Targa Bar Seal Installation

SAYD · 03-18-2004, 01:44 PM

The Targa Bar Seal I ordered has arrived. I've reveiwed prior posts and have a good handle on what I need to to install it but before I start ripping out the old seal.....

* Can anyone confirm that nothing needs to be removed before taking off the old seal?
* Is there an easy way to remove the old plastic rivets that hold the seal to the Targa bar?

Thanks.....

Kirk Hawes · Kirk Hawes's Garage

I would like to know the answer to this question also. Anybody have an answer?

Zendalar · 03-18-2004, 11:13 PM

As I recall, my plastic rivets were attached in a way that they could be removed by rotating those counter-clockwise. Nothing else held mine except the glue.

AirCooledExcellence · AirCooledExcellence's Garage

I got replacement rivets when I did mine could not get the old ones out without breaking them.

Cheers,

Tim.

VaSteve · 03-19-2004, 04:49 AM

Would you mind taking photos of while doing it and putting together a tech bulletin? I need to do this on mine, but it's a ways down the list.

Thanks!

SAYD · 03-20-2004, 10:19 AM

I just finished putting in my new seal. It took about 90 minutes and was very simple. I started to take some pictures as VaSteve asked but there really weren't any worth taking. The steps I took were....

1) Remove old seal. While pulling the old seal out, the plastic rivets pulled right out with it. I did have to take an exacto knife and cut the end of the old seal where it was clued to the door seal.
2) Clean channel. I took a small flat head screwdriver and carefully removed the old silicone adheasive as well as some old seal material that was in the channel. I then vacumned the channel.
3) Test fitted seal. I placed the seal in the channel to test the fit. I wanted to ensure that I would match up with the door seal and also determine how tight it would fit in the channel.
4) Installed Seal. I started by putting down a thin bead of black silicone adheasive in the channel. I then fitted the middle hole in drivers side curve of the new seal over the peg slot. This is a tight fit but wasn't really difficult. Once this was done, I ran the seal into the channel down the drivers side. Then along the top to the passenger side curve. Again fitted middle hole over the peg slot and continued down to the door.
5) Once the seal was in, I kept pressing into the channel while the adheasive set. (about 15 min) This kept everything tight and secure. I also reglued the targa seal back to the door seal.
6) Next step was to insert the plastic rivets and tap into place with a rubber mallet. The rivet caps were then inserted.
7) I let everything sit for 2 hours and then put my top back in. It was a tighter fit than before but everything matched up nicely.

Hope this helps when your ready to do yours.

VaSteve · 03-21-2004, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the steps. One day I will get to mine.

Markus33 · 03-21-2004, 01:32 PM

SAYD,

Have you noticed less rattling noise from the Targa top when driving with it in place (if it was noisy before)? Since the new seal makes for a tighter fit, I'm wondering if this could solve my top noise.

Regards,

Markus

SAYD · 03-21-2004, 02:58 PM

I never had any real road noise or rattle before. My old seal still gave me a tight fit without leaks or wind. I replaced strickly for cosmetics. The old one was gray and the fabric covering the rubber along the window glass had disintigrated. The Pelican seal was a perfect fit so if your top is adjusted well, the seal should help. While the old seal was on, my top slid easily into place. With the new seal, I have to push the back pins in and then press each front corner down while I latch.

Matt-Man · 03-21-2004, 03:51 PM

One thing I might add is to use weatherstrip adhesive like 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive in black. When using it, apply in the channel then work the seal in place to coat both surfaces and then remove the seal. Let the glue tack off for 10 minutes or so then put the seal in the channel. Be aware that when using this correct method, the seal will stick on contact very solid so you want to get it placed right the first time. The nice thing is that you don't have the seal moving all around as you try to keep it in place while the glue dries...

Matt

aways · 01-25-2010, 06:42 PM

I was going to replace the top seal on my '87 Targa a few years back but never got around to it. This old thread gives a description of the process, but I'd sure feel more comfortable replacing mine if I had a description that included a few pictures. I'm hoping that someone has done this job recently and would be kind enough to post some pictures of the process if they have them available. Thanks for any pics and/or advice.