Composite Targa Top Development

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

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

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.

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

[toddc]

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,

--todd

[Targa4now]

Subscribed

[frankc]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

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..

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?

[nineball]

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

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by frankc

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?

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.
Finally, back in the game!

[frankc]

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)?

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by frankc

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.

[nineball]

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.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by timmy2

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.
Finally, back in the game!

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

[toddc]

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?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by toddc

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.

[timmy2]

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.

[Howard M]

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!

[frankc]

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:

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Howard M

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,

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...

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by frankc

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:

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.

[frankc]

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)?

[timmy2]

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.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by frankc

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)?

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