2002rich

I'm installing a GTC-300 wing on a C5 Z06.
I bought it new and the uprights are marked as C5.
Something just doesn't look right.
The rear deck is slightly curved but the uprights are flat and therefore doesn't sit flush. I did tightened everything up and was able draw most of it in but it really stresses the deck.

It seems to me that the uprights would have been machined to match the contour on the deck. Do I have a set of unfinished parts?

This can't been right?


TIA
Rich

JRL

Rich,

I have that wing on my car. I don't have the uprights.
Just the wing on top of the rubber pieces on top of the deck lid.
Then washers/lock nuts on the underside of the deck lid. Those uprights may be a new item for more support. I have used mine for 1.5 years on track, no issues. I am in san ramon if you need any help.

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John

2002rich

Hi John, I might not have clearly articulated what I meant by uprights (aka: 6061 billet aluminum pedestals) which is what they're called on the APR web site. Having said that, it sounds like you didn't get the carbon fiber mounting plates that accompanies the pedestals.
Do you remember if your pedestals were machined profiled to fit the rear deck?
TIA

JRL

I have the carbon fiber pedastals. I can't post pics here. Give me your email and i will send pics of what my looks like mounted. They fit flush against the decklid.

John

2002rich

Sent you a PM

2002rich

Thank you John for the photos.
The only difference I can see is you mounted yours a little further back than me but other than that they look the same.
I can get mine to draw down but I can tell that the deck is not happy.
I might be making a bigger deal out of it than necessary but I just don't like the idea of trying to mate a flat bottom pedestal to a convex fiberglass deck.

dvandentop

do you not have the bottom metal plate that goes under the rear deck lid?? this was talked about in another apr wing thread from a few months ago

2002rich

Yep I know the thread you are referring to and because of that, I make some aluminum plates to go on the back side. It is not visible in the photo.

dvandentop

ok glad to know you have those atleast or you would have had trouble.

meldog21

I have the same wing too.

It appears your mounts are not flush front to rear, but its hard to tell from the photo.

Mine were not flush if I just set the wing on the trunk, but the problem was side to side not front to rear.

I had to pull the supports outward while applying pressure on top of the wing to get the CF bases to lay flat. I marked the deck for holes and drilled with the bases clamped to the deck. Then when I bolted everything together the bolts pulled the mounts into place flush on the deck.

I'm available on the 4th if you want to take a look at how my wing is installed.

Email if you want to meet up and see it in person.

Dog

2002rich

You are correct, my pedestals do not sit flush front to rear.
It appears you and JRL have CF pedestals and I have aluminum.

I appreciate the offer to look at your install but JRL was kind enough to emailed me with his install photos so I'm good with the install just don't like idea of "flat" mating with "convex".
I'm hoping someone with the aluminum pedestals chimes in.

Thx again
Rich

JRL

Rich,

You might try APR and see if they will swap your aluminum pedestals for CF for a better fit. Or maybe move the mounts further back.


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John

redtopz

This is the wing that JRL has. I think the mounting plate is flat. IIRC, I mounted it as far back as possible on the deck lid.

2002rich

Yeah I have emailed APR so we will see what they have to say.
Before I hard mounted the wing, I did move it all the way back but it got worse. As a result, I settled on just moving it slighly forward.
Another reason for doing so, I wanted to leave a little more surface area underneath the deck to benefit the mounting stud farthest back towards the bumper because I made some aluminum plates, thereby spreading the load.

I knew it would draw down while tightening thinking the thick rubber gasket would take up the gap. Although it did, believe it or not, I can see where the deck bowed even more, well more like a slight kink. It's the kinked area that I really don't like I would expect it to fracture sooner or later.


Happy 4th of July

2002rich

Good to know. If it turns out that's just the way it's designed, then I may just go ahead and make a wedge shim to minimize the gap.
BTW - I had forgotten how nice your car looked

DMB2006

Looks like holes on the hatch is not drill correct to line up screws on the aluminum bracket, double check by remove wing off to see if you can pull out bracket without any restriction, it the same on other side?

2002rich

Holes are aligned and slides in without having drilled oversized holes

2002rich

I received an email response from APR today.
They want to talk so maybe it isn't as designed.
So far I'm impressed with APR's customer service, I even overlooked their email sent to me first thing in the morning thinking it would take a couple of days.

2002rich

Johnny from APR was very helpful and wasted no time in sending me out another set of rubber mounting pads. The new ones are thicker at the backend and all is good now.

dvandentop

nice customer service !