Pelican Parts Forums - Targa top reconditioning questions

John:

The Targa top is a sandwich. Topmost, you have the German or American vinyl. Next, the foam, usually set to a webbing of some sort (Original Fit Interiors) or possibly by itself. Next, the "burlap" and straps that hold the separate metal plates that are set far enough apart for you to be able to fold the top. Never, ever take the burlap off unless you personally have a jig to reset the plates.

Your top may have been redone, somewhat incorrectly, and you are looking at the results. To answer your questions, yes, you need the foam; go to your local upholstery shop and buy some decent, semi-firm foam (not the thin porous stuff).

As to the headliner, if you haven't already purchase a double headliner, return the one you have and do so. And yes, you do tuck it under and glue it. Also, did you notice the two metal pieces at each side of the top under/around which your headliner should go?

Other notes: Buy many, many binder clips of 1/2 to 2" size to hold the material to the plates as you form the material to the top. Start gluing at the front center, ensuring that the front lip of your top is pulled down at a 45degree angle and no more. Why? Well, when you put the top back on the car, you DO NOT want the lip to sit horizontal and so catch the wind (over time, it will slowly rise up, so you want to put off the inevitable). At the same time, if you pull that front lip down past 45degrees, you will put the top on and the front seal/metal will push the lip back up, causing a nice ripple just aft of the lip proper.

Buy new pin covers for the back. To install them, take a 1/16" drill and drill a hole at the very top of the pin cover: this lets the air that is trapped as you push the pin cover on the pin escape. Use hair spray to get the pins to slide on, the hairspray will set up later and hold the pin on. Buy new pins for the front and install them now, while you have access. These pins can be very, very rusted in: SLOWLY move the old pins back and forth in their threaded bases with alot of penetrating fluid until they start to ease out (13mm open end?).

Buy glue from local upholstery shop by bringing a small jar or better yet metal container with snug cap (the stuff is volatile) into which they can pour some from their 5 gallon cans. Use discardable paint brushes of 1/2" to apply the glue.

Do put the foam between the rain gutters and the top. Repaint the gutters now. General sequence is (with top very, very warm if not hot in the sun) front center glue, rear center clip, stretch (I mean STRETCH IT!!) at front, gluing from center to left, then right, then left, then right again. Let this all dry for 24 hours. Unclip rear, tighten like a b#$tard, glue it. Again move left, right, left, then right again. As you have been gluing the front and rears, you have been pulling the top tighter towards each side, clipping the sides with your binder clips to hold the tension and mold the top to its final form.

Personally, I would like to have done this on someone else's top prior to my own. I learned SO MUCH doing this and want you to avoid my mistakes. What were they? Letting the front lip get beyond the 45degree angle, and thus having a bubble on one area, sigh. On the other hand, it looks SO GOOD and the price is really pretty cheap to do this.

Good luck! Use my email (johnw@wrq.com) if you have any questions.

Jw