Rear spoiler end piece adhesive
 

This pertains specifically to 1979-1981 models.

I noticed that on many quarter panels, there's a third "bolt hole" above the marker light that looks it would serve as a third mounting point for the rear spoiler end pieces.

Even though I've seen a couple variations of the '79 spoiler end pieces (both with and without the stainless steel plate to support the two mounting studs), I've never seen them with a third stud. However, on the ones that have the stainless steel plates, there is also circular recess on the lower corner around where that third hole would be on the quarter panel, and it's always filled with some kind of adhesive. I noticed it's the same way on my car, as when I look inside the trunk, I can see through that third hole and there's some adhesive keeping that lower part of the spoiler end piece fastened securely to the quarter panel.

Can anybody verify this practice of gluing on that lower part of the end spoilers? And if so, have you done the same thing when installing the end pieces and what kind of adhesive would work for it? I'm guessing you apply the adhesive through that hole from behind. I have to replace my driver side end piece from a small collision and the used takeoff I got is the kind without the round recess in the lower corner or stud support plate.

Cant say Ive noticed a 3rd hole in the quarter on the many 2nd gen cars ive owned or my current lower mile 81 turbo, will have to look again but just yesterday I finished installing the rear spolier nuts and used dum dum plumbers putty to seal them... didnt notice a 3rd hole on the quarter, nor have I ever seen adhesive on the end pieces to actually glue it to the body, mine dont have the added plate though.
What would be the reason for adhesive there? The ends of the end pieces fit & form to the quarter very good on my car(s) and the fact they arent stuck to the quarter with adhesive allows them to drain & dry any water that gets back there better.

Yeah, I'm getting mixed results when researching it. I'm wondering if it's a early 1979 thing that they stopped doing in late '79+ onwards, or if maybe it's a Van Nuys vs. Norwood thing?

Here's a spoiler end piece with the metal plate and the glop of adhesive in the lower corner that I'm talking about...

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bK4AA...Yd/s-l1600.jpg

It's just a round dab of the adhesive and it shows through that hole when looking behind it in the trunk, so it would still be able to drain water around it.

Here's a car undergoing restoration with the third hole I'm talking about above the marker light, which is exactly where that spot with the adhesive would sit:
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...pg?format=750w

This third hole is noticeably larger in diameter than the two mounting stud holes, so I think it's meant specifically for this adhesive.

All of the production inconsistencies with these cars is rather fascinating, I must say.

Well I tried to reply yesterday but was getting "data base error" all day & all this morning still...

Now that i see the pic, I have noticed that small spot of glue or whatever on the spoiler ends, but always thought it was maybe related to the molding process of the part, not to actually glue it to the quarter panel, still dont see the purpose of that or why it would be on some cars & not others?

Also dont really get what the metal plate does for the ends, never had a problem with fitment or needing the extra plate vs ones without it. But like you said, the production inconsistencies on these cars was all over the place, maybe it was a van nuys vs norwood plant thing?

Very possible. I'm just wondering what kind of glue I can use that should give it a good hold while being relatively easy to remove if I have to take it off again.

There is a flat head bolt that would glue to spoiler and a nut would secure it on the inside of the trunk. I tried finding a used picture of one but could not find one. It was similar to this but much thinner on top
https://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j...-Head-Bolt.jpg

Ahhhh, that makes more sense. The plot thickens. Wonder when they started doing this?

On my car, it has the third hole but there's no bolt... it still is glued to my quarter panel where the hole is, though, so I guess they just glued the end on (or it could be double-sided tape? Won't know until I uninstall it to replace it with the takeoff I got) to still produce the same net effect when they repainted my car.

Did a search on eBay: here they are.

Cool, I haven't noticed that before on the 79-81 cars Ive had, my current 81 doesn't have it either. Maybe it was a earlier production thing to fix a fitment problem with the ends that they eventually fixed later? Who knows

Original owner here. The adhesive the factory used failed early on. I took end spoilers off after a few years from being built and the stud had already disconnected from the spoiler. I can't remember for sure but I used either a 2 part epoxy or something like liquid nails to attach the stud. Modern 3M body adhesive would probably work as well.

I pulled my driver side end spoiler and turns out it didn't really sustain any damage, and it honestly fits way better than the takeoff I purchased, so I'll just have it repainted. It is the type with the plate and stud, so clearly this is a 1979 thing. Whenever the car was repainted, they just used double-sided automotive tape in lieu of the stud, so I guess I'll just do that. Simple enough.