Targa bar front seal adhesive application

[jeffbottman]

Well, my front targa bar seal, not in great shape, broke when I removed it during my targa bar cover re-paint project. So, I paid the ridiculouts $$$ for a new one.

I'm armed with a tube of 3M 08008 weatherstrip adhesive, and badly don't want to screw up the install. Does anyone have tips / tricks of the trade for improving my chances of success?

Thanks for any tips.

[nineball]

make sure you clean out all the old glue and rubber. the cleaner the surface the better the results. you can scrape it out with a plastic trim tool or something similar, and/or use citristrip available at any home improvement place.

start in the middle and work out to one side until it starts to curve down. put your top back on and let it sit for 30 mins. repeat with the other side. then do each vertical part only close the door to hold it in place.

[gazzerr]

I'd like to do this at some point. Is there any trimming required?

[SoCal911SC]

Watch this video and follow his procedure. I did on my front targa seal and it worked beautifully.

How to glue auto weatherstrip the right way - YouTube

Let us know how it turns out.


-Matt

[Adrian M]

I did both recently. Nineball has in spot on.. Slow and easy wins the race.. test fit, and when you are ready to go start from the middle and work your way out..

[Adrian M]

Good video demo SoCal!

[Adrian M]

gazzer,

I bought both from pelican and they fit perfectly with no trimming. The ends have "nibs" that line up perfectly with and slide into the door seals so test fit before applying cement..

I suggest if you are doing the roof seals that you do the door seals at the same time..

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by gazzerr

I'd like to do this at some point. Is there any trimming required?

There is trimming required if you replace the original with the 964 seal. That seal is meant to be retro-fitted to pre-964s with trimming. Do not do this. Get a correct seal from Dan Petchel who had them made to mirror the dimensions of older ones.

Vintage Porsche Parts and Targa Tops for Porsche

[gazzerr]

Thanks for the advice guys - can't wait to try it out now .

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

There is trimming required if you replace the original with the 964 seal. That seal is meant to be retro-fitted to pre-964s with trimming. Do not do this. Get a correct seal from Dan Petchel who had them made to mirror the dimensions of older ones.

Vintage Porsche Parts and Targa Tops for Porsche

Old thread but I just found this.

Bob, if I am not mistaken, the seal you are referring to is the one between the front windshield and the targa top. The rerar seal between the top and the targa bar does not require trimming.

[Ayles]

Did you put new plastic rivets on each side of where the top plugs into the bar? I saw a special tool that people have made but I don't have access to a welder.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Old thread but I just found this.

Bob, if I am not mistaken, the seal you are referring to is the one between the front windshield and the targa top. The rerar seal between the top and the targa bar does not require trimming.

You are absolutely correct. I was just reading through, before I got to your post, and thought "I did not make this clear".

Regarding the rear seal, Dan Petchel told me via phone last year it did not need trimming if new.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Did you put new plastic rivets on each side of where the top plugs into the bar? I saw a special tool that people have made but I don't have access to a welder.

Get new rivets.

You can fabricate one using a small diameter, but long-ish bolt.

Use a washer and a nut to position the depth of the penetration into the rivit.

I had luck but screwed a couple up. Mainly from using a heat gun to soften the rivit shaft. Skip heat or maybe just put in hot water.

What I am not sure of is if you want the rod that enters the rivit to hit bottom and assist with the coupled force of the washer on the big face or is the rod just for keeping the rivit straight as you tap, applying force only via the washer.

[Ayles]

Thanks for that, I put new rubber seals on the inside of the targa bar so will probably need to puncture those with an awl before trying this.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Thanks for that, I put new rubber seals on the inside of the targa bar so will probably need to puncture those with an awl before trying this.

Holes should be there to the left and right of where the pins in the top hook into the bar (you know this).

If not, take your time putting the hole in. Think through to a good way to open it up. An awl will pierce a hole that will close and maybe cause the seal to look funky when the rivit forces it's way through. When they go in correctly, they look pretty slick.

[HarryD]

Trying to install the rivets but they do not want to go in. I noticed the holes in the seal do not align with the holes in the bar. How do you get the rivets in!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Trying to install the rivets but they do not want to go in.

They are tough SOB's.

Are you using a driving bolt or fabricate something or other to allow a good whack on the head without distorting the shaft?

Is the pin in the tool close to the diameter of the rivet hole?

Don't know what to say about the hole placement.

[HarryD]

Finally got my rivets set. Made a driver tool with a #8 machine screw, washer, and nut, heated the rivet in boiling water and drove it in with a 1 lb dead blow hammer.

Hooray