Body sag? targa body brace?

[Mike Kast]

I have my car back on the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still need alignment and corner balance to complete the project. I'm sure the front is out but I don't care about the tires now anyway. I ordered new fronts tonight

anyway... The car was up on jack stands for about 2 months. Depending on where the stands were located the doors would get more or less bound up. When I had the stands under the front jack point under the door jamb area the doors wouldn't open worth a damn. Then I moved them to the front of the a arm covers and they opened but still bound up some. Now she's back on her feet and everything is back to normal.
My question- Is this typical for a Targa or do I need to consider some reinforcement? Do Coups stay perfectly ridged when up on stands? Have any of you Targa guys installed the Targa reinforcement that triangulates the rear of the door jam to the floor? Wayne sells it here. I've been curious about those for a while but the don't look like they would do much.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_miscel_pg3.htm#item14

Targa Body Brace

Tighten up your 911 Targa with these diagonally mounted strut style braces. The polished Aluminum bars mount using the seat belt bolts in the lower side sills and the B-pillar. By tying the two sections together the body will be much stiffer and quieter. The air foil shaped bars look good and do not interfere with the seat belt operation. Its easy to install and remove, these bars will give you a quieter ride then you have ever known in your Targa and add a more positive feel to the steering and brake response.

Targa Body Brace, pair, 912E, 911/911 Turbo Targa (1974-89) [Photo]
JM-TB0011 $162.25

[Mike Kast]

It seems like that brace would have to move a foot forward on the floor to be effective. Maybe I should weld the doors shut.

[ubiquity0]

Its common for targa doors to bind when on jackstands. My coupe has never done that, although the door alignment does look slightly off when one end is on stands.

[twin plugged targa]

I will 'bump' this post as I would be interested if anyone has had experience of this stiffener?
Ben

[Mike Kast]

Thank you Ben, But this doesn't seem to be a popular subject. I'm just waiting for someone to say "Just get a coupe"
No! I love my Targa!!!!!
I may have to become the test subject.

[Adam]

When I had the '76 Coupe on stands during the Fuchs restoration, the doors seemed to open and close perfectly well. If I put the '89 on stands or a hoist, it would bind up a little as you describe.

I simply put the roof down (to reach the ignition etc) and avoid opening the doors when it's off the ground. I have this perverse worry about hinges.

[Emission]

Most all the cars I have owned (except for the newer ones) have "twisted" on jacks. This goes for coupes, sedans, and convertibles.

Older cars aren't as rigid as the new computer-designed vehicles of today. I wouldn't go out of my way to put a brace on a Targa either - it will only flex somewhere else.

[DByers]

There is at least one Pelican who is happy with the brace you mention in your original post.

See Here

[vash]

interesting! i have had my targa up on stands at various points throughout my repairs. my doors didnt have any issues. i typically used the jack points mentioned in waynes book, but once i did jack up one side and held it there with the pad for awhile. (backed it up with a stand). no issues, i didnt even know this could be a problem. i'll keep an eye out for it.

[Padrino]

okay, I've seen this brace for the Targas. However, what do connect it to if you have a 1970 Targa which doesn't have the floor mount for the seatbelts. Is there a brace I haven't seen????

[Mike Kast]

Originally posted by Emission
I wouldn't go out of my way to put a brace on a Targa either - it will only flex somewhere else.

Let me ask this, is the flex in a Targa something that could cause structural problems over time? I'm not all that concerned about stiffening it up for performance reasons although that would be a perk, it's more out of concern. I just want the car to last forever.
Would installing the braces put more damaging stress in certain places instead of transferring it out evenly? Or is it all irrelevant...

[old_skul]

When I put my car on jackstands, I use the front torsion bar mounts and the rear ones as well. My doors have no issues with binding. I am curious which jack points you're using, Mike.

[JeremyD]

Two alternatives




Take a look at the Lotus Elise and the door sills on that beast... -

My 1990 C2 Targa - one corner jacked up - I had no issues opening or closing the doors - my 1987 Cabriolet - I do notice it a little more... Now the Alfa Romeo I had - Jack up one corner - and you couldn't open either door!

[Mike Kast]

Originally posted by old_skul
When I put my car on jackstands, I use the front torsion bar mounts and the rear ones as well. My doors have no issues with binding. I am curious which jack points you're using, Mike.

I had them under the rear torsion bar covers the whole time. When I had the front suspension out I had them under the spot just behind the front wheel. That is when I had the most change in the doors. Once the torsion bar covers where back up front I switched them up to the front.
Here's a pic. Typical jack point. I think the weight of the front end hanging made the floor pan frown causing the latch side of the door to lift up slightly and bind at the latch.

[Mike Kast]

Originally posted by Jeremy964

This is sweet. I wonder what it weighs? I probably will leave it alone for now. I don't have a welder. I'd like to get one eventually. I'd like some practice before I go attacking my 911 with it though.
The brace seemed clean and simple and... too good to be true!