to do it my self. Wonder why the body shop wont just make this happen, hell they work on car bodys all day long... You would think they would just make it happen, I wouldnt have known how they installed it. Now they're going to lose money when I just install it my self. Shrug,, anyway thanks again.

 

Gosh............. thanks for reopening a 4 yr old thread......

 

at someone quoting someone from 2004