Targa noise?

The Donkey · 01-07-2006, 06:54 AM

What is the standard amount of wind noise that I should expect from my 85 Carrera Targa? The top is in excellent shape. I don't know about the seals. I haven't owned the car for more than 3 months so I really am just getting used to it.

Am I destined to live with a lot of wind noise or are there ways to dampen the noise to very acceptable levels? At 70mph you really have a hard time talking to the person next to you. I find it hard to believe that Porsche designed the car that way, but what do i know.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

William Krebs

midlife · 01-07-2006, 07:09 AM

My top also makes noise starting at about 60 MPH. The leading edge has a couple of spots that curl up which may be the main contributor. How does your leading edge look?
Some have gone around taping up spots to locate the source, but I haven't tried that yet. I leave the top off all summer and it sounds better that way.

The Donkey · 01-07-2006, 07:17 AM

It does have like 2 spots where they bend up just a bit, not much but just a hair. I do notice that the targa seal is curved a bit in a few places. I think that might be the root of my problems.

Is it possible to have a targa that doesn't make noise or very little noise? Any other targa owners out there?

HFR_Racer · HFR_Racer's Garage

The top on my 86 also has a couple of raised areas (near the latches) on the leading edge. I also think that this is the cause on my wind noise above 60 mph.

Any ideas on how to lower these raised areas? How about a BFH..

Ha ha....

Buffjamr · 01-07-2006, 08:00 AM

Same issue being discussed here.

Targa adjustment

Looks like we all have the same issue.

trader220 · 01-07-2006, 08:09 AM

Get used to it. Even after I had my top rebuilt to better then new I had wind issues.

ppun · 01-07-2006, 09:42 AM

William,

If you ever get that noise solved please let me know.

I have the same problem with a 1988 targa - my noise begins at around 70mph too.

My top was newly reconditioned (within the last year) and the front edge does curl up a bit into the wind. I am not sure though if that is what is generating the noise.

Mark

Jubbie · 01-07-2006, 03:28 PM

I have the jempro top, but the two front clips have come loose and I get wind noise if I am driving into the wind above 60mph. I have found that opening up the windows a crack or (since I have the smokers windows on my 74') I open them a tad to cancel out the noise.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Jubbie
I have the jempro top, but the two front clips have come loose and I get wind noise if I am driving into the wind above 60mph. I have found that opening up the windows a crack or (since I have the smokers windows on my 74') I open them a tad to cancel out the noise.

Jubbie,
You said "smoker's window" ... is that the wind wing that opens on the front doors?? Never heard it called that before.
One thing I was told a looooong time ago, and I think it is very good advise - don't smoke in a targa. Used to be a smoker when I first got my 69 targa, and the only time I smoked in there was a disaster - never again...

JBO · 01-07-2006, 05:38 PM

You get similar wind noise as with a convertible, and you basically have to live with it. I also have a fiberglass top for mine and it makes noise as well. For some reason the corvettes with removable tops are quite (and don't leak!), go figure.

strupgolf · 01-07-2006, 05:49 PM

See my reply on "targa adjustment", it might help.

Jubbie · 01-07-2006, 06:35 PM

Bill,

I resurected Dad's old car, which he smoked in. Thus the name for the windows. I never have smoked, and after 5-bypass heart surgery, neither does Dad. He quit and is doing fine.

The Donkey · 01-08-2006, 02:32 PM

Ok, so here's the solution I found at Lowe's:
Closed Cell High Density Foam Weatherstrip
It works great. I was a bit anxious about using the adhesive on such a project, so I just laid it down and put the targa in its' place to give it a test run.
I ran it up to about 90 and didn't have any problem having a conversation at regular speaking levels. Honestly, I suspect that the only wind noise that I was hearing was the outside of the targa seal cutting the wind. The improvement was just incredible.

Here's how I did it:
Remove the targa top.
Look at the rear of the metal at the top of the windshield. I had originally intended to cut away a lot of the original seal with an X-Acto blade, but I balked until I had some test results.
So, when you look at the top of the windshield, there is a strip of bare metal about half an inch thick along the top of the seal.
I just laid the weatherstripping along that stretch of metal (above the original targa rubber seal).
Drop the targa top into place, and just kind of tuck any visible foam down into the seal itself.
A road test showed huge improvements.
You can see a tiny line of grey foam in the space between the leading edge of the targa top and the top of the windshield. That used to be empty space, so it doesn't bother me at all.

I'm actually going to be making another trip to Lowe's to see if I can't find a more suitable weatherstripping. I don't know how well the foam is going to hold up to any unexpected rain showers. I couldn't find a better example on the website, but I'm sure many of you have seen the more rubberized hollow foam weatherstripping.
The strip of metal is actually a tiny bit less than half an inch thick, so I'm going to trim about an eighth of an inch off of the bottom of the next seal. It ought to fit just perfectly, and should look about factory with the top on or off.