911scTarga

I made the mistake of storing my Targa top slightly folded for about a year. Now, the leading edge does not want to lay flat and I can't get either latch to catch.

Any ideas where to start on this fix? The top probably deserves a good servicing. Anyone know of a trim shop in Houston with experience with Targa tops?

Any ideas welcome.

theiceman

uh oh ... get out your check book .. aparently these things are not cheap to get refurbished. I always take mine off and hang it on the wal.. and of course pray it doesn't rain .... at least when I'm doing under 80. sure does make getting into the garage and stopping in time interesting.

911scTarga

..or replace. Pelican offers a targa top assembly for $11,068!

Iceman: When installing the top, do you turn the lever past open and apply downward pressure, or leave the lever in open and apply downward pressure? Where do you apply the pressure? And how much? I'm trying to remember, but I don't think it snaps on before you turn the lever. Can you refresh my memory on the procedure.

Thanks.

lfe132

Well, I"m not sure what to say here..... I take my Targa top off and on all the time so this stiffness never happens. Why was it not on the car to begin with? Anyways, if you look at the Pelican website there are threads on replacing the outer skin. The whole dang top is not that complicated, I wouldn't pay no 11 thousand to buy another one. Try rebuilding it yourself. Hell, I'll try rebuilding your Targa top if you want me too, you pay for the parts, I'll do it for free just for the experience.
(Side note: not a backyard mechanicl. I've replaced clutches, major tune ups, valve adjustments, I'm gonna replace my Targa outer skin here pretty soon.)

HarryD

Try leaving it in the sun for a while to soften the vinyl and then see if it will open fully. That may be all you need.

If you want to get it redone, there are several places that specialize in rebuilding them. Dan Petchel at Cars Inc. is well known. You may want to e-mail him for some advise. His Web site is http://www.carsinc-nj.com.

andfar

I might take you up on that, lfe132. How soon are you going to replace yours? Maybe I should be next in line, once you master its intricacies... (who knows, you might become West Coast's Dan Petchel!)

_________________
1986 911 Targa

theiceman

I go past the open point on the latch it is sprung so you can do this. horihontal is locked , verticle is open, and a little passed verticle ( five o clock roughly the spring pulls back one of the latches ) you can watch the mechanism at work even with it out of the car. Usually at the fold points is where it " pokes up" while on the car that can give you wind noise. definitely leave it in the sun before doing this. I would even spray a good vinyl conditioner like vinylex or rag top on it before even starting as you certainly want it plyable.

HarryD

Here are a few threads from Pelican to help you:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...t=targa+burlap

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...t=targa+burlap

And a search:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/searc...es&searchuser=

911scTarga

Harry, Thanks for the lead on Dan Petchel.

I have emailed Dan. I'll see what he says and probably figure out how to ship it to him. Rennlist is a great resource.

lfe132

andfar, I'll be replacing my Targa top vinyl in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it turns out.

andfar

Subscribed...!

rentadate

couple of ideas. on a warm sunny day, put it on the car or lay it on the driveway and just let it "stretch." If you want to get it rebuilt, there's a guy behind my house who advertises in excellence about restoring targa tops. he doesn't have a web site, but his number is 303.499.0110 Found him to be very knowledgeable and very friendly. He might have some recommendations on a "cheap" way to repair it.

RacingBeat

$11 grand to fix the top?!?!? surely you jest....

911scTarga

Replace, not fix. I don't jest.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...BDYtar_pg1.htm

I wonder if anyone has ever bought one?

Luus

+1 for Dan. He did mine several years ago and it is still in fantastic condition. Money well spent. I have never folded mine. I leave mine in the garage on 4 old sneakers. Forgot who told me about that trick but that;s suppose to be THE way to store the top when it is not on the car