What's Up With My Targa?

[rcecale]

Look at the pics below. I have my targa top installed and latched down. It looks as though it is too small to fit properly. As you can see, it's the same on both sides.

Is there a way to adjust this thing to spread it out and get rid of this gap?








Randy

[Moses]

Can the latch or latch pins be adjusted? Doesn't look tight.

[K. Roman]

Supposedly you can lift the triangular windows up just a bit by loosening a bolt then tightening back down to the approriate torque.

[rcecale]

Moses, I'll take some pics of the latches and how they're adjusted and post them here. Hopefully that's what it takes. Although, while installing the top, the latches are really tight to turn.

K.Roman, I don;t see how raising the vent windows would snug up the front of the targa. It would seeal the windows though.


Randy

[efhughes3]

When I recovered my top, it sat similarly, but not as "bad". It was a matter of loosening the pins that go into the windshield bar, and moving them around until the top sat down.

[geof33]

That looks to be a bastard top... Most likely an early lid with late attachments.

Either that or it was redone VERY badly. But then with the frame it should still sit right. The gutters look all wrong as well. Very strange.

With regard to the sitting too high stuff, the front pins have nothing to do with that unless they are WAY out or WAY in, even then it shouldn't matter too much. The front pins help align side to side/front to back. Not up and down. This is done with the latches.

I have an 84, same top... good luck...

[investlt]

How does the rear look? It the top isn't seated correctly in the back, it might cause the front to raise up. Make sure the pin holes in the back don't have any debris in them.

[JTL]

Is that a new front seal? That top looks exactly like my -84 after I replaced the front seal. After a few posts to Rennlist and Pelican I quickly found out that correct seals were no longer made for my car?! Dan Petchel of Carsinc. has a pretty good reputation of being THE targa top expert. He has a modification procedure to grind down the only available seals, -87-94, to fit -86 and older. After doing this my top fits pretty nicely, not perfect but nice; no water leaks only some wind noise at 80mph+ at the drivers top corner.

jt

[masraum]

Looks funny to me too, looks like somebody shrunk it in the wash. The rain rails on the side look wrong. The latches should be adjusted by loosening the 3 allen screws that hold each one and sliding it down if my memory serves correctly. That should adjust how low the front comes down which I would say is a large part of you problem assuming the top is right.

[carsinc]

The problem is not with the top but the dreaded wrong seal which is 20% to big. The proper seal has not been made since 1995. The seal bag will have the correct # but a seal for a 90 new Targa. If this situation is not corrected it will lead to Latch breaking, Handle breaking and/or Top flyoff.
Cotact me and I will provide article on cut down procedure.
dan

[JP911]

I have the same problem with my top after replacing the seal. I carefully removed the seal, ground it down, and reinstalled, but it's still not right. This targa stuff is really frustrating.

Dan-
Can you email me the instructions (jpeischl@hotmail.com)?

[rcecale]

I haven't changed the seal at all. It's the same seal that's been on there since we got it in 99. I have no clue as to the history of the seal before that.

I had the top reskinned in September 0f 2003, and before that, it seemed to fit okay. Not perfect, mind you, but it did fit better than this. Is it possible the top was fitted incorrectly and just needs to be redone to fit, or can I make adjustments to it as is.

Dan,

I'm willing to try pretty much everything, so if you wouldn't mind, could you e-mail your instructions to rcecale@hotmail.com?

Thanks!

Randy

[5speed]

Dan- if you would mind I would like a copy of the article with any pics you might have. My email is leelius@yahoo.com

[carsinc]

The side seal maybe to far forward and need to be moved back. If that car is a 90-94 and the top sets up there is a fly off danger. This top Cast $10,000 if destroyed.

[rcecale]

Fortunately I have the top standing up in the backseat, right behind my fronts, no chance of it flyiing out of there!

Dan, I'm looking forward to seeing your instructions this top has bugged me since I had this car and it's way past time to do something about it. Hopefully, your article will get me moving in the right direction.

Have you thought about posting it as a Tech Article here on PP?

Randy

[Neilk]

Ditto.

I am about to put in a new seal and would like the instructions as well.

Thnaks!

[P3C_Pilot]

can someone just post the procedure for trimming down the front targa bar seal for an older style targa? sounds like it would be a worthwhile post.

i'm seeing a similar problem on mine, not as pronounced though--and luckily in SoCal so the weather is forgiving for a misfitted seal. thanks....if its huge, and not postable could someone email me @ p3c_pilot@hotmail.com? gracias...

ab

[scottb]

AB: I like your other "toys." Are you based at CMA?

Scott

[jeff1hughes]

Dan, I could really use that article too! jonnysocko@comcast.net

[jeremyb]

so why cant someone in the world make the right seal? is it that hard? maybe im naive or something?

jeremyb