Leaky targa top

humyu6 · 10-17-2006, 07:35 PM

The question I have is..... I have wind noise comming into the interior via the top at the front, what do I need to do to stop this irratating wind noise, I can barely hear the music..Thanks for any and all replys.

Steve

masraum · 10-17-2006, 07:42 PM

The vinyl lip at the front edge of the top should be slightly angled down. Often when they get old that seem/lip starts to angle up into the wind and acts as a scoop. Also, the top material should be so tight that it actually locks the hinged front and rear parts of the frame. If yours doesn't do this then you need to restore your top. There are actually 2 or 3 layers of material in there. You can try it your self or you can save up $800-1300 and send it to Dan Petchel of Cars Inc in New Jersey and have him do it. It's expensive, but he does a really good job since it's his primary business. http://www.carsinc-nj.com/

masraum · 10-17-2006, 07:45 PM

Another note. As the top gets worse and worse the clips will stop holding the top to the frame. This is not an indication that you need longer clips. WHen the top is in good shape, the regular clips hold perfectly fine. If yours is getting bad, you can cut a broomstick or hockey stick to fit in between the front and rear frame members right at the hinges. Cut it just a tad long so you have to wedge it in there. That will help prolong the time until you have to send the top off to be fixed.

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

I recently recoverd my Targa top and am now in the process of replacing both the front and rear top seals and also have the taraga bar cover powder coated.

Here is a link to the post about the recovering, may be of some help to you.

Targa Top Re-build

MBEngineering · 10-18-2006, 04:00 AM

HI would you like the Porsche "Targa Roof Repairs" booklet No 4562.20. if so send me a PM with your snail mail Add and I will send you one over , it is for adjusting the roof, doors, seals and windows, just pay for P&P.

regards mike

tjc5911 · 10-18-2006, 04:26 AM

I found the noise on mine was coming from the small gap between the windshield frame and the top. Eventually, I found a piece of weather stripping that extends from the windshield frame to underneath the top. Works wonders.

daepp · 10-18-2006, 06:59 AM

Anyone ever replace the rear Targa Bar seal - the one that stays with the car and wraps down each side and meshes with the door windows? Is this a difficult job, and is that seal available?

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

daepp:

I removed the rear targa seal on my car this week, the hardest part is removing all the old glue and adhesive. I've got it all cleaned up and waiting FEDEX to deliver the new seal from pelican.

The seal should be no problem to install, maybe a little custom fitting, but after installing the front seal a couple of weeks ago, this one should be a breeze

I have not yet glued the front seal in place. I'll wait untill I have both new seals installed and fitted properly with the top fit as close as I can get it before I glue it down.

tjc5911 · 10-18-2006, 07:11 AM

If we're talking about the same seal, the one with fabric, I visited the stealership and they quoted close to $400...for one side!! NOT

JTL · JTL's Garage

daepp,
Yeah, that seal is still available. The front windscreen frame seal is not. Replacing the targa bar seal is relatively easy. Be sure to scrape all the old glue away before installing the new part and don't skimp on the glue. This way the center section will stay attached when the top is on.

jt
-84 targa

daepp · 10-18-2006, 07:20 AM

So is it one seal or three?

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

The seal in one peice, having said that, my old one broke into 3 peices. The seal is actually made up of 5 peices glued together forming one peice.

daepp · 10-18-2006, 10:00 AM

Is the one for sale at Pelican a good replacement in terms of looks and effectiveness?

JTL · JTL's Garage

My previous post wasn't very clear. The horizontal section of my bar seal pulled forward, away from the bar, when the top was put on. I remedied it by using more glue to second time.

KC, you did an awesome job on recovering your top. My top isn't ripped by the leading edge is bending up and trailing edge is no longer smooth. It looks great from a distance but borderline crappy close up. I'm going to recover it over winter along with the steering wheel.

jt
-84 targa

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

Thanks JTL, if you decide to cover your top, spend the extra to get high quality material, you will understand once you see how much work it is.

Now if Fedex will just hurry up and the powder coater will get done I'll be back on the road

masraum · 10-18-2006, 01:31 PM

Thom F / widebody also has a write up on recovering a targa top, I believe. I'll see if I can find it.

Yep, here it is.

http://vintagebus.com/targa/index.html

JTL · JTL's Garage

I remember looking at Thom's website. He took on a lot of projects and rated them by # of beers consumed during the work. It might take a whole case for a targa top job 'course you may want to leave the beers for after it's all done?!

jt

Tcannon88 · 10-19-2006, 04:31 AM

I wonder what my options are for refitting just the front edge of the top? My top was re-skinned 5 years ago by the PO. It shows little signs of wear. The front clips fit well, and it snaps open. But the leading edge is curling up, and it is beginning to leak a little bit. Can the skin be re-stretched on the leading edge to get the correct downward angle?

rcooled · 10-19-2006, 09:06 AM

Both of the roller latches at the front edge of the Targa top can be adjusted to clamp down more snugly. After adjusting, wind noise from my top was reduced considerably.

Tcannon88 · 10-19-2006, 11:43 AM

Thanks, rcooled. I'll try that.