Mike, I wouldn't rule that out, but I'd like to get through the next couple of phases first.

I may consider bonding an individual's frame to a skin in-house.

We'll see.

--todd

Subbed. Definitely hopeful that the later latch style will be supported!!

we made little progress today, busy laying up carbon corvette qtr's for one of the grand am teams.

The pic below is of us creating the "upright" section of the rain gutter.

This will be trimmed and bonded to the roof skin seen in the previous post and more shaping will continue.

It's a layer of easy curve cardboard sandwiched between 2 layers of fiberglass then vac bagged. A quick way to make something solid, flexible and easy to shape.

More to come,

-todd

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359513122.jpg

You mean like this one?
Pelican Parts - Product Information: JM-PRO-T1

Or direct from MFG, looks like they are doing CF too!
http://www.kaminari.com/catalog/39

Joe, your Targa is way cool. I guess that I missed that you have a factory hardtop.

okay I give, how much are we talking here? hope it ain't no crazy price like that nut in Denmark or somewhere in Europa.

Jim

Hugh,

If you are interested, will keep my eyes out for one for you. Last I heard Dan at Targa tops in NJ had a couple but that was six months ago.

It really changes the car and love it.

Joe

Todd,

Here are some photos of the latch!

Joe

Loose from the back
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359523452.jpg

Stowed
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359523530.jpg

Loose
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359523611.jpg

Note the later model Targa's do not have the opening for this latch (believe its 1984 and newer) and I had to cut the hole with a dremel then fasten the "latch plates" to the windshield frame to make the top work. Not difficult but not for the faint of heart either.

pricing is not a concern at this point. it's more important to develop a quality product before thinking about selling them.

I'm in! Please send info on the hardtop for my 77, would love it in white but I may vinyl wrap it so it really doesn't matter the color.

Joe, wheres the love brother! I would love a lead on an extra frame!

Subscribed. I've held off on an 86 Targa because of the possible issues with the top. Now that there alternatives, I'm going to look into it again!!

there is no info to send. this is a thread about the development of a potential product.

Can I get mine w/monogrammed Alcantara headliner and custom SS drink holders dangling in the middle? :D

Hmm, thought that was NLA. I read some less than inspiring reports about that piece some time ago and decided it wasn't worth what they're asking for it. Hoping Todd can provide a better quality item for a more reasonable cost...;)

Interesting contrast in price between the two sites...:rolleyes:

True True, let's see how it turns out.

Please add me as a Beta Tester :D

Especially when that cost must include a serviceable frame to mount it on. I am very much hoping to see a solution that doesn't require me to cannibalize my perfectly good folding top - or find a spare frame which costs more than the fiberglass/carbon panel itself.

It would be awesome if someone could develop a mounting system that adapt to or work with all of the various latch designs Porsche used over the years. Bolting through the alignment pin holes is kind of shade tree for me, and it doesn't give me the same easy on/off of the OEM roof.

I have a JM-PRO top on my car. I think it was the 4th one made. :D It's acceptable--seals about as well as a factory folding top. On my car, anyway. :D

That said, I would prefer an integral unit like the one under development here. I have to believe it would be lighter, at the very least. Plus the gutters look to be an improvement over having to re-use factory gutters with the JM-PRO.

Draco, et all,

There have been a few questions and comments about cost, options, etc. both public and private.

Let me say, we're a ways away from establishing pricing.

We're still developing this top and and it's mounting scheme while trying to establish how we can provide a quality product that fits as many years as possible.

Add to that developing a real quality surface that seals well to the vehicle and provides for rain run-off without adding extra parts to the mix and you can see we have a little ways to go.

Rest assured, it's not our intention to "soak" anyone but to provide a product of greater quality than has previously been offered and ask a price of admission that is fair for that level of quality.

--Todd

you certainly can but we will only be supplying the top :) the rest is up to you.

i'd be happy to google an interior guy in your neck of the woods to install the rest of the items or you can have my guy do it for you but shipping is going to kill you in the end (cost to ship it to me, my outrageous transportation fee to the upholstery guy, his cost for the materials and install, another outrageous fee to pick it up and drop it off at the post office, shipping costs from me to you).

alternatively you could just tell everyone it came that way and you removed the parts. much cheaper...

It needs a battery operated LED dome light.;)

A directable map reading light would be nice too.:D

Mike,

What are you looking for? An extra Targa soft top frame?

