Targa bar seal plastic rivet install-pics

[C4 Pazzo]

I know many have struggled with installing the plastic rivets at the top corners of the targa bar seal. Without the proper tool it is easy to ruin the rivets. Porsche refers to this self-made tool which is an awl or screw driver with a washer welded 30 mm from the tip.


I took a slightly different approach to making the tool, using a 2 1/2 inch number 8 machine screw, 2 nuts and a washer. Position the nuts on the screw so that the washer just contacts the top of the rivet as the screw bottoms out in the rivet.


After making sure the holes in the seal are lined up with the holes in the bar by inserting the screw by itself, position the rivet and "self-made tool" in the seal holes. I found it was not necessary to use any lubrication for the rivets to work properly.




Use a soft-headed mallet to drive the rivet into the hole, taking care not to bend the screw or hit the targa bar. Then use a screw driver to back out the screw, which will have slightly embedded itself into the tip of the rivet.



Install the small rivet caps and you are done.


Tools required:

1 mallet
1 phillips head screw driver
4 plastic rivets
4 rivet caps
1 number 8 machine screw (2 1/2 inches; buy a couple extra in case you bend one)
2 nuts
1 washer

[Mysterytrain]

very nice, thanks!

[rcecale]

Very timely thread! Thanks!!!

I'll be replacing my seals shortly so this info will come in handy.

Randy

[1982911SCTarga]

Can anyone confirm how deep those rivets should be installed? If you look at C4 Pazzo's pics, it looks like the rivets clamp the seal so that 1/8-inch or more of the Targa top pin receptacle is exposed. Is that correct? Thanks!

Brian

[1982911SCTarga]

Bump for the day crowd ...

Brian

[porschefool]

I just tapped mine back in with a hammer, gently, until the barbs engaged. I didn't know you needed a special tool!

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

C4 Pazzo's technique worked perfectly for me. Thanks!

[LubeMaster77]

I'm looking to re-finish my 77 Targa and will be replacing the Targa bar pad et al. This look like a great idea. Thanks.

[1982911SCTarga]

I just tapped mine back in with a hammer, gently, until the barbs engaged. I didn't know you needed a special tool!

This I understand, but if you look closely at C4 Pazzo's pics, he inserted the rivet beyond the first barb, which squeezes the seal and exposes more of the top pin retainer. Is that a squeeze too far?

The question remains:

Can anyone confirm how deep those rivets should be installed? If you look at C4 Pazzo's pics, it looks like the rivets clamp the seal so that 1/8-inch or more of the Targa top pin receptacle is exposed. Is that correct? Thanks!

Brian

[Porsche-poor]

Had my bar seal glued in, looks like they beat in the rivets and bent the $%#$ out of them. Will have to replace that part myself. How far in do they go?

[C4 Pazzo]

1982911SCTarga - Sorry for not responding sooner. The targa top pin receptacle already was exposed quite a bit before I tapped the rivets in. I tapped the rivets until just beyond the point where they made contact with the seal. I didn't see the point of having the rivets barely make contact with the seal.

[Porsche-poor]

Wow mine looks nothing like yours so now I an concerned. The receptacle is still inside the seal and the rivets are not engaged in the bar.

[C4 Pazzo]

Maybe I should be concerned!?!? I did have to work the seal fabric a bit to get it to fit past the pin receptacle. Perhaps the pin receptacle is hanging up inside the seal. I'm pretty sure you want the pin receptacle to poke through, but perhaps others can confirm one way or the other. Once it pokes through, the seal fits against the front of the targa bar and the rivets reach the targa bar.

[1982911SCTarga]

Pazzo, it sounds like you've got the right technique, but your seal doesn't look quite right in the pic.

I replaced my pins by repurposing one of those all-metal drywall anchors (cut and reverse the expanding portion of the anchor to make the seal pin pusher-inner and then adjust the distance to suit the pins you're inserting). Anyway, I knocked the pins in just enough to engage the first set of barbs and the seal is right at the edge of the Targa pin retainer.

Don't forget to replace the tiny seal pin cover.

Brian

[farleyd]

HI guys, do i have to apply some adhesive to have the seal stay on the frame?

Also, what adhesive to use to rejoin two separated seal portions.

Thanks!

[C4 Pazzo]

Yes. I used 3M Super Weather Strip adhesive.

I've used superglue to rejoin broken headlight seals. Never tried it with a Targa bar seal.

[cmetzner]

I know this is an old thread but I am about to replace this seal. My current seal stands away from the front of the targa bar. I tried to glue it to the front of the targa bar with 3M adhesive but it appears that the weatherstripping is so mishaped that the glue will not hold it tight against the bar.

The result is that when it rains, I get a lake in the footwell of the back seats. Nothing down the windows. I assumed that the water is coming in at the top of the targa bar seal and running down the inside of the targa bar and into passenger compartment.

Questions: Is this seal supposed to be glued tight against the front of the targa bar?

Is it common for the targa bar seal to fail in this manner and cause this flooding?