targa woes!

[1PiRho]

First of all let me say Hello, I have been reading posts for some time and have found a wealth of info here!
It is time for me to ask my own question. I'm having trouble with my Targa at speed. Under acceleration there is a gap forming on the front seam where the top meets the weather stripping. The ws is soft and supple and I can find no obvious flaws with the top itself. The extreme of this scenario has been the entire front of the top buckling up about 3"-4" when I pushed the limits of the posted speed limit. In order to get the top to come back down I had to quickly crack a window to equilize the pressure in the cab.
Anybody else have any problems with their tops coming up?
Once again Hello, and I appoligize if I posted in the wrong place I'm a newbie!

 

[NC2Stay]

I have had my '95 coupe for less than a year, but have had the top off and on many times. Its solid as a rock, and it is part of the structure of the body - you will find a lot more "shimmy" in the body when the top is off - we all do.

Having said that, are you sure it is screwed down tight? I can't think of anything else that would cause your symptoms. Have you ever removed the top and reinstalled it correctly? And 3"-4" is a huge amount - far wider than the screws holding it down are - if it is that loose, there is NOTHING hold it on - I would have expected it to fly off!

Bob

 

[Hrtbeat1]

First af all Welcome to

I bet if you check carefully the Halo is seperating from the fiberglass top. When the guy delivered my car he had the top in the back. He told me that it was seperating and not to drive a freeway speeds.

Now for the cure.

Make sure your car is garaged or covered this will take 24 hrs or so. Go to a local marine supply place, Home Depot, Lowes, ect. Find a tube of 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive one caulk gun size tube is More than enough.

Remove the top and check around the edge where the original adhesive held the Halo to the actual top. My interior head liner stayed attached and just pulled through the Halo, after its off tape it off for reinstall. Gently work a 6 inch putty knife around the whole Halo and seperate it from the top.

Clean up any left over adhesive from the attaching surface of the Halo and the fiberglass top. What I couldn't get to gently come off I sanded down. There was an area (Where the original failure occured I suppose) that the fiberglass was showing some "threads/fibers" I used the 5200 to seal that area. (Put a thin coat and spread with the putty knife, then let cure 12 hrs or so.) Actually I ended up putting down a skim coat on the top where the Halo was. Let that cure. Then run a bead around the Halo. It helps to have something to set the Halo on, I used a couple of phone books. With the Halo positioned as it would ride lay the top on the Halo lining up everything correctly, watch the headliner (hopefully you taped it off.) Apply some even pressure for about 12 hours, I keep refering to phone books ... It was Nov and everybody seemed to have 2-3-4 ... nice neighbors I put a clean cotton towel down on the top then evenly stacked the phone books on top.

I posted something similar to this a while back but can't seem to find it now. Anyway once you look at it you can figure it out pretty easily. That 5200 is some strong stuff, once fully cured it will take C4 to get it off and I'm not talking 'bout the Vette either.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

First of all let me say Hello, I have been reading posts for some time and have found a wealth of info here!
It is time for me to ask my own question. I'm having trouble with my Targa at speed. Under acceleration there is a gap forming on the front seam where the top meets the weather stripping. The ws is soft and supple and I can find no obvious flaws with the top itself. The extreme of this scenario has been the entire front of the top buckling up about 3"-4" when I pushed the limits of the posted speed limit. In order to get the top to come back down I had to quickly crack a window to equilize the pressure in the cab.
Anybody else have any problems with their tops coming up?
Once again Hello, and I appoligize if I posted in the wrong place I'm a newbie!

Just curious do you have the glass top or the fiberglass top?
-=Rick

 

[1PiRho]

My bad, I have the glass top.

I have had the car for 3 years and I am sure that the top is sucre at all 4 corners.
Believe me, noone was more surprised to see the top flex 3" than I. That was a first. What kept the top from shattering I do not Know

 

[Hrtbeat1]

Wow that much flex. The power of Lexan ... aint it great. When I read the post I assumed you had a fiberglass top with that much flex. Sorry I can't help with the Lexan top.


Good luck

 

[WhalePirot]

Hey, we're all newbies someplace, sometime. It is the only time we get to welcome you!

....gap forming on the front seam where the top meets the weather stripping......the entire front of the top buckling up about 3"-4".....

Never seen this.

Is the gap between the metal frame of the top and the frame of the windshield or between the Lexan and the tops' metal frame?

 

[1PiRho]

I can see daylight between the lexan and the top of the windshield/ wheather stripping. The gap gets worse with speed. Looked around a little more today and the outer metal frame looks like it may be coming loose/ pulling away from the lexan. Might be enough change in aero to force air under the top and cause my problem. not sure but I will check it out

 

[GeorgeT]

When I got my '93, the bolts holding the leading edge brackets onto the top (the brackets that the top bolts go into) were loose. I could tighten the bolts into the brackets but the top was still loose.


GT