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-   -   Composite Targa Top Development (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/730503-composite-targa-top-development.html)

rokemester 07-06-2015 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddc (Post 8698842)
Hi All,
Thanks Charles for waking the thread back up.

Cody is not going to be returning. His road to recovery has led to a variety of other issues. In the grand scheme of things, he is doing well, but not fully functional and I doubt that he will be.

Meanwhile, I have been eeking out tops as I can, there are a few out there now, but the going has been slow based on being a one man shop and playing catch-up.

I've tried a couple of replacement techs but as they say, good help is hard to find.

Long and short, down but not out, making parts as I can, trying to catch a break and get back to the new normal.

Best,

Thanks for keeping us posted! Targa lovers everywhere are watching this space closely and wishing you well. Someone said it earlier but we really appreciate your ingenuity and craftsmanship focused on our cars.

Mike

toddc 07-06-2015 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokemester (Post 8698864)
Thanks for keeping us posted! Targa lovers everywhere are watching this space closely and wishing you well. Someone said it earlier but we really appreciate your ingenuity and craftsmanship focused on our cars.

Mike

Thanks Mike

cdagnolo 07-08-2015 12:43 PM

Todd, Sorry to hear about your struggles and of course about the injured tech. Godspeed to his recovery, and yours! Have you tried to solicit help somehow thru this PP community? There are allot of good folks on here but, to take it a step further, allot of good folks here, know allot of other good folks. I don't know if there is a mechanism for doing that but, I recommend you pursue it with one of the moderators or something along those lines. The right guys are out there somewhere, it's just connecting with them that is the key. Good luck on all fronts. I look forward to continued 'recovery' :-)

Chris
82 Targa track rat

toddc 07-08-2015 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdagnolo (Post 8702140)
Todd, Sorry to hear about your struggles and of course about the injured tech. Godspeed to his recovery, and yours! Have you tried to solicit help somehow thru this PP community? There are allot of good folks on here but, to take it a step further, allot of good folks here, know allot of other good folks. I don't know if there is a mechanism for doing that but, I recommend you pursue it with one of the moderators or something along those lines. The right guys are out there somewhere, it's just connecting with them that is the key. Good luck on all fronts. I look forward to continued 'recovery' :-)

Chris
82 Targa track rat

Thanks Chris, I appreciate the sentiment and the genuine concern. I have not reached out to the PP community as perhaps I should have.
As PP is only a percentage of my business, I've reached out to my contract manufacturing network instead. Perhaps a decision that should be re-thought.
What I have found within my network is that good help is hard to find.
Having given a couple young men a chance only to discover that basic mechanical ability does not equal teach-ability makes me think that the individual who really "gets" composites is rare.

vulcan300 07-27-2015 07:25 PM

The engineering or automotive departments at your local community college or university might be a good place to look for the kind of individual that would be eager to learn the craft. I would honestly love to learn how to work with CF but I'm located a little far and have my own very different business to run. Good luck finding the help you need! I'm still hoping to get my hands on a CF targa top for my roller latch '86 911 Targa. A CF top for my Ferrari 308 GTSi would be awesome as well if you ever decide to add one to your line-up of products.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddc (Post 8702268)
Thanks Chris, I appreciate the sentiment and the genuine concern. I have not reached out to the PP community as perhaps I should have.
As PP is only a percentage of my business, I've reached out to my contract manufacturing network instead. Perhaps a decision that should be re-thought.
What I have found within my network is that good help is hard to find.
Having given a couple young men a chance only to discover that basic mechanical ability does not equal teach-ability makes me think that the individual who really "gets" composites is rare.


toddc 08-04-2015 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targamaniac (Post 8728688)
The engineering or automotive departments at your local community college or university might be a good place to look for the kind of individual that would be eager to learn the craft. I would honestly love to learn how to work with CF but I'm located a little far and have my own very different business to run. Good luck finding the help you need! I'm still hoping to get my hands on a CF targa top for my roller latch '86 911 Targa. A CF top for my Ferrari 308 GTSi would be awesome as well if you ever decide to add one to your line-up of products.


Interesting thought about local colleges, thanks for the tip!

Also, speaking of school, some of you may remember that Corey left to go back to school at the end of last year. Happy to report that he came back part time while his school schedule evolves. Happy he's back, happy I don't have to train him.

Already noticing an improvement in production.

Keeping at it!

group911@aol.co 08-04-2015 12:42 PM

Todd

Did you get my email?

toddc 08-04-2015 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co (Post 8739469)
Todd

Did you get my email?

Yep, just replied.

It's been a long couple of weeks. I'm catching up on missed communications today.

gtc 08-04-2015 01:12 PM

Kettering University in Flint probably has a lot of Engineering co-op students looking for work. They have (or had, when I was there) a Formula SAE program, so there are probably some with composites experience already.
The school does require that the internships be paid.

toddc 08-04-2015 01:43 PM

Thanks for the tip Graham! I actually know someone from kettering in the automotive community.

Dpmulvan 08-04-2015 03:34 PM

This sounds very interesting I would definitely purchase a targa top if it ever comes together.

beren 08-04-2015 06:46 PM

Ann Arbor! Tons of engineering students.

toddc 08-11-2015 02:49 PM

back up to speed, Corey here PT, Hired an intern from a local school, both getting up to speed quickly. Here are pics of the a couple tops getting finished. One is a carbon clear top with FG primered frame, other is a full carbon, full primer. Both will be available after finishing work is completed in a couple of days.

