Targa Progress
 

Since the Plan was to return the Car back to the long hood design I needed to find an early hood. I got an early used Porsche Windshield when I picked up the Hood.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726605256.jpg

This Hood was pretty rough with Bondo, rust and several layers of paint so I took it and the 1973 rear Deck Lid that I got to get acid dipped. This was October of 2018

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726605430.jpg

I could not Primer it immediately when I picked it up. I put it inside and some light surface rust happened due to humidity. When I was ready to Primer I had to sand the hood with 220 grit sandpaper to get it totally clean.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726606515.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726606987.jpg

After fully sanding to a bright clean surface, I was able to Primer both sides of the Hood.
The Deck Lid received the same treatment as the Hood.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726607371.jpg

Targa Progress
 

After checking the Hood Hinges for proper alignment, the Hood Lifts slipped right in. This was in March of 2024.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726608462.jpg

The Hood then went on quite easily and fit nicely with very little adjustment.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726608805.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726609103.jpg

Now the Car is back with a long Hood and I think it feels relieved.
It had been previously converted to the look of a 1993 911 RS America with different Bumpers, a short Hood, and had steel 930 flares installed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726609357.jpg

What'd you decide?! Hope to see the car there!

Seeing this brought a question to mind; has anyone here been in or seen a really severe car-on-car wreck (or aftermath) on Mulholland?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/388738924120238

I was planning on attending however a family emergency came up and my in-laws depend on me so that is my priority at this time.

Targa Progress
 

In order to complete the Targa to Coupe conversion, and the back to long hood body conversion, all glass is needed to seal out the car and early Bumpers installed.

I have the glass except for the rear window. The rear quarter windows fit but they are tight since the roof ended up being 3/8" lower than stock. I don't know if a stock rear window will fit into its current frame size. I like reducing weight in the rear because of the rear-engine design of a 911, so I will make a rear window in Lexan like the Carrera has.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727188919.jpg

Targa Progress
 

I purchased a sheet of 1/8" thick Lexan in June of 2023. This thickness is a good choice since it will bend slightly to fit into the rear window frame.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727190587.jpg

Lexan is a good, light alternative to heavy glass. It is scratch and shatter resistant.
It can however chip when cut if a dull blade is used, so I used a new Skil type saw with a new combination blade. I cut it to the approximate size after carefully measuring the opening.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727191347.jpg

Targa Progress
 

I made a template out of old Cardboard that I had laying around.

After taking the rectangular Cardboard and laying onto the rear window opening, I used a felt tip marker from the underside to get the shape correct. I added 3/4" to the marked image to account for the flange that it will sit in.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727192485.jpg

After several trial fits and cuts, the template sits perfectly into its intended spot.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727192724.jpg

Targa Progress
 

On March 21, 2024, I cut the Lexan to the size of the Template. The inside edges were bevel cut to fit into the Car's window frame tightly.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727193670.jpg

I'm leaving the protective film on the Lexan until it's ready to install after paint.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727194170.jpg

The 1973 rear Deck Lid got the same treatment as the hood having been acid dipped to clean it completely. After applying Primer I installed it on the Car.

I have an aluminum colored rear Grille and a black one. I also have both black and aluminum colored window frames. I have not decided which color to use.
After paint it will be easier to see which will look better.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727194443.jpg

Targa Progress
 

The old Targa Hoop fits on the Type 34 perfectly without any modification.
I thought that was a heck of a coincidence.
I'm not sure if it looks cool or looks like crapp. Opinions are welcome.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727195778.jpg

Understandable!

If we can help in any way, let us know. I'll be staying nearby, off Mulholland at the bottom of Multiview. I'm sure Derek and/or Pat can help arrange something as well.

That's very nice of you and it is much appreciated.

We all experience difficult times in our lives. It is a wonderful thing when we can help each other get through challenging times by being a supportive friend.

Thank you.

Targa Progress
 

To complete the short hood conversion, two more items remained.
Proper Bumpers for a 1973 911 "Wide Body" RS or RSR.

I was visiting TRE Motorsports on June 11, 2021 and was quite fortunate to get a used but in good condition Rear Bumper for a wide body 911.
Thank you again Dave.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727300562.jpg

I sanded it and primered it to match the Car's primer color.
Since the Car had been modified for the RS America look, I will have to make new support brackets and MIG them in.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727301360.jpg

Targa Progress
 

Having acquired a proper rear Bumper I set out to find a 911 "wide body" front Bumper.
There are plenty of inexpensive ones available on the internet, however they tend to be of a lighter thickness and often lack mounts to attach it to the Body.

I was patient and found a good used Bumper on September 1, 2023.
This one has a much thicker, stronger fiberglass layup than usual and has strong mounts that are built in.

It came from a nice Gentleman who is a Porsche enthusiast named Nigel Bluck.
He coincidentally is a customer of TRE Motorsports.
I picked it up and brought it home.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727302589.jpg

Targa Progress
 

There are special mounting Brackets that are used to mount early 911 front Bumpers.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727303024.jpg

I did not know if these would actually work or not with an aftermarket Bumper however the fiberglass mounts in the Bumper were spaced properly to fit the Bracket.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727303453.jpg

Targa Progress
 

The Bumper Brackets bolted right up like they are supposed to.
They are slotted top and bottom and therefore adjustable to fit any reasonable variance.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727303791.jpg

Here is how it looks with both Brackets installed. Visible at the bottom of photo.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727304214.jpg

Targa Progress
 

In my experience, it's not advisable to bolt fiberglass components directly to Steel, especially where vibration is encountered.

I decided to make Buffer Pads to sit in-between the fiberglass Bumper Mounts and the steel Brackets that are new mounted to the Car.

I found a 1/4" thick of Neoprene Rubber in my gasket collection.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727304716.jpg

After measuring the width of the "Valley" present in the Bumper Brackets, I cut a strip of Neoprene that would fit into that spot.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727305122.jpg

Then I cut out two pieces that will fit into the Bracket perfectly.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727305365.jpg

After drilling holes for the mounting bolts to pass thru the Rubber Pads, the front Bumper bolted right up.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727305764.jpg

I will still need to fabricate mounts for the Horn Grilles and Turn Signal Housings and make a sheet metal spacer to go between the Bumper and the Fender.

I was chatting with Pat and he said your RSR is the only car he'd let in this late! The rest of us had to register quite a while ago.

C'mon, Banning! (Family responsibilities not withstanding.) Drive your car over to the Universal back lot on Friday afternoon for load-in. Pick it back up Saturday at 3:00.

I second that emotion