Targa T-top [Merged 7-7] T tops targas conversion

[90LaserTurbo89k]

I'm gonna do the "targa top" job to my 1G sometime shortly. After I buy my friends AWD Laser so I can have something to drive while I finish the targa.

 

[dre99gsx]

The way I cut the roof, I left a lip there on the under-side of the sheetmetal. Using some bar metal, I made a thicker lip. The rear weatherstripping clings onto this lip. Simple. Best bet is find a supra, and duplicate what they use.

 

[greathuskie]

thanks alot man, i found supra latches from conicelli so im going to use those, and im going to look at some del sols and maybe a supra sometime soon to get an idea of how it works

 

[tunerkid]

anyone have any more pics of these??? i recomend doing it to show cars only seeing how it weakens the body A LOT

 

[greathuskie]

if you had read dre's posts (heh i think ive read every single one of them relating to targa tops) you would know his roll cage x10 stops almost all body flex

 

[SOURCE1064]

http://www.drespecengineering.com/ If I only had the balls to take a sawzall to my roof.

 

[BacknBlack92ESi]

That thing is off the hook! If i had another 1G to practice on, I would do that to my car (targa top that is), btw how much he asking? Must be some major bills....

 

[Derek2003]

Originally posted by dre99gsx
The way I cut the roof, I left a lip there on the under-side of the sheetmetal. Using some bar metal, I made a thicker lip. The rear weatherstripping clings onto this lip. Simple. Best bet is find a supra, and duplicate what they use.

thanks for clearing this all up. i wasn't to far off with my idea of what you did.

 

[echo]

yea, that's a damn good price. it's a 99gsx, which I have only seen one for sale around my area and it was 20k. except this one is pushing 432hp @ the wheels on 93 octane and it's targa.

 

[dre99gsx]

Yes.. you have to understand. A well built roll cage, subframe connectors and "dash-stabilizer bars" do wonders to increase the stiffness of the car. I will tell you one thing, the car feels much stiffer now (with the roof off) then it did before I cut the roof.

But, like any car, including the supra, the windshield shakes. Totally seperate from body flex, its just this massive extension from the car that resonates and vibrates if you hit it with your fist. I drove a supra a few days ago, and it shook quite a bit. Made me feel confident that what I was doing, was working. That is why I made a small lightweight diagonal bar which bolts up top quickly and easily. Compeltely stabilizes the windshield. When you do some autocrossing like me, this is a definate necessity. Even the supra guys will admit to racing