Taking apart (but not off) the Targa bar

[VaSteve]

I have seen a couple of the painting threads where the bar "skin" looks to be disassembled, but not removed from the car. However, these photos are usually from full repaints. Is it possible to remove the bar "skin" while keeping the rest of the car intact (rear window, seals, etc.)

See the photo below about the skin being removed.




Photo borrowed from Zendalar's post...

[Tim Walsh]

No personal experience but from the dtw website:
Rear Clip Disassembly Note deadly rust perforation at the roll bar/unibody weld. Pulling the Targa trim bar is a real trick to pull off if you don't want to damage the bar. There are around a dozen trim screws locating the bar to the actual roll bar. Don't forget the bottom screws on each side; they're hidden by seals. Have a very sturdy, very sharp knife available for cutting out the seal on the rear glass. I pulled the rear glass myself, but this was a real test of nerves and I recommend having an assistant to help with this task.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/MotorCity/WintersRS/garage/donordis.htm

steve,
BTW your inbox is full

[Gordo2]

Steve,

I just painted my Targa bar cover last week. It's not too bad to remove. No need to remove the rear window or anything crazy but you do need to remove the rear Targa top seal (the big rubber one mated to the front of the Targa bar). The seal is glued in place. I managed to remove mine without damaging it (razor blade and slow going):



There are around 16 small screws behind the seal that need to be removed and 4 plastic screws at the top corners.

Remove the bottom two nuts holding the cover down. Its easier to get at if you remove the rear wheels (the nuts are in the wheel well toward the front of the car (10mm nuts I think). Spray them with some PB Blaster or something, you don't want to break the bolts off.

Once you have everything unscrewed/unbolted it takes a little coercion to get the cover off. I lightly tapped at the bolts with a hammer and a wooden dowel.



Once off it looks like this:



Is that what you were looking for?

If you remove it, let me know and I will pass on my lessons learned for reinstalling.

Mine was way overdue for a refinish. It came out great.

Good luck.

Gordo

[Zendalar]

Yea...and the real ***** part comes if you have a -72 911. You have to remove the oil tank to remove the targa bar...

All the tiny screws were so corroded in my case, that I had to drill those off.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Gordo2
Steve,


Is that what you were looking for?

If you remove it, let me know and I will pass on my lessons learned for reinstalling.

Yup, that's what I was looking for. I guess it was easier to repaint off the car?

Why is it that this thing loses it's paint (as do the Fuchs) but the body does not?

[flatsixcrazy]

Steve,
That is a beautiful paint on the targa, did you paint it yourself or a shop did?. Thanks. ANdrew

[seqcgr]

Is that Seal grey?

[Zendalar]

Cough, cough!

Thats my car, the colour is Laverda, Grigio Ghisa Metallic, and its a PPG Moto colour.

[seqcgr]

Very nice but man is that a long name for a paint color!

[theiceman]

sounds like a mexican flu virus..

[M.D. Holloway]

The liner on my Targa bar right below the driver side corner is coming off - I want to repear it. Should I remove the bar and attempt it myself?