this has been an issue with rpi zr1 spoilers
I just found the instructions from when I bought mine, the one
i donated to a trash can, and rpi went great length trying
to explain how to glue the part to the light or body
to keep it from sticking out. Did yours come with instructions?
The GM spoiler is thicker in this area so it does
not bow out

 

Sorry this happened to you bud. I can only imagine your frustration. Posts like this are exactly why I'm getting an OEM ZR1 spoiler from a forum member. I would be pissed to wait as long as you have and have this as the end result.

 

this has been an issue with rpi zr1 spoilers
I just found the instructions from when I bought mine 5 years ago, the one
i donated to a trash can, and rpi went great length trying
to explain how to glue the part to the light or body
to keep it from sticking out. Did yours come with instructions?
The GM spoiler is thicker in this area so it does
not bow out

 

I’ve bought from both RPI and Americanhydrocarbon and without a doubt go through Americanhydrocarbon. Pat always takes care of his customers and his stuff is top quality! I bought a ZR1 style rear spoiler from RPI and while the product was very good including the paint I had to wait almost 4 months with a lot of broken promises.

 

There is a trick with the connector that alleviates that if I recall...It came with the instructions shaving the connector somehow so there is np streaa on the botton sliver and no stress where it installs and the wiring/connector goes into its spot..


The GM spoiler will do the same thing of it isn't installed correctly I've seen many sitting on dealer lots that the dealer installed just like that. Its fixable but I sent my intructions and template to a member years ago. Someone here will have a copy to show.... I think had to shave with a knife some of the brake light socket where is come out of the bumper cover and into the spoiler because the spoiler has a different angle...Its an easy fix...if i could remember dammit...lemme go search.,


edit for not finding instructions online nor pictures...Still pondering and it may have been making the hole a little bigger under the brake light.(where the wiring comes out through the bumper cover)..If the light fits in good while you are test fitting and not when its down on the car then work in the area where the wiring comes out of the bumper cover...may have to make that opening a little bigger... I do remember work from middle out when tightening as well...You could also put a small piece of plastic or rubber between those two stops on the brake light lens between it and that thin piece in the middle to keep it from being pushed in accidental..Trick though is get the stress off that area where the lens fits into the spoiler then mates to the bumper cover.....I've installed two of those spoilers but the last one was 9 years ago...sorry I don't have the illustrations..


Good luck..

 

Thanks for trying to help.
Tried for another hour this morning. And I had a body shop guy look at it as well. Doesnt seem possible to ever get it flush. It will always buckle either in or out.
it's just a pretty bad design. Theres really no reason for the bottom piece to be so thin and flimsy. Even the OEM duckbill bottom part is like 5 times wider and stronger. This thing is like Chinese Ebay fitment. Probably be perfect on a 2001 Hinda Civic, lol...

 

What you are talking about is for the GM full width spoiler which raises the height of the third brake light therefore you need to trim a piece out of the body panel to allow the third brake light additional room for the ridged connector.
You will not see a GM spoiler with a bow like the RPI units. The GM zr1 spoiler has a thicker piece under the third brake light.

 

I have RPI's ZR1 spoiler, bought it unpainted and I had the same issue with the part under the third brake light buckling. This is what I did to cure the issue. All of the mounting holes in the bumper I enlarged to ensure they were not binding. I then set the spoiler on the car and let it set in the sun for a day to relax it. The main thing was ensuring the third brake light assembly was seated properly, the one in the photo does not look to be seated as mine did not either. It will snap into place then you can tighten its screws. After all of that, I placed the spoiler on the bumper, reached up thru the tailight to plug the third brake light in, and hand tightened the mounting nuts. Then I used a wrench to final tighten the nuts. No buckling now.

 

When you say "the brake light assembly doesnt look like its seated" what do you mean? The light itself doesnt fit very well while holding it in your hands. The opening shape is not very close to the shape of the light itself.
So you are saying to let it sit in the sun before bolting it down?
Do you have a pic of how yours looks now?

 

The lens in the photo is not flush as it should be. I found it easier to install the lens with the spoiler resting on my legs while seated, there is a little wiggle room. I think the weakest point in the spoiler is the middle, when it is sitting on the shelf or workbench, there is no support where the brake light goes. As a result I think it bows the spoiler just a little bit, which is why I think it should be placed on the rear bumper and let it sit in the sun unbolted to let the ABS plastic relax. After it has relaxed, then install the brake light with the spoiler upside down on your lap. If you install the brake light with the spoiler laying on the work bench, I think the spoiler is bending just a little bit in the middle causing the alignment/flush fitting issue of the lens. Below is the photo of the lens not sitting flush, and below that is a photo of my spoiler up close.

 

That is definitely not acceptable. I wouldn't be able to live with that. What do you plan to do?

 

Im currently discussing a solution with RPI. Maybe they are going to expedite another spoiler. Maybe i am going to get a refund and start over. I will post updates. Thanks for the interest...

 

does a GM OEM zr1 spoiler bolt to stock location taillight bolts? How does it install compared to this spoiler?

 

does a GM OEM zr1 spoiler bolt to stock location taillight bolts? How does it install compared to this spoiler?

 

The very first ZR1 style rear spoiler I had was from RPI ..... This was back in 2012. The thin section below the center brake light bowed and then finally broke ... That spoiler went in the trash.

The RPI spoiler also developed a couple of dimples on the top / center area of it.

No more RPI spoilers for me.

 

what do you have now?

 

RPI and GM both use same number of bolts.
you will reuse the ones on the third brake light and add additional ones
The location of the holes for the outer studs may or may not
match up between aftermarket and OE. I’ve had Three ZR1 spoilers
1-GM AND 2 aftermarket and at least 2 of the three had
a different bolt pattern to the outboard bolts.

 

You can read about my rear spoiler in this thread:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-spoiler.html

 

GM OEM spoiler has three extra studs on either side of the third brake light. Holes will need to be drilled. An easy way to locate the holes is to place a piece of masking tape along the bumper, then put a little whiteout or paint on the six studs. Then lower the spoiler down so that the OEM studs from your original spoiler that you just transferred to the new one go in the holes in the bumper and the new studs will impact the tape leaving paint marks where you will drill the holes.

 

Good info, thank you...