1973 Targa Rebuild - Adjustment Issues

pcivalero · pcivalero's Garage

I just rebuilt my Targa top using the dircections on Pelican Parts. I replaced the skin, rubber seals, and the headliner. The directions were great. I had problems adjusting one side of the top without pulling the other out of alignment. We solved this problem using clamps through out the top. Here are some pictures to help:

My problem is that now the driver side seems out of place because the new rubber seal is rubbing against the old door seals. Here are some pictures:

Any thoughts on what I need to do???

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Excellent Work!

Have you road & water test it yet?

Your front quarter window top portion sealed very nicely but it appears you will need a new front over the window seal. Dan P has that proper seal.

snbush67 · snbush67's Garage

It looks like the door window frame is pushing up on the top, Some people cut the side seal to fit over the frame, don't do that !!! you can lower the whole window frame by 1/4" and you may be able to lower the door a smidgen depending on your body gaps.

Looks like a good job on the skin, can you share the source?

pcivalero · pcivalero's Garage

The door is open on the close up pcitures, so I don't think lowering the door will help. I thought about cutting the old seal as I will eventually be replacing all of the seals when I get the car painted. Any reason why I shouldn't cut it??

pcivalero · pcivalero's Garage

OH, and the Targa Skin - not sure if I am answering your quesiton, but I bought the German version of the skin on Pelican and did the work myself.

carsinc · 10-24-2009, 07:04 AM

The problem is one of 3. Can't tell for sure from pics
1. Over the top of windshield seal. too big.
2. Side seals need cut down
3. Too much material in top for webbing was stretched. Didn't say if replaced.

turbochad · 10-24-2009, 08:07 AM

I had Dave Brown restore my top for my '71 and I watched as he fitted it to the car. As Dan has pointed out in other threads the side seals are all too long and often time too thick for early cars. If I remember correctly, Dave trimmed the front part of the seal (at the windshield) from the back. At the rear you just have to trim off some of the back part of the seal where it binds up with the targa bar seal keeping the part that touches the glass all the way to the targa bar. If you seal is too long you can squish it together some by loosening the retainer screws and push it back toward the targa bar. Some of these seals are so long that you have to elongate the holes in the internal aluminum support stiffener and also unglue the front part of the seal where it folds over and trim off part of the side seal and reglue it back together. There are some different seals out there but they are all too big from what Dave told me. I heard that Dan was going to be making new old style seals from one of the last remaining NOS seals he has. Not sure where he is in the process of doing this though.

pcivalero · pcivalero's Garage

Ok - I took some more pictures and I think I know what I need to do:

I think i need to cut the seal where it is too long - look at this pic

nesslar · 10-24-2009, 10:36 AM

Dan has mentioned many times having the proper seals, I'm sure. I'd box it up and have him fix it. $.02

carsinc · 10-24-2009, 12:36 PM

Move the seal back and to out side to see if that helps.

turbochad · 10-24-2009, 02:45 PM

Listen to Dan, push it back and cut the other end.

carsinc · 10-25-2009, 05:27 AM

If you look at the first two pics you will see that new vinyl is going right over worn out torn reinforcement. If the reinforcement is this bad that means the webbing is bad. These are the stages taht are impossible to do. Sorry for not pointing this out sooner.

This is what you get when you task your top to a local shop. They would put a vinyl skin over worn out torn material. This top will never seal properly have wind and water leaks. I am afraid it has all been a waste of money and effort.

80% of all tops I see look like this all worn out.

My suggestion, try to save the price of the vinyl and remove as soon as possible before glue sets.

Vmarch · 12-08-2009, 10:29 PM

something does not look right on the front seal corner. Get a new one and line it up before gluing it. There are reproduction seals out there made to the old design that do not need trimming. The front ends of the side seals should fit into the corners of the front seal. Are the side seals Porsche products? If so don't start cutting into the seals. Remember you are dealing with new rubber that is harder than the old stuff you removed. The front ball sections should be glued and prior to attaching try to push that ball like feature back as far as you can, hold it and use a paper clamp with pieces of masonite so as not to damage the cover and interior.

The rear Targa bar seal needs to be lowered to meet the edge of the rear of the side seal. Don't cut into the rear seal in the area where the side seal is supposed to fit into the vertical section. If you have no room to adjust the rear seal, then you may need to trim a little from the rear of the side seal. The side seals can be adjusted inboard or outboard to meet the glass.

There is a Porsche Targa Top workshop supplement out there. It is recommended to replace all seals when replacing the side seals. If not you may need to keep making adjustments. Remember Porsche is the ultimate adjustment machine.

I went through numerous hours with this on my 79 911SC until it all lined up. It is a pain, but now all four corners are tight and quiet plus I can drive on the freeway at 65 and hear my 30 year old Blaupunkt without the wind rushing the corners.

carsinc · 12-09-2009, 06:33 AM

Someone figured it out, that is great.

Vmarch · 12-10-2009, 07:14 PM

I was bored and look over this thread again and noticed that the front sections of your side seal are not lined up with the small vinyl covered piece. This requires the strong 3m super weatherstrip glue and clamping back so the side of the front side seal lines up adjacent to the trim guide. If not your corners will ride high.