Talked with a friend about getting my hatch filled and painted (holes from stock R spoiler) to install a ducktail spoiler.
It doesn’t look like I can get a clean hatch for a price that’s worth it, but what about the glass and molding in case they damage it? Is the molding something I can still get from Ray? I assume the hatch glass would be harder to come by.

What are your thoughts?

 

It’s a relatively simple job to properly close those holes and refinish. I think if you take it to a competent person or shop there shouldn’t be much danger to either.
Removing the molding is best and it just depends on its condition whether it can be re-used. The glass can stay.
I know a new WS molding was getting a bit hard to find, not sure on the hatch.

 

Yep, the rubber trim around the glass is still available. I recently talked with a good glass shop in the area on that topic, they said they can easily remove the glass if need be and re-install with new OEM or aftermarket trim/rubber gasket.

The best/correct way would be to fill those holes with tiny metal patches and/or weld. They would just need to cover the glass with a welding blanket and get to work.

You could also use like Bondo Hair to do it, not as nice/quality and the bottom side may not look as good but it would work.

Dale

 

Cool, thanks! Yeah, we’re talking about welding because he wants the holes to look as clean as possible from below since they’re very exposed. My car only has about 15k miles on it, and has been garaged most of us life so the rubber is definitely still very pliable.

 

I recently went thru this ordeal myself. Difference is I was looking for a hatch with the factory privacy glass from the later model cars. I found one and I had a friend weld up all the holes I didn’t require since my vehicle never came with a rear wiper.
In all, I had him weld up 6 holes. Fairly easy to do.



Afterwards, I took it to my paint guy and had it painted to my colour. Everything came out factory looking. Yes, they had to remove the glass to guarantee there would be no blue left over. Otherwise, can’t tell at all what was there before.

 

I just did this to mine (R1 to 99 Spec) about a year and a half ago.
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• I did NOT remove the glass. I peeled the weather stripping out. Meticulous yes, but if that glass breaks you’re screwed. Glass removal wasn’t something I felt comfortable with. Bought new OEM seal and slid it in with some weatherstripping glue, looks perfect. The car only gets wet when I wash it, it’ll be fine.
• Use a Unibit and open op the existing holes bigger, 1/2” or so. It’ll help with making the plug and heat control for warpage. Make a punch for a piece of metal (little thicker than the hatch metal) and punch out the blank. Make the filler piece thicker so it won’t burn away when welding.
• Paint the underside where the weld was made

It is possible to replace weatherstripping without pulling glass