Custom Targa Brace--Effective?

[Cummings74]

What do you think? Will this do anything to take a bit of the floppiness out of my Targa?
It's mounted to the seat belt anchor points. I know it feels like it added 2-5 horsepower.

[Brando]

The part that needs the most reinforcement on targas and cabriolets is along the longitudinals. Think of a Targa's chassis as a box on the front, a box on the back, and a wide plank along the bottom connecting the two. If possible have a length on each side go from the top seat belt mount down to the bottom seat belt mount on the longitudinal. That should reduce the "floppiness" you are experiencing.

[DRACO A5OG]

The targa body brace will do better in keeping the infamous "targe flex" down.

The best method is to rig a brace along the door well basically tie the front and back portion of chassis together. Sorry to say your custom design will do very little to help the flex.

[teenerted1]

i dont see how that will help with the TWIST that targas and cabs have.


you need to tie in the section between the a pillars and the b pillars together like a ROOF does.

[Cummings74]

Bit of a buzz-kill--but good information. FWIW, I'm also installing some braces along the doors. Brando--by longitudinal, do you mean connecting the front shoulder seat belt anchor points to the outside rear lap belt anchor points, or connecting the front bolts as the 'targa brace' does? I'm not clear on how either would help (but i also made this thing).
Also, any thoughts on the 935-style X cross in the trunk? Triangle brace?

[boba]

If you wish to seriously address the chassis flex in a Targa or a Cab it can be done, but not for the faint of heart. I do not think any bolt in quick fix will make a long term improvement. Think in term of the shear strength of the bolt as the most likely weak point.

Here was my solution for an open car. More that you may be looking for but flex very low and torsional rigidity is much improved.









The halo bar is tied into the front shock towers and the main hoop is tied into the rear shock towers.

[gumba]

You need to tie into the bottom of the A pillars to get the flex out, ie pretty much a full cage. Not sure what you mean by floppyness, are you going to track it.

[Cummings74]

Awesome. I've not seen this halo solution before. But why didn't you just go with a full cage? Are you driving it on the street?

[boba]

Did not go with a cage as it is intended to be street driven and primarily because I do not think a cage would look good in a speedster. Part of the design thought for the halo bar was the desire for side impact protection with CF doors.

[AFCuk]

Same as for the side protection,
But takes the spring out,
No gaps open (doors) when lifted, and no noise,rattle like before






Paul

[snbush67]

Originally Posted by boba

If you wish to seriously address the chassis flex in a Targa or a Cab it can be done, but not for the faint of heart. I do not think any bolt in quick fix will make a long term improvement. Think in term of the shear strength of the bolt as the most likely weak point.

Here was my solution for an open car. More that you may be looking for but flex very low and torsional rigidity is much improved.
The halo bar is tied into the front shock towers and the main hoop is tied into the rear shock towers.

...all that and no cup holder ???

[boba]

Originally Posted by snbush67

...all that and no cup holder ???

Sometime the budget just doesn't have room for everything.

[empire0007]

I have a cab, that i track and street it and i was thinking about the same thing. I would like to hear from you and see what the difference was after you did it?