Best,
Toddc

fintstone 08-12-2015 04:06 AM

Great news! Don't see any photos though.

bugstrider 10-17-2015 10:06 AM

Bump for details.....

Status, photos, availability and projected prices.

Cheers


Sent via Jedi-Kung-Fu-Panda mind trick by the cat

Charles Freeborn 10-17-2015 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddc (Post 8698842)
Hi All,
Thanks Charles for waking the thread back up.

Cody is not going to be returning. His road to recovery has led to a variety of other issues. In the grand scheme of things, he is doing well, but not fully functional and I doubt that he will be.

Meanwhile, I have been eeking out tops as I can, there are a few out there now, but the going has been slow based on being a one man shop and playing catch-up.

I've tried a couple of replacement techs but as they say, good help is hard to find.

Long and short, down but not out, making parts as I can, trying to catch a break and get back to the new normal.

Best,

Sorry to heard Cody is still struggling. It's hard to regain one's former self sometimes...
I'm still in the hunt for a top one day. A few other needs ahead of it, but not forgotten by any means....
Cheers,
-C

universeman 10-27-2015 01:44 PM

Hey - any updates or recent progress on this project?

toddc 10-27-2015 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by universeman (Post 8853400)
Hey - any updates or recent progress on this project?


Hi Jason,

plenty of progress,

J-hooks tops are still available, roller latch top back orders are close to being filled. I've had a few issues with fitment that needed to be resolved with tooling modifications.
I'll update the thread again once I have some pics of in stock parts to share.
Meanwhile feel free to contact me directly.

Thanks,

Toddc

911 sc 09-07-2016 08:40 AM

Hope you are well reviving an old thread

Are you making one to fit the 86-89 carrera cars?
Thanks

toddc 09-07-2016 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911 sc (Post 9271644)
Hope you are well reviving an old thread

Are you making one to fit the 86-89 carrera cars?
Thanks

Thank you,

we are making the roller latch tops however have had some fitment issues that delayed shipping. I expect we'll have back orders filled soon and then open it up to production.

Regards,

Dr. Dynamics 09-07-2016 10:06 AM

any pics with it installed?

toddc 09-07-2016 10:24 AM

soon, very soon.

bigel 09-08-2016 09:30 AM

Excuse me if this has already been posted...I scanned through multiple pages of the thread, but didn't see a price.

How much will these be selling for once you get the assembly line cranking them out?????

nineball 09-08-2016 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigel (Post 9273165)
Excuse me if this has already been posted...I scanned through multiple pages of the thread, but didn't see a price.

How much will these be selling for once you get the assembly line cranking them out?????


911 | Helion Composites

911 sc 09-09-2016 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddc (Post 9271650)
Thank you,

we are making the roller latch tops however have had some fitment issues that delayed shipping. I expect we'll have back orders filled soon and then open it up to production.

Regards,

Awsome I'll check back

911tracker85 09-10-2016 05:54 AM

I had something that was call 'spare top'. rough fiberglass and simple bolts to hold in place. if I recall $500.

used it on my 85 targa when running at DE. they once black flagged me as my stock top was buldging up (or bubbling) at high speed and they thought it was about to come off.

but when retiring my targa from DE, sold it. I do not think that guy makes them anymore.

I also recall seeing some company in UK making targa tops. looked nice buy very pricy.

bugstrider 08-19-2017 08:41 AM

Bump for any uodates


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toddc 08-19-2017 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugstrider (Post 9706303)
Bump for any uodates


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Roller latches tops are in production.

kyle h 10-22-2018 04:36 AM

Todd, might have misted it scanning 20 pages, but any hope of one of these for a '72 911?

carsinc 06-25-2020 12:06 PM

Targa hard top
 
I have a few hard top latch Handles made with CC machine. You will also need Rosette reinforcement pieces which have

toddc 06-27-2020 11:24 AM

Hi Everyone, been away a long time. Still clearing up the last remaining bits leftover from closing in the fall of 2018.
Have since moved on to other employment but am getting back into doing the occasional request as time allows.
Roller tops are not available, Too many issues with fitment differences between them and J-Hook tops.

J-hook tops can be made available on a very limited basis. I still have my tools and the space.

Be well,

Todd

Targa4now 06-27-2020 11:31 AM

I would welcome a pm regarding delivery date and cost of a j hook top for my 911SC.

Thanks

toddc 06-27-2020 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targa4now (Post 10924309)
I would welcome a pm regarding delivery date and cost of a j hook top for my 911SC.

Thanks


PM Sent

carsinc 06-27-2020 02:31 PM

Hook latch top
 
I have a Saratoga hardtop. $1500

dose 10-13-2021 03:37 PM

Also interested in one of the full CF tops for a 78 SC Targa, sent you a PM.

dose 10-16-2021 11:42 AM

If anyone has current contact info for Todd, it would be appreciated!

BeegeeGT 11-22-2021 11:22 PM

I'm also interested in a Targa Top if you are still making the odd one.

carsinc 11-23-2021 12:21 PM

Targa Top
 
Yes I still make Targa tops for all years, factory style.
Targadan

bugstrider 07-29-2024 08:03 AM

Bump for updates on this venture


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bugstrider 07-29-2024 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dose (Post 11484754)
Also interested in one of the full CF tops for a 78 SC Targa, sent you a PM.


Did you have any luck finding anything?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


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