Newbie w/ a Targa Top care ?

[bassjack]

Hi All,

I'm fairly new here ('bout a month) and two weeks into my new car, a 1985 911 Targa in Garnet Red Metallic.

I'm happier than a pig in poop over this car, as I've wanted one since I first started driving...41 years ago! I have a million questions (and many of them are being answered by reading these posts), but I'll start with this one.

My T top has a small "L" shaped tear in it, right above the driver's side sun visor. When I took off the top and folded it I realized the tear is right at where the top creases. So, two questions: 1) Is there some material I can patch it with, and 2) what is the recommended product to condition it with.

Thanks,
Jack

[Hugh R]

Don't know what to put on it. But I never fold the top. I put it behind the seats, straight up and down. It will fit. BTW, they cost $5K if it flies off and gets destroyed if you didn't know that. Welcome to PP, post where you're from.

[azasadny]

Beautiful Targa! Welcome aboard! I use Vinylex on the top and Dan Petchel can tell you about repairs. His link is:

http://www.carsincnj.com/

No affiliation, just a satisfied customer!

[bassjack]

Thanks guys...there's actually another current thread regarding Mother's Back to Black which references Vinylex as well. I'll look for that and give it a try.

Hugh R, I'm from the other end of the state...Chico to be exact.

Jack

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey 85 Targa Brother!

Welcome!

There is no way to repair the top as you described, but I had a brain fart.

I recently replaced a broken front arm and re-adjusted the sides and remembered there was excess material.

If the top is OEM, it should be vinyl, if you are willing, you can take apart the side molding seals and remove a sliver of material to patch it with some adhesive, i.e. tire patch type ( Rubber Cement). It is a patch job so it will not look great but should keep the elements out. I would place the sliver/s inside then seal with glue. Clean Up with mineral oil.

Just my 2 cents.

[beasty]

hey jack where in northern california located?

[ROW911SC]

I use nothing but Zaino products on all my cars; their exterior vinyl cleaner/conditioner works great and does not leave behind that shiny, greasy residue...

[DRACO A5OG]

PM me your e-mail if you need the two manuals for our tops?

[300cd300sdl911]

Welcome - nice Targa.

I use "303" Aerospace Protecant on the top for UV protection.

[andrem]

Hi

Get a targa roof skin from our hosts and follow technical article on this site to recover the roof.

It is not as hard as it sounds and if you are like me, you would want to tinker on the new car anyway.

[ruf-porsche]

If it is a small tear, you can remove the headliner and place a patch from the back side of the top. Vinyl material from a upholstery or cloth store can be use as a patch and contact cement can adhere the patch to the top.

[65_lincoln]

Welcome Jack! Beautiful car, I love the color. You were very smart to start by posting pics, to avoid the taunting from all of us to see it!

Dan Petchel at Cars Inc. (carsincnj.com) is THE MAN for Targa top repairs. (I have no affiliation other than the fact that he just restored mine two weeks ago). I had a tear like the one you describe (at the folding point, but at the rear), and the top didn't fit so well, had a lot of wind noise, and was generally as worn as one might expect for a 21 year old vinyl component, having never been previously repaired.

Dan did an awesome job, and worked fast (4 days). My top now fits perfectly, no wind noise, and looks like a champ. The headliner looks beautiful, the latches fit tightly, and it's amazingly square (to within 1/8" when measured across opposite corners, pretty amazing over a span of more than 50 inches!).

Best of all, Dan is really a Porsche enthusiast, not just another generic upholsterer. He knows his stuff, and he knows the cars. I probably could have tried to do the recovering myself, but it was well worth the money to have it done completely, and have it done right the first time. I really can't recommend him highly enough. Although he's across the country from you, I'd recommend him to anyone.

Enjoy the car, and welcome!

[KarlCarrera]

Welcome! Very nice Targa. Great color. I have no problems with the exterior of my top but I do need to have the headliner redone so this thread is proving very valuable to me!
Again Welcome

Karl
88Targa

[scarletbegonias]

+1 for Dan Petchel

He redid my top before I got it (two years ago) and it's still like new.

I never fold mine, it fits unfolded in the front trunk (longhoods only?)

[Mark McClure]

OOPPPSSS wrong thread...!

[RSTarga]

+1 on Dan he did a great job on mine and very reasonable. Don't fiddle with it yourself this si not a simple job. Wash your top with car wash soap when you wash your car rinse well and DON'T use any treatments on it. If you keep it clean you don't need any.

[photoeditor]

Another option is Dan Brown in Louisville, Colorado. He sometimes advertises in Excellence and/or Panorama.

First rate guy who specializes in Targa top repair/maintenance. He has adjustable jigs in his shop to match the dimensions of your top/car dimensions. In fact, it it's too far out of square he won't take the job because you won't be happy with the results.

Dan has done two tops for me on different cars - they fit like a glove and workmanship is incredible. He ships your completed top back to you in a special custom packing carton with the top taunt and open like on the car.

He's not cheap, but workmanship second to none. AND my car is worth it!

I can look up his contact info at home if you're interested.

Cheers.

- michael

[bluebox88]

An observation on Targa top repair:
Your name has to be "Dan" to do proper refurbishing and repair.

[bassjack]

Well, imagine my surprise when I open this thread to find that it was my first thread from a year ago! Ha...didn't even recognize my own post title.

Anyway, as an update: I'm certainly no stranger to Dan Pechtel's name and reputation around here as I've been reading every Targa thread that pops up. I haven't actually attempted a repair as yet, but I did buy a vinyl repair kit that I thought would do the trick...just haven't pulled the trigger yet. In the meantime the two small tears have not moved at all, nor do I ever fold up the top...just store in the garage in the open position or behind the seats as some have said. I put a piece of tape over 'em when I wash the car, and I don't drive it in the rain, so it's really just a cosmetic issue more than anything else.

Draco, if you're still offering the manual to the tops I'd love to have a look at 'em. bassjack51ATyahooDOTcom.

Happy motoring, folks! Man, I love this place...
Jack