Might know where one of those are... in fact might know where two of those are! :)

Joe A

Aaron,

You need to get together and see my factory top sometime. Great bit of difference between the two tops.

Will be at "Cars and Coffee" this Saturday in Snottsdale. Drop by if you can...

Joe A

You guys are killin me with the led lights and the alcantara linings, etc. :)

We're still developing the surface and trying to decide on a mounting scheme but it looks like we will be able to develop an inner frame that supports multiple vintages.

While we continue to make some progress, please enjoy the following pics of a proper rain gutter being developed.
I took the wide, fat ledge that was shown in my previous post and refined it into something that I think looks the part. More development to come.

btw, don't worry about the sags in the fairing compound, it sands like butter....

Thanks,

--toddhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685023.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685052.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685071.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685096.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685118.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685139.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359685179.jpg

Subscribed

As a data point, my '77 does not have the openings for that style of latch. IIRC, I thought the factory stopped offering hardtops as an option with the advent of power brakes (1977) - this being due to the non-folding tops no longer fitting in the trunk (booster/master cylinder gets in the way). Can somebody with a '76 check if the hardtop style latch openings are present?

for those who were asking here is a shot of the rain gutters bonded before the fairing compound was applied.


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../IMG_0288.jpeg

My '78 had the slots for the escutcheons and for the screw spring clips I had to insert to hold the escutcheons in the windshield frame header. You can feel them under the vinyl.
Here's a few documents that the OP may like to see for Factory hardtop info.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/7067557-post105.html

I just went out in the garage to check and yep, I can feel that the square holes for the latches are there in the upper windshield frame under the vinyl, so I would just need the escutcheons to frame the holes and I'd be all set.

I assume the circular holes on top of the windshield frame to receive the pins in the front corners of the top are common for the folding and hard top (#6 in the diagram link that Dennis posted)?

Holes are common to both styles. You also need 4 spring clips for the screws that hold the escutcheon in place and the screws too.

the top we are working with used the guide holes to mount. it had a swivel female inside the top to allow for adjustment and a long bolt that came up from inside the car, on the bottom of the windshield frame. the guides run through the frame so the vinyl just had to have a small cut out to allow the bolt to pass through. when tightened properly that top wasn't going anywhere, and had routinely gone over 120 without problems. this is one possible mounting idea we are kicking around but nothing is certain just yet. we would much rather have some form of a factory connector if possible.

Good illustration! Anyone doing a factory hard top, this illustration will help a lot. Wish I had it when I put mine together!

So based on the last few posts,

all years could use the latches from the factory hard top by opening the vinyl and adding the escutcheons in the years needed?

You do not need to mess with the vinyl. I just put a cutting wheel on the Dremel and using the escutcheons as a pattern, opened up a hole. You just have to be careful.

As my car had the cut outs in the frame I just cut the vinyl for the escutcheon with an exacto blade. I had to pull the vinyl out a little to slide the spring clips in place on both sides of the hole.

My '76 had no vinyl over the factory hardtop mounting holes; so based on the previous post the vinyl covering must indeed have begun in '77 with the addition of the power brake booster in the trunk. When I installed the required escutcheon (purchased from Targa Dan) over each hole I had no knowledge of the spring clips for the small screws, so I used small nuts and washers....working through the hole. Good luck with that!

Howard,

So just for clarification, are you saying that the square holes were cut in the vinyl exposing the opening for the latch, but there were no escutcheons in place?

For reference, here is what the frame looks like on my '77:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360037985.jpg

Howard,

I used the sheetmetal screws that came with the factory plate and just drilled the holes to match the thread size. Still tight after a year so must work fine...

Your '77 frame looks just like my '78 did. if you run your fingers on the vinyl towards the doors from the targa latch locations you will feel a hole behind it on both sides.
Here are the pictures from my link earlier to give you an idea of where they are.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360045294.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360045311.jpg

Dennis,

Yes, I posted earlier that I verified the square holes are there for the latch, I would just need the escutcheons to "make it right".

Do you know if the cars with the hard top and no holes in the top trim pieces (as in your photo) actually had the holes on the topside under the trim to accommodate the folding top (with replacement of the appropriate trim pieces)?

frankc,
I don't know the answer to your question. I assumed the photo just didn't show the holes for the folding top as they are further to the left on that side compared to the driver side.

From what I understand, all the Targa's had the holes for the soft top latching system. They as well from 1974 to 1983 had the holes in the windshield frame for the hard top latches. After 1983 or so we get to cut the holes manually.

Joe A