DIY soft window targa conversion

[jpnovak]

Jay,

I suspect that my "butt" feeling was magnified due to driving an ultra-stiff track car for the past 1.5 years. I am aware of the stiffeners. I should have welded some ribs across the inner longitudinals and hid them under the carpet. That would have worked well but I didn't go that far in finding the right parts to make it happen.

Thank's Mark... Now get that stepchild on the road!

[Porsche]

That looks beautiful! Well done!

[CurtEgerer]

Jamie - I was wondering what came of this project. Looks like all the hard work paid off. This is one of those 'reference threads' thanks to your photos and documentation. I wish the board had an 'Index' to put these types of threads in to make it easier to reference than just the search engine.

Looks great! -- Curt

[911K]

Fantastic work, Jamie! Looking forward to seeing the car in person tomorrow...

Mike

[jon sigurdsen]

Hi, Does anyone know where to buy the hoops needed for the soft window installation? Or If someone could be kind enough post the measurement of the hoops and/or pictures it would be greatly apreatiated!

Thanks Jon S
NORWAY

[Soterik]

Here's a link to a full set of soft window hardware for sale from a friend of mine.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23318

He's well known in the Early S Registry.

cheers,
Eric

[911 tweaks]

does anyone know of a SC targa version available ~ made by anyone ??
I don't believe this early car set up would fit in a SC guys, right ??
Thanks,
Bob

[Soterik]

I think it should fit.... the rear targa hard window never changed as I recall. You would have to do some attachment modifications, and also "clearance" your targa "headliner" for the handles, but that's pretty easy. You would have to have the window custom done to fit nicely, but everyone pretty much has to do that to avoid wrinkles in the rear targa window (mine have wrinkles as they were bought and not fit well enough by PO).

regards,
Eric

[911 tweaks]

thanks Eric for the info here... is the above link correct for the top & bottom metal frame pcs & latches going for that amt of $$ ?? Can these parts be fabed up for way less ?? What did you do ??

Do You have any pics of this soft window on the car from the inside & pics of it OFF of the car to show the fab/attachment pts needed ??

Have you done this back date to an SC ??

Any info you can share on undertaking this as it sounds like you did this project ??

ANY COMMENTS ON IF THE REMOVAL OF THE REAR GLASS WINDOW MAKES THE BODY A VERY FLEXY~ FLOPPY~RATTLE BOX OF A CAR THEN ??

Thanks again Eric !!
Bob

[Soterik]

My cars are original soft window's. However I was going to swap out a 73 with parts I had bought, but I'm going to use them now on a 68 912 targa that was converted from soft to hard window back in the day.

The price is probably commensurate with original "nice" parts not needing plating etc. I would think that you could fab the bows and the receivers that attach to the bows. You will need the original latchs if you want an original look OR you can use some type of screw and receiver to latch them up.

I know that Emory's (Parts Obsolete) have converted a couple of cars to soft window including one they bought from me a few years ago (69S).

I would think that JPNovak can probably give you the best ideas on the conversion.

Eric

[911 tweaks]

Thanks Eric for your help here !!

Hey Jamie... I sent you a pm.
Thanks, Bob

[jpnovak]

I didn't realize this thread was revived...

The biggest hurdle to the conversion is finding the parts. The top itself is available from two or three suppliers. They fit well if setup properly. The hoops and handles are difficult to find. This is why the asking price is so high. Simple low supply. I know it took me 4 years to find all the parts.

The hoops could be reproduced if you had a set to copy. When I was looking there were no parts available to copy. the handles would be the hard part. The factory handles use a concentric, screw-type cam. The cam fits in a pinned receptacle on the upper hoop. The handles add slack in the top to unzip the top. Contrary to most people's understanding The upper hoop does not drop onto the rear seat area. The hoop just moves about 1/2" to allow the top to be unzipped.

An alternative to the handles could be some type of cam-lock system to tension the upper hoop. You would need to be creative on your own.

The SC has the same basic targa structure as an early car. As Eric noted there are some differences. The tabs that locate the lower bar will need to be fabricated. These are under the rear window channel/pinch seam. Second the lower corners of the targa bar will need to be clearenced for the front section of the lower hoop. In addition the lower mounting holes will need to be drilled for the front of the hoop.

The targa bar will also need to have the mounting holes for the handles. making the holes would be easy. Putting them in the right spot would be more difficult.

[911 tweaks]

Jamie, Eric and all others... I can make repo parts if someone will lend me their hoops, handles and what ever other pcs are needed.
Anyone able to lend me their parts?? I can make parts for others if interested !!!!!!!!!
You can pm or email me direct @ bobf@design-associates.us
I am looking for a project now and this is perfect timing !! :-)
Bob

[Joeaksa]

I have a pretty complete kit of parts for this mod, but they are stuck in my storage room right now. Bought them from Mark Wilson a while ago then ended up working overseas and not having any time to fuss with my car.

If some sort of guarantee could be arranged would not mind lending out parts (perhaps one or two pieces at a time to make sure I did not lose everything) to someone who could duplicate these.

Joe A

[911 tweaks]

Awesome Joe !! I have someone who can vouch for me if needed... Chris Bennet... He'll vouch that I am crazy (in a good way) and won't loose or damage your parts.
pm sent!
Bob

[Pascal]

sub'd

[911 tweaks]

Hi Jamie, can you email me your contact info at bobf@design-associates.us so I can talk to you about this conversion. I pm'd you last week and no reply yet... out of town or busy now ??
Thanks,
Bob

[jon sigurdsen]

I've decided to make the SWT hoops myself. My best guess on the sizes of the hoops are diameter 15mm for the hoop that goes along the body, and dia 20mm for the one under the targa bar. Can some one please confirm? Are both hoops round or, is the biggest one a square hollow section?

A tip for other ones whos looking for SWT parts. The chrome handles are identical to ones used on other convertibles as well. Mercedes Benz used the exact same handles on some of their cars...

Thanks

Jon Sigurdsen
911L Euro-version

[Joeaksa]

Jamie,

Am in the final stages of getting my backdated 911 back on the road. Its at Patrick Motorsports right now getting all the bugs worked out.

Talked with Jim about it and he really liked the soft window conversion idea so once I get the car back on the road that is the next thing that I am working on.

There is evidently someone up in Ontario making this kit as well, so hopefully there are more bits available. When I purchased my parts from Mark Wilson he said that it was missing some things but the hoops, and lots of other small bits are there. Been over 5 years and its all now sitting in my storage room waiting...

Joe A

[archtech]

I've seen Jaime's car in person (lives in the neighborhood!) and it's really really nice. Seeing it, especially with the kid seat in it, I knew I had to have one, someday... well I finally acquired two handles on my quest to convert my '71 Targa. One handle I got on EBAY, and the other came from, I think, Austria. It exchanged a couple hand-offs before getting here to the states to me. I got pretty lucky finding it. Fellow Pelican on the other side of the ocean had it. Anyways, I was wondering, since there is interest for some of us to try to fabricate the pieces ourselves, if anyone has measured and drafted the pieces. I think the handle is really tricky, but the other pieces can be traced, measured, and drawn in CAD to get a profile close to what the factory used. If anyone wouldn't mind lending a few pieces I could draft them and have the drawings available to us tinkerers. I was thinking of making patterns for the tabs that were welded, patterns for the handle receivers that bolt to the top bow, and maybe the bow that wasnt a compound curve. Any help would be appreciated and shared!