Targa top seals

[carsinc]

Last week I had the most inquiries I can remember about the Over the Windshield frame seals has been a little over three years since I have gotten these made. I carry for the 67-69 and 70-89 Targas. Some people knew a lot about the problem and others just goggled me because of wind noise problems. These seals are very easy to install and I have a 22 step procedure which I cans send out should anyone care to look at them.

Anyway I still have a supply of correct seal should anyone want one.

Also if you have any Targa top questions I am more than happy to answer them. Fire away.

[RSTarga]

Hey Dan, Could you post your 22 step procedure? I've still got some wind noise at the top of the quarter windows. The side seals are out as far as they go without drilling new holes. I've pulled my frames up too. I have your front seal and the top looks fine along the front windshield frame. It's just those quarter tops that are my problem. You redid my top beautifully a few years back.

[Racerbvd]

Yes, and post pictures as well..

[timmy2]

Me 3 on the 22 steps.
How much for the 70-89 seal shipped to the left coast?
I sent you a PM a couple of weeks ago asking about a rebuild and seals. Still waiting for your reply.

[Hugh R]

My Targa top seems to leak between the top of the frame and the cover, not between the frame and the windshield frame. Any thoughts on this? Will the new seal help close the upper gap?

[carsinc]

The sure sign of the wrong seal is the gap above vent windows.

Seal is $187.99 shipped

When air comes in between frame and vinyl that is usually sign of reinforcement being worn out. This is often accompanied with wrinkles in vinyl due to air bubble on top of roof.

[carsinc]

22 Step Installation Targa Seal, over windshield

1. Lay some sheets in the interior, glue residue get messy doing this job.
2. Metal trim plate needs removed 3 screws. They are sided but you may want to mark. The 77 and later Targa’s will have two rubber block which will also need removed.
3. Remove old seal by pulling, scrapping and prying. Dull flat edged screwdriver works.
4. You must now clean the groove squeaky clean. I use lacquer thinner.
5. Small rags using dull screwdriver again. Change rags often. May take two hours.
6. 3M weather stripping glue or other weather stripping contact cement.
7. The key and as indicated in Porsche manual, install the seal little by little.
8. Practice fit seal dry, get a plan. Have helper for next step.
9. Stretch seal across top of windshield and make a mark with chalk in the middle on seal and on body. This will help you center seal in groove. Test fit seal dry.
10. Start gluing about 10” section in one corner going in towards middle.
11. Put glue only in groove on the car, not on Gasket.
12. Start at corner and push seal into place with force, moving towards middle.
13. Put top on the car. Have a Beer and let glue dry.
14. Remove top and make sure glued area is fast.
15. Glue center section making sure of chalk is lined up and seal goes to other corner.
16. Glue center section, put top back on car. Finish Beer.
17. Glue final corner section. Put top back on car.
18. Now you will need to trim the two strips that run down the pillar to match door seal.
19. Place glue in the body groove stuff seal with force. You may need something like carpenters pensile to push seal in. End of a toothbrush may work. Shut the door.
20. Repeat on other side.
21. Super glue the ends of seal to ends of door seals. Final trim may be needed.
22. Clean excess glue off rubber and body. Leave top on car for day or so.

[Joeaksa]

I just bought a new front seal from Dan and very glad I did!

[nineball]

i think you should bring a few seals to hershey this year. i know i will take one.

[BBShriver]

You mentioned before the "correct" seal was available you could trim the incorrect seal to make it fit. As it turns out I bought an incorrect seal some time ago and installed it having not found this thread. Correct seal and top rebuild are out of my budget for now, though now that I know both are available I will start saving up. In the mean time though, is the trimming procedure something that can be done with the seal already installed, and what do I do?

Also on the side seal, the "block" section at the front doesn't seem to want to seat into the top. How do you get it to stay seated?

[carsinc]

Incorrect seal near impossible to trim.

[MConn]

BBShriver - I also had already purchased an incorrect seal, and trimmed it to fit. I took some rol-lok sanding discs, and sanded on both sides and the bottom until the inner foam structure was visible. After that, I ended up cutting ~ 1/4" from the bottom, and almost completely taking off the front lip. The 2 windshield-door corners required a lot of trimming. The top seals much better than before, but this is a temporary fix; I still want a 'Dan' seal. I just bought material from him to re-do my top; he has the right stuff at a fair price.

[BBShriver]

Absolutely want to get the correct part eventually, but I need a "free" option at the moment.

[Darkly-Noon]

Just installed my new targa-to-windshield seal from Dan and it's a definite improvement. The top never did fit very well, and a dig through previous owner records showed the seal was replaced in the 90's, no doubt with the wrong part. I followed Dan's instructions in this thread, including the beer part (especially the beer).

Before


After


There is no longer a large gap above the vent windows, and the front edge of the top is flush with the windshield header. There's some more fine-tuning I could do, and it looks like my side windows come up a little too high as well, but one thing at a time.

[Jack Stands]

Is it me, or are the vent window frames too low in the pics? It seems to me that the vent window frame should be flush against the top's side seal, and the glass should be adjusted to stop at that same height, thus fitting into the groove afforded by the side seal.

My top fits just like the picture, and I don't think that looks right to me, so I'd appreciate any feedback (and photos) from others that have played with these adjustments.

[Kidasters]

One thing that I have a question about - is that where the window is supposed to hit the top seal? I've always wondered about this. I thought the seal was supposed to go over the top of the windows?

[Darkly-Noon]

Originally Posted by Jack Stands

Is it me, or are the vent window frames too low in the pics? It seems to me that the vent window frame should be flush against the top's side seal, and the glass should be adjusted to stop at that same height, thus fitting into the groove afforded by the side seal.

My top fits just like the picture, and I don't think that looks right to me, so I'd appreciate any feedback (and photos) from others that have played with these adjustments.

The vent window frames cannot be adjusted, so I think my side windows come up too high right now. I believe the tops of the windows should tuck under the top side seals, as there is a groove in them. The window heights can be adjusted, but it means taking the inner door panels off.

I am going on a club drive this weekend, so hopefully I can compare notes with other Targa owners. I'll also try just lowering the windows slightly with the switches to see how that works. I'll report back in a couple days.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Darkly-Noon

The vent window frames cannot be adjusted, so I think my side windows come up too high right now. I believe the tops of the windows should tuck under the top side seals, as there is a groove in them. The window heights can be adjusted, but it means taking the inner door panels off.

I am going on a club drive this weekend, so hopefully I can compare notes with other Targa owners. I'll also try just lowering the windows slightly with the switches to see how that works. I'll report back in a couple days.

I was able to (relatively) easily adjust the vent window frame height/orientation once my inner door panels were off -- there's an attachment point on the bottom of the door (near the speaker) that needs to be loosened to make this happen. Best to get the vent window height/orientation dialed in before adjusting window height/orientation

[schulr]

Darkly-Noon, can you post your results with the window adjustment including some Pics? I think this would be very helpful for other targa owners.

Bob

[Darkly-Noon]

I haven't a chance to try any adjustments (car has been in storage due to house renovations) but I plan to try that once I get my garage back. It hasn't been a big issue, as I only drive the car on nice days, usually with the top off. If I have anything to report, I'll post it.

John