Targa Body Brace

joetiii · joetiii's Garage

Anybody have experience with a targa body brace. They mount between the upper seat belt mount on the targa pillar and the lower seat belt mount on the floor. They are supposed to stiffen up the body, though I'm not sure how much they would improve handling.... anybody?

gtc · gtc's Garage

This is definitely a YMMV item. There are already a few threads discussing it, the gist of which are that some people like it, some people say it does nothing. Having a lighter car, I bet you might notice it more.
That said, JMPRO is a good guy that stands behind his products.

mike monde · 07-25-2008, 07:28 AM

As stated above, there are a few threads that discuss this product. Some support, some say they do little or nothing. I installed them in my targa, "felt" that it stiffened the car, but can't say for sure.
Do a search and you will get some good information/ opinion on what they will or will not do. Worth a read before making a decision, IMO.

joetiii · joetiii's Garage

thanx

shoulda searched before shooting

mossguy · 07-25-2008, 11:10 AM

I have searched this subject before but did not find what I was looking for, i.e. when I put my targa on stands under the torsion bar ends/covers, the gap between the rear edge of the door and the front edge of the rear fender widens, especially at the top. Does anyone know if the brace would imrove this situation.
thanks

Tom

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossguy

I have searched this subject before but did not find what I was looking for, i.e. when I put my targa on stands under the torsion bar ends/covers, the gap between the rear edge of the door and the front edge of the rear fender widens, especially at the top. Does anyone know if the brace would imrove this situation.
thanks

Tom

When I first started tinkering with the idea a few years ago, that door gap when the car is lifted was one of the first things I checked with the bars installed. After seeing a big differance with the bars installed on my car I went ahead with the design. The good part is that if you decide that they don't work for you, send them back. I accept all returns from my distributors.
Jerry
JM PRODUCT DESIGN

mossguy · 07-25-2008, 01:36 PM

Thanks Jerry!

Tom

snbush67 · snbush67's Garage

I got em, great product.

cantdrv55 · 07-25-2008, 09:19 PM

JMPRO has a money back guarantee? That's good business!

joetiii · joetiii's Garage

With a 69 model, it looks like I will have to tap a hole in the inside sill to get these mounted. Any tricks to doing this. Sounds to me like seats and carpets have to come out. Do reinforcements at that point need to be welded in?

Zef · Zef's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMPRO

When I first started tinkering with the idea a few years ago, that door gap when the car is lifted was one of the first things I checked with the bars installed. After seeing a big differance with the bars installed on my car I went ahead with the design. The good part is that if you decide that they don't work for you, send them back. I accept all returns from my distributors.
Jerry
JM PRODUCT DESIGN

Sound very, very interesting.

VaSteve · 07-26-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossguy

I have searched this subject before but did not find what I was looking for, i.e. when I put my targa on stands under the torsion bar ends/covers, the gap between the rear edge of the door and the front edge of the rear fender widens, especially at the top. Does anyone know if the brace would imrove this situation.
thanks

Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMPRO

When I first started tinkering with the idea a few years ago, that door gap when the car is lifted was one of the first things I checked with the bars installed. After seeing a big differance with the bars installed on my car I went ahead with the design. The good part is that if you decide that they don't work for you, send them back. I accept all returns from my distributors.
Jerry
JM PRODUCT DESIGN

I've had a set installed for 3 years. I honestly don't know if it makes a difference or not since I don't recall how it used to be. I think at the time I said it made a difference...search on my name, I've posted about it.

I have lift a home and I get some body flex when on the lift. (the door is a little tough to open/latch.) I guess it would be worse if I removed the braces.

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by joetiii

With a 69 model, it looks like I will have to tap a hole in the inside sill to get these mounted. Any tricks to doing this. Sounds to me like seats and carpets have to come out. Do reinforcements at that point need to be welded in?

I have heard of a few people doing this in early cars without the lower seat belt hole. They used some heavy duty threaded inserts from McMaster carr and did it without removing the carpet. You just drill a hole , put in the insert, compress it to expand in the hole. I don't know if this method is as strong as a factory installed location. I would think that a plate with a nut attached welded in would be much stronger. I have never done either of these processes myself so I can't say one is better than the other.
My other thought is that if you install a lower mounting hole you could move the hole futher forward to provide for a greater angle on the bar that probably would enhance the performanceof the brace. You would need to get longer bars but I am sure I could provide those.
Jerry

FPB111 · 07-26-2008, 08:15 AM

I have used these "Rivnut" fasteners in many similar applications. You donot need the tool if you are only mounting one or two of them. Just use a bolt with a couple of washers to compress the nut. In your application I would attach something like a 1/8 thk x 2" x 3" piece of steel to double the stress area.
http://www.enfasco.com/frame4.htm

FPB111 · 07-26-2008, 08:17 AM

I have used these "Rivnut" fasteners in many similar applications. You do-not need the tool if you are only mounting one or two of them. Just use a bolt with a couple of washers to compress the nut. In your application I would attach/glue/screw/weld something like a 1/8 thk x 2" x 3" piece of steel to double the stress area.
http://www.enfasco.com/frame4.htm

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

The rivnuts I used on another application but would be practical for this use also were so heavy duty that if you tried to install them with anything but the tool you could ruin a few before you could get it right. Ruining a few nuts is not a big deal since they are cheap but when you have one part in and part out and it has to be removed, that can be a real mess.
I will look up the part number for the insert and tool that I used.
Jerry

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

Here is a pic of the set up I put together for a cab. I used some brackets I had and mounted them to the floor rather than the sill. The brackets used 2 bolts and rivnuts for a very secure mount. This installation could work in an older Targa and actually increases the angle of the bar for better triangulation although it can make it harder to get in and out of the car. I decided not to market this application because of the higher cost {extra brackets, bolts, rivnuts, special tool}
and that fact that the rivnut installation is not very DYI friendly. This install also requires that holes be drilled and that puts a lot of people off.
Jerry