How can I adjust tightness of Targa Top fitting?

[91420L]

I have noticed that rear part of Targa top can be little tighter onto roll bar. Is there any adjustment to do this?

[jackmech]

If you look up into where the handle comes down you'll see two bolts that are kinda hard to get to. Loosen those and adjust up and down.

Anyone know what a good targa tightness is? The way I figure it, too lose it squeaks or whistles, too tight it squeaks.

[mike95125]

Allow the center of your car to rust out. That ought to close any gaps. Just kidding

[JmuRiz]

I'd say the best way is to get new seals. I got new front and side seals and it's great. Still a little ratte in the rear...now it's time to get to making the home-made rear el-cheap-o seal. I'll be all set. Now if I ever drove w/ the top on it'd be great

Nathan

PS: I actually drove w/ the top on to a swap meet, because it was raining, and it wasn't nearly as fun!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I think most of what has been described so far has been about the front of the roof.

The rear doesn't easily adjust that I know of. I have heard of people putting short lengths of surgical tubing or heat-shrink tubing on the hooks for the latch on the rear of the roof, which makes them a good bit tighter.

Or you can just leave the top off...

--DD

[RustyWa]

Here is my cheap fix for my bad rear targa seal.

The seal was old and cracked down most of the length. It was flat and thinner then a new seal. This caused a loose fit on the rear latches.

I had some small rubber hose for the windshield washers laying around. So I cut them to length and threaded them into the old seal. Essentially puffing it up. It works real well. So well in fact the new targa seal moved way down the list.

I guess if your seal was split open, this wouldn't work.

[91420L]

Thank you for all of your ideas. I guess I try to put short lengths of surgical tubing or heat-shrink tubing on the hooks then see how it works.
Front and rear seals were renewed so it should not becouse of seals. It feels like rear latchs closed tigher when old seal was there.
I hope I have my own garage so I can leave my top off all the time!!!

[sammyg2]

If you are talking about the rear of the targa top there are a few things you can do to fix the fit.
First, get a new rear targa seal. Either new or reproduction, it's up to you. I sell em pretty cheap, as well as at least one other around here.

Next take a piece of fine sand paper and rough up the bottom of the rubber stops that hang down from the roof. theseare the pieces that actually hit the top of the roll bar. they get hard and glazed and can cause squeaks. After you sand them put a little vaseline on them every day for a week and then once a week for a month. that will help to soften the rubber.

Third and maybe most important, get a couple of very short pieces of surgical or plastic tubing that will barely fit over the two hooks on the targa top. these hooks wear out after 30 years and get too loose. By putting the tubing on the upper hooks you can take out some of that play.

If you still have a problem after doing all those things, it's probably serious.

[91420L]

Thanks.
I already have a new seal from you! That item was very nice adn installed already.
I'll check these rubbers on Targa top and see how are they.

[Gilbert]

Is the primary objective here reducing the rattle of the top, or getting a better water seal?

My take on the rear latch is that you want a good fit of the silent-block (the rubber wedge) into the latch shelf in order to minimize the rattle (vertical movement). The seal itself should only make enough contact across the perimeter of the roll-bar to keep wind/water out.

What I find on my '73 lid is that the latch has worn so that the clamping action does not hold the silent-block tight. I tried the heat-shrink on the post trick, but there remains some vertical slop, and therefore, that rattle. The wear appears to be in the latch hook. The pivot hole has elongated and the hook has deepened.

A new set of latches should (?) solve this problem, but I have other $$ priorities like replacing CV joints, front shocks, and that 009 dizzy!

I'm contemplating the following:

1) Eliminate the excess vertical slop by fastening a filler strip to the latch-shelf. Try different thicknesses until the desired clamping action is obtained. This will increase the top-to-roll-bar gap, reducing the effectiveness of the seal.

2) Address the gap by lowering the latch placement on the face of the roll-bar.

The first step is easy. BTW, does anyone really have a rattle-free top?

Lowering the latch position may present problems. I do not know if there is enough room to elongate the mounting bolt holes (it bolts to the roll-bar face, right?). But we are talking about small adjustments here, so there ought to be a way to do this!


G

[sammyg2]

I found that after installing one of my targa seals, the only squeaks I still had were from the rubber blocks. Sanding them, using vaseline, and putting the tubing on the hooks got rid of all squeaks and rattles once and for all, which was pretty amazing since this car had a chebbie engine and the chassis flexed a little more that stock ;-)

[econopa]

My roof was somewhat loose & made some noise so I simply took some black electrical tape- cut a 2 or 3" piece in half - lenghthwise & wrapped it around the peg. This snugged the latch & hasn't been an annoyance since.
// Econo

[91420L]

I sanded rubber blocks to rough up and treat with rubber care chemical. The squeak was stopped! I will install rubber tube on poles that may tighen targa top fit.
Thank you for your help.

[sammyg2]

I think it was Bill Greenway (local guy, nice 914) that turned me onto that trick. Seems the rubber gets a hard crust on the outside of it after bout 30 years or so an that makes noise when it slides against the metal. Sanding it makes it softer, and the vaseline helps too. you will prolly have to do it a few times before it stays away for long, after you get it all softened up it may be a once or twice a year thing.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Try glycerine instead of vaseline. Petroleum products on rubber aren't such a great idea if you want them to last and last.... Glycerine is a "rubber conditioner" from way back.

--DD