Picture of PROPERLY installed front targa seal please.

[davis911s]

For all you Targa owners out there who's tops don't leak. I would love to see pictures of the front seal.

My top sits too high on the frame. Whn my top is off the seal is level to the top of the windshield frame, this causes the top to be too high.

I would like to see how high yours sits and also pics of the corners too.

Shawn and all the other "leaky" targa owners

[Jdub]

Shawn:

What year is your car? Does the latch handle come around easily or does it firmly latch the top down? These are adjustable (shims on the earlier models, rollers on the later ones).

The high corners is pretty common where the "wrong" seal has been used. I'm sure you've read Targa Dan's article on how early seals are no longer available. In all events, you would need to pull the seal and perfom a trim on the corners.

On another note, I re-siliconed my seals and they once again are providing a squeak-free ride for me. I have recovered my top and headliner, put new covers on the rear pins, and new pins on the front. This semi-rebuild, along with silicone grease, has made my car very quiet.

For the seals, I grab an old sock and dose it heavily with Armor All (yeah, I know...). The AA is used to only clean out the seals, under the seal, in the channel, everywhere I can get to. Once the dirt and junk is out, I wipe on a thin layer of silicone grease, which I keep around for brake work, etc. This quiets the top-to-seal and the seal-to-body sounds. The grease also goes into the four holes into which the pins locate.

Worth a few hours of work. Really the best start is a rebuilt top that has been stretched TIGHT and fits snugly.

Jw

[davis911s]

Jdub thanks for the reply, sorry I left so much out too.

It is a 77. Yes I have Dan Petchels letter. I am thinking my whole seal is too high.

The top was rebuilt by a guy here in Canada, not the best but pretty good.

I have measured the dimensions of the top and the car, they were a little off, I sent them to Dan Petchel. He said they are not too bad.

As for the latches they are tight fitting, almost a bit forceful to get them on.

I will try your armour all trick, how often do you do this?

I am just wondering how high your seal sits when the top is off. I have to trim but don't want to trim too much!

Thanks again
Shawn

[Jdub]

Shawn:

Hard to tell how high the front seal is as it is old, and worn, and pretty compliant. I really wonder how much we need to figure in eventual wearin versus not wanting to cut too much off and find ourselves down the road with a seal that is too low!

In all events, my seal is about 1/4 inch high of the windshield uppermost section, (i.e. directly in front of seal). The "Y" shape of the front seal, pointing up, is the height I am using here.

One thing that will cause problems is if the front seam was glued in such that it points directly down. This is because it forces the top up, as well as causes a bubble directly behind the low-seam area). A 45degree angle is ideal, a bit less more desireable but over time the seam always rises, especially where the user has folded the top many times and thus loosened the seam as a whole. Ever notice how the part that sticks up is always at the unsupported section where the internal pans are absent?

Jw