PP1 spoiler install issue.

[Ass-asin]

I bought a PP1 spoiler and installed it myself but it’s a little loose and you can see the tape at the inside edges which drives me nuts. I used pieces from a roll of 3m tape to tape it down. Any recommendations? I feel like the tape must not be strong enough, and I may have put it too close to the edge making it visible. I’ve attached a picture of the edge where you can see the tape.

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[StangTime]

Did you wash the car with dish soap first to remove the wax?
Did you prep the surface with 3M adhesion promoter?
Did you use VHB 3M ?

 

[Ass-asin]

Did you wash the car with dish soap first to remove the wax?
Did you prep the surface with 3M adhesion promoter?
Did you use VHB 3M ?

No I just swabbed it with alcohol
No
I’ll check and see.

 

[Ass-asin]

Did you wash the car with dish soap first to remove the wax?
Did you prep the surface with 3M adhesion promoter?
Did you use VHB 3M ?

This is what I used.

 

[StangTime]

That tape is for side molding. Not strong enough. What you want is 3M VHB part# 5952. It will say on the red backing 'VHB"
Unfortunately, you'll have to remove the spoiler to re-apply the right tape.
Common WD-40 to weaken the adhesive and remove as much as possible. You may need fishing line to break the bond. Some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) as a final wipe down before adhesion promoter. (Don't leave any MEK on your paint!)
Clean everything and all traces of chemicals off, use the adhesion promoter and install it again. Tip: Make sure water has a place to escape by leaving a gap between the ends of the tape strips on the lowest side of the trunk.

 

[Ass-asin]

That tape is for side molding. Not strong enough. What you want is 3M VHB part# 5952. It will say on the red backing 'VHB"
Unfortunately, you'll have to remove the spoiler to re-apply the right tape.
Common WD-40 to weaken the adhesive and remove as much as possible. You may need fishing line to break the bond. Some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) as a final wipe down before adhesion promoter. (Don't leave any MEK on your paint!)
Clean everything and all traces of chemicals off, use the adhesion promoter and install it again. Tip: Make sure water has a place to escape by leaving a gap between the ends of the tape strips on the lowest side of the trunk.

Thanks I’ll pick up the vhb tape and promoter. Did you cover as much of the footprint as possible when you installed? I’d like to avoid being able to see the tape if possible. Maybe what I bought is thicker than the vhb

 

[StangTime]

My spoiler came on the car. But I have had a lot of experience with 3M VHB tape in other demanding applications. The adhesion promoter is a critical step. These wipes are perfect for applying: https://www.amazon.com/3M-6396-Adhesive-Promoter-Packets/dp/B00RY8L9U6
Cover as much as possible but set the tape further back from the edges and you shouldn't see it when it's properly seated down.

 

[Ass-asin]

Thanks I’ll pick up the vhb tape and promoter. Did you cover as much of the footprint as possible when you installed? I’d like to avoid being able to see the tape if possible. Maybe what I bought is thicker than the vhb

That tape is for side molding. Not strong enough. What you want is 3M VHB part# 5952. It will say on the red backing 'VHB"
Unfortunately, you'll have to remove the spoiler to re-apply the right tape.
Common WD-40 to weaken the adhesive and remove as much as possible. You may need fishing line to break the bond. Some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) as a final wipe down before adhesion promoter. (Don't leave any MEK on your paint!)
Clean everything and all traces of chemicals off, use the adhesion promoter and install it again. Tip: Make sure water has a place to escape by leaving a gap between the ends of the tape strips on the lowest side of the trunk.

My spoiler came on the car. But I have had a lot of experience with 3M VHB tape in other demanding applications. The adhesion promoter is a critical step. These wipes are perfect for applying: https://www.amazon.com/3M-4298-Adhesion-Promoter-Applicator/dp/B004TGJU2A#customerReviews
Cover as much as possible but set the tape further back from the edges and you shouldn't see it when it's properly seated down.

Thanks for your advice

 

[StangTime]

Thanks for your advice

You're welcome. Hopefully it all works out.

 

[BlueThunder]

Also make sure you tighten the underneath bolts down evenly and check the tape as you do it. If you just tighten them both down as far as you think they'll go, it's going to sit crooked like it is in your picture. It looks like you might have over-tightened the back nut, at which point it won't matter how much you tighten the forward nut. If you haven't taken it off, you could try loosening the back one and then tightening the fore one some to see if it evens out (IIRC there were 2 bolts/nuts for each foot? Been 8 months since I had mine off.) If it sits properly, then you know what to do after you replace the tape using StangTime's advice.

And as StangTime stated in his great advice, be careful about how you put the tape on underneath because it will squeeze out a bit as it's tightened down. You're probably going to want to leave something like an eighth of an inch back from where it looks like it should be placed on the underside of the spoiler foot.

 

[Ass-asin]

Here’s how flush a factory installed spoiler is. Has anyone that mounted themselves got it this flush?

 

[BlueThunder]

Here’s how flush a factory installed spoiler is. Has anyone that mounted themselves got it this flush?

I can look tomorrow when it's daylight to see how close it is. I want to say that mine doesn't sit fully flush because I think the factory double-sided tape isn't as thick (or as good) as the 3M stuff. And the factory probably cranks whatever that stuff is down hard so it compresses and sits flush. But it's pretty close.

I know from removing my spoiler and removing other car mods and things not car-related over the years that the 3M stuff tends to come off mostly together (for example, when I swapped my ZL1 rock flaps). You can finger-roll the 3M stuff over itself and get most of it off together, whereas the original tape they used on the PP1 spoiler came off in small pieces. It was an aggravating pain in the ass removing it.

This is the only pic I have that shows that area. It's not a close-up though, but you can't really notice any gap unless you've got your face in front of it.

 

[Ass-asin]

I can look tomorrow when it's daylight to see how close it is. I want to say that mine doesn't sit fully flush because I think the factory double-sided tape isn't as thick (or as good) as the 3M stuff. And the factory probably cranks whatever that stuff is down hard so it compresses and sits flush. But it's pretty close.

I know from removing my spoiler and removing other car mods and things not car-related over the years that the 3M stuff tends to come off mostly together (for example, when I swapped my ZL1 rock flaps). You can finger-roll the 3M stuff over itself and get most of it off together, whereas the original tape they used on the PP1 spoiler came off in small pieces. It was an aggravating pain in the ass removing it.

This is the only pic I have that shows that area. It's not a close-up though, but you can't really notice any gap unless you've got your face in front of it.

That’s a lot tighter than my initial install.

 

[kr1stof]

Hey all,
So I bought a PP1 replica spoiler from MP Concepts, which looks exactly like the OEM one. After having it color matched I took it to my local dealer to install it, and it doesn’t sit flush around the outer edges. Needless to say, tape was not included in the package, so they used whatever tape was around. I was told by the dealer that the quality is worse than the OEM spoiler, hence they were not able to make it sit flush. The seller, however maintains that there’s nothing wrong with the spoiler, and it’s the body shop’s fault that they couldn’t fit it properly. Apparently, other customers had no such problem with it.
Any suggestions? Maybe some effective 3M tape would align the edges correctly, or is it just like that?

 

[Cobra Jet]

Hey all,
So I bought a PP1 replica spoiler from MP Concepts, which looks exactly like the OEM one. After having it color matched I took it to my local dealer to install it, and it doesn’t sit flush around the outer edges. Needless to say, tape was not included in the package, so they used whatever tape was around. I was told by the dealer that the quality is worse than the OEM spoiler, hence they were not able to make it sit flush. The seller, however maintains that there’s nothing wrong with the spoiler, and it’s the body shop’s fault that they couldn’t fit it properly. Apparently, other customers had no such problem with it.
Any suggestions? Maybe some effective 3M tape would align the edges correctly, or is it just like that?

Did the replica come with studs on it that go through the trunk lid so nuts are installed? If not, then that may be the issue. This is from memeroy, but IIRC, the original 2018+ PP1 spoiler has (4) studs and (2) guides, plus tape.

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