Targa side window seals wearing out

[OsoMoore]

The seal along the back side of the windows on my targa has been wearing out, and now is pretty frayed. I know I can buy the whole seal, which goes from the bottom of one door over the top to the bottom of the other, but its pretty expensive. Has anyone re-covered the seal when the cloth outer layer frays off, leaving just the rubber/foam under layer?

[GothingNC]

I have read that you can replace the fabric with a similar type of cloth fabric.
Just paint it with fabric paint from a hobby shop after the glue dries.

The cloth is needed to prevent the window motor from burning out.

[DRACO A5OG]

I am curious as to which fabric and type of adhesive you can use.

[Chuck.H]

Hi Lillie -

When I got my Targa in 1993, those window seals had already worn out, and looked terrible. The place I got my car from called a local upholsery shop and they drove out and sewed a new 'sock' to fit around the window seal. They had to pull up the glue, wrap the sock around it, and glue it back down. I was impressed, it made the window seal look new again.

As I mentioned in my other thread, WHY this seal and the front/rear Targa top parts would wear out so fast was beyond me - nothing else on the car was sun-damaged in any way...

But to answer your question, yes it can be done. Just have to find the right material.

If we buy new rear Targa seals, are they fabric covered where the window part is???

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 340k miles

[Peter Zimmermann]

Pete's Auto Top at Pico & La Cienega in Los Angeles developed, many years ago, a system to recover those seals. 310-271-5550. Pete will be glad to help, or you can send your seals to him for repair.

[John1180]

I have a pair of nice front A pillar seals and the top of the windscreen seal for a 69 targa for $35 shipped jmschneeman@msn.com

[911Freak]

Originally Posted by Peter Zimmermann

Pete's Auto Top at Pico & La Cienega in Los Angeles developed, many years ago, a system to recover those seals. 310-271-5550. Pete will be glad to help, or you can send your seals to him for repair.

Thanks for the local info Pete!
I have the same issue with these seals, I removed the worn out and torn fabric and was looking for a replacement solution.

Years ago I overheard a Targa owner describing how he had used adhesive backed surgical cloth (tape?) to replace the fabric on these seals. He described the process of cleaning the rubber with an alcohol swath to clean and prep the rubber, then carefully applied the cloth tape, trim the edges while tucking in the edges around the back edge where the rubber seal meets the Targa bar. He either used liquid dye or paint (can't remember specific product, it actually looked dark gray or off black) to make the cloth tape blackish. Not sure if he tinted the cloth tape before or after application. I think he got the dye/paint and possibly the cloth tape from a hobby shop like Michaels here in CA.

The cloth he used was a very thick fine mesh, not like the course cloth medical tape found in most home first aid kits, I checked

I dont live in that area anymore so cant track him down at an event, but I wonder how it held up?!

[daepp]

Autobahn Interiors in North San Diego did mine very well and for a very reasonable price!

[DRACO A5OG]

Thanks Doc Z

[69-912-swt]

Mine were worst than the ones shown here. First I removed the rubber pieces from the car, mine were only held in place by a little glue. Then I removed the old cloth from the rubber, cleaned up all the old glue and fabric. Used some black spray paint made for plastic to seal up the cracks and holes in the old rubber, Then I used some 2" wide gaffers tape long ways over the rubber just as the spray paint was almost dry, still tacky to the touch. Then cut the tape tops and bottoms to fit the ends of the rubber strips. Then I used a small amount of 3M glue to put hem back in their grooves and shut the door to holds them in place.

This cost me part of a roll of gaffers tape @ $10 and some time. I did this a year ago and my Targa sits out side with a car cover over it and only problem i have is that I get a small amount of adhesive on the glass at times. Since the seals are 1' long and a roll of Gaffers tape is 60yds I have enough tape to re-due this job yearly if needed for more than the next century. I wish i had taken photos of the process, but didn't think it would work as well as it did !! I can get some photos of it now a year later, if anyone would like to see the after.

[DRACO A5OG]

Yes, please post a pics :-)

[frankc]

I replaced the cloth on mine using a black muslin fabric and upholstery adhesive about 25 years ago and it still looks good, but then my car doesn't get out much . I can post pics of how it looks currently if you are interested.

[SCrescue]

FWIW, I stripped the cloth off of the original driver's side seal on my '84 to test how the window slides against the bare rubber. The power window still goes up and down at the same rate of speed, so I plan on removing the abraded cloth from the other seal as well. I'd guess the age of the rubber probably renders it less "grabby"...

Mike...