HELP ON WING

[SapphireGTS]

Hi. Im wondering if anyone has any information that would be helpful. Ive looked at a dozen picures and the install is self explanatory.

I decided to install my parts rack single plane wing with my good friend that has been doing stuff like this for 15 years.

I recently bought the single plane wing from parts rack.

The 5 step instructions are far from being "Detailed" (Step 1. Take off whole back of car )

anyway . . .

The template that was provided would have been a great idea if it had been drawn correctly. Right off the bat, I took EXTREME care in making sure the template followed every contour of the rear (as warned by others that have also installed the same wing) Im picky and always take my time. I taped off the template so everything lined up perfectly. I drilled a couple of pilot holes in the plastic directly where the template indicated the wing support bolts would go through the car into the support brace - on the underside of the curve the body. I unmasked the template and decided to set the wing pilliars into the coutours of the back of the car so they fit snug with the contours of the car making sure the holes were in the right area. Immediately, with the coutour of the pilliars fitting into the countours of the car, the pilot holes I had drilled were a full 3/4 of an inch too far to the front. No big deal, Ill fill the holes and re-align the template. When re-aligning the template the holes were still way off. I decided to set the wing onto the back of the car as to where they would cover the holes, directly on top of the template, not matching the contours, but rather going by the holes in the template. With that in place, I popped open the hatch only to have it hit against the wing. It wasnt close. Now, with the contours of the wing support pillars fitting into the curves of the car (they can only fit one way into each other ), I traced the support pilliars and marked new holes with everything aligning PERFECTLY and the hatch clearing with no problems. I even assembled the wing, screwed the headless blots into the wing pilliars, putting them into the holes. PERFECT FIT!! The countours matched and the hatch cleared with no problems.

Round 2:

That massive super rugged piece that bolts into the back of the car and supports most of the wings weight went in with no hassle. Eventhough the piece in the illustration is different than the piece I received . . . whatever . . .I'm sure its an improvement or a new design over the one in the illustration. With the back support piece in place and the back of the car cut out, the top of the internal wing support piece doesnt fit flush with the same countours of the car but on the opposite side (on the inside part of the car.

Im usually pretty handy with stuff like this.

So now I have 8 holes drilled into my car and there is no logical way, for what has been designed, to fit onto the car. Im sweating here

I just need some imput or its off to the body shop to have the holes filled and a visit to ebay to unleash this cursed wing on some other poor sucker.

ANY HELP YOU GALS/GUYS GIVE ME WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

Have a great Wednesday!!!!!

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THAT IS A FACTORY ZIP TIE. I WONDER WHAT THAT IS SPEED RATED AT?

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Thanks again

 

[Dion Fisher]

Your pics aren't working but,

Oh my *** Gary it sounds like you should have mocked up the wing onto the back of your car first so you could get a clear picture of what you were doing (that's what I did).. The alignment and orientation of the mylar is critical to the install..Even the most experienced person has to approach this installation with caution..

The wing does in fact fit quite well as I installed the same unit on my car and it fits perfectly.. I'm sorry to hear of your trouble but I understand how you tripped.. Cut your losses and get the wing installed professionally then you'll be happy..

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

The template should only be used to get proximity. Use a cloth tape measure and tape it along the curves of the body to be precise. Too late now I guess. Can't see the pics.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Yeah. Thank god its just a dodge

. Thanks for the tips.

 

[SapphireGTS]

I have the wing placed perfectly but is there a trick to the brace? I noticed the piece in the instructions was different than the one included. I going to install this thing no matter what!!!!

I dont start something and not finish it.

Theres a problem mounting the brace. There is only 1 way it can be installed - with the cross section flush on the back of the car and the 2 top pieces poking into the car (through the cut out pieces) on the inside of the body. The problem here is with the cross section part. With the back flush with the back of the car, the top part doesnt fit with the countours of the bottom side. I wish you guys could see it. I had some people look at it they saw the same thing.

Any tricks on the brace?

Its like, there is only 1 way the piece can go on and its not going.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thanks T-Dog

Check your email!

 

[Dion Fisher]

Ok Gary it was 3 years ago that I installed mine but I think I started by having all 12 bolts just about fingertight then matched my outside brackets to the contour of my ducktail and held them in place (doubleback tape works nice)..

Since no 2 cars are perfectly alike you may have to open up a hole or 2 to get the shift you need at this point but I did not..

Then I tightened the bolts from the brackets lightly until it all matched up and went for permanent torque..

 

[JonB]

Thanks for the help w/this unusual situation. I played phone tag w/ the buyer and put him in touch with our manufacturer to sort out the problem.Turns Out.... get this:

THE YEAR MATTERS !

The 2001-2002 apparently requires a machined spacer/shim that we will now furnish w/ 2001+ wings. I plan to offer Gary a "Pioneer" discount on his next buy for his trouble.

 

[Vip-RT10]

Ab has some insight, where is he?

