Targa top problem, really annoying!!!

BeauBlues · BeauBlues's Garage

Basically I will be driving with the top on and if i hit any slight bump in the road or go in or out of a driveway from an angle, the clips no particular ones, but the ones in the front will pop off causing the top skin to not be connected with the frame. I tried adjusting the clips by pushing them back to make them grab more of the frame, but they wont go any further. Please help on this one. It scares the living daylights out of me when driving on the freeway and this happens.

HarryD · 10-16-2004, 06:07 PM

I belive Pelican sells longer clips to deal with this issue. give them a call.

masraum · 06:55 PM

The longer clips are a jury-rig job instead of fixing the real problem which is that your top needs to be recovered. When the top is covered correctly the force of the top material being stretched tight pulls back on the targa frame. This causes the two main joints in the middle of the front and back of the top to over extend much like locking your knees. When that happens the clips won't pop off. You need to get the top fixed not just put a bandaid on it. If you are going to do the bandaid route then you can either use the long clips or just cut a piece of dowel or broom handle to force the front and back of the frame open a little wider like the top would do if it was in good shape.

I know from experience. My top would hardly stay on at all without the poll, then when I got the top back from Dan Petchel of Cars Inc from having it restored I didn't have a problem with the top popping off at 150 mph and it was really quiet because the front and rear seams folded down. It was a huge improvement. Only problem, getting it done right is not cheap, just shy of $1000, but hey, it's a Porsche, you expected that, right?

BeauBlues · BeauBlues's Garage

I actually got the top re-skinned about 2 months ago, but the guy who did it couldnt get tight enough for it to be a good job. Plus the skin is also the domestic type, so when im doing some serious speeds, it will stretch and become saggy until it shinks back down. Could this problem be because it is the domestic type and not the german.

jtratza · 10-16-2004, 08:40 PM

I'm getting ready to have mine reskinned but with the German material. I can't really complain since the vinyl I had put on almost ten yers ago has held up very well. But for the last couple of years it to has begun to ballon on long drives during the Texas summers. Oh and I too use a pole to keep the top tight against the clips.

BeauBlues · BeauBlues's Garage

Can anyone show me a picture of a what you use as a pole to keep the top tight?

geof33 · 10-16-2004, 08:52 PM

masraum is right. The top was not done well. The arms should close with a bit of a "snap" almost feeling too tight. A bubble at speed is somewhat normal for these especially on hot days when the vinyl has some sun time. I don't think it matters if it is Dom or German. The install is the issue. And yes, the edges should face slightly down.

I'd get it redone. There is a guy here on the site that supposedly does a great job. I did my own... no big deal really if all you need to do is replace the basics... (burlap, foam and vinyl). It's another story if the whole top need to be redone. Typically they can be done for about 200.00 or so DIY....

A solution... get a hard top.

limble · 10-16-2004, 08:55 PM

I tried the longer clips and one side worked but not the other. I agree a new top probably is in order.

masraum · 10-17-2004, 02:41 AM

Any stick or piece of wood or other stiff object that you can cut just long enough to put some tension in between the two hinges of the front and back of the frame will do. cut some wood such that it is a tight fit and presses the two halves open tightly and put it where the red line is.

Paulporsche · 10-17-2004, 05:20 AM

I'm not familiar w/ these so forgive me if I'm offbase here. If that is visible from inside the car, perhaps a piece of 1" or 1 1/2" dia black ABS plumbing pipe would work. It would be lightweight and is already black.

masraum · 10-17-2004, 05:32 AM

Yes, it is visible. Anything stiff enough would work. I remember the first time that I heard about it was from someone on the Rennlist. He was using a piece of an old hockey stick that he had cut to length and then wrapped in black electricians tape.

I think 1 or 1.5" would be a bit large. From memory I think you'd want something in the .5-.75" size, but really anything that you could get to work would be fine.