 

[SapphireGTS]

I just talked to Richard Ooten. He is the manufacturer of the wing. He was very helpful. Thanks for every ones imput.

GF

 

[SapphireGTS]

Ill post the pictures as soon as my mail server comes back up and I can send them to Tony. I made some aluminum shimms and the wing went on 100% PERFECT, thanks to some good old inginuity. I talked to Richard Ooten (who makes the wings) and he had not been aware of the problem on the newer vipers. If you get a wing. Make spacers the exact same width and size as the square center piece with 4 threads that bolts on the inside of the car and use it to space the bracket. You will also need different bolts. I got some beveled stainless steel bolts from home depot. So the wing is on and I am a happy camper. Although I have 2 small holes in front of the wing pilliars. Im using these holes for some wind speed sensors like on airplanes.

NOW WHAT IS THE PAINT CODE FOR A 2001 SAPPHIRE BLUE VIPER!!!! So I can paint it.

Thanks

 

[SapphireGTS]

I assume you are talking about the gasket type pieces that are glued onto the holes? Yes they came with the kit. They are a MUST with installing this wing. I wouldnt have put it on without them.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Gary, e-mail me if you need some help. I did mine myself and came out well. I only drilled once and when I did..I too sweated a lot. But it all came out fine. I used masking tape to protect the paint and body of the car before I did anything and it also aloowed me to draw on it to make my marks.

Hope it turned out well....post some pictures.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thanks ab. I emailed Tony, he said he would post them for me since I dont really have any place to put them.

I am finished and everything turned out well. Thanks for the offer. Was yours a 2001 and did you have the same problem. Dodge changed something on the car requiring it to have shimms inorder to make any sense. I just need to paint it and Ill be ready to roll.

THANKS!!!

I hope these images display. If they do you dont need to upload them.. Thanks Tony.

The holes lined up PERFECTLY with the countours of the pillar piece once I installed those shims

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[SapphireGTS]

Tony. I did not get your email. Hmmmm [email protected]
and urrr. Wait a min. I have those fins on backwards dont I?

It was late and I had inhaled about a ton of fiberglass dust.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I had to fabercate some small shims..the back didn't fit quite perfect enough for me...but other than that...it seemed to be a well constructed wing. Only thing I wished was the finish on it was a bit better..but oh well...I like it. I'm lowering my wing 1" and trimming up the side stabilizers so the side of the wing doesn't look too big. (It's just my taste.)

The wing I have does help and it's definteley functional, but it does slow you down a tad bit at high speeds. I see those little flags that people have on their cars flapping in the breeze and if you look at the pole that is holding it...at speeds of 65 or more mph..you can see those things bend like they are going to break...just imagine what a big wing does to the car. It's fun and I like it. For me...now it's time for some gear swapping and other mechanical upgrades. Can't wait to see what yours will look like.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thanks ab. Its good to hear that the shimms worked and that mine will also. Did you have a problem with the rear valence clearing the increased protrusion of the shimmed support brace?

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I would have all the parts painted unassembled. I think they can more of an even spray and makes their job easier.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Cool . Im on my way to the body shop.

Thanks for all your advices.

G

 

[kernie]

Man that wings looks good. I can't wait. Mine
ships tomorrow, hope to have it on by
Thanksgiving.

 

[Mark Red GTS Cooper]

I get boxes with x in them for the pictures?????


Mark

 

[Qualitywires.com]

nope..I didn't. Makes sure when they paint your aluminum parts..they use an acid first to make the paint stick.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Cool beans. 1 more thing. Did you paint the fins with them on the wing. or can they be painted separately?

Again. . . Thanks for the help

 

[SapphireGTS]

Cool beans. 1 more thing. Did you paint the fins with them on the wing. or can they be painted separately?

Again. . . Thanks for the help

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I had the wing painted separately. I didn't want to leave my Viper at the paint shop nor did I want any accidental overspray. I just gave them the pieces of the wing and paint code. I didn't want to bring the car their because I didn't want them to jack up my paint cost cause I have a Viper.

Let me know if you feel the wing slows you down a bit. I know mine does and I'm looking for a way I can fabercate someting that will allow me to release the wing off the car when I'm at the drag races for maximum speed. I may be just stuck taking the dual platform wing off and having two pedalstels sticking out my rear lip of the duck tail of the car. No biggie.

I think I am going to have mu side stabilizers polished instead of the paint it has on it now. The color is the same but for some reason, it looks flat...I think beacause it has a flat surface with no curves to help reflect light.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Im doing a similiar thing. Im polishing the pilliars that attach to the body doing the rest in Color. I was going to do the fins but I think that would be a little too much. If my car was silver like yours the stabalizer fins would look cool in polished.

As far as the fins go. Did you take them off and have them painted then screw them on? Or did you screw them on and paint the whole thing?

 

[SapphireGTS]

TONY. I am anxious to hear what you are talking about. Try to send me an email of what you were talking about. [email protected] or [email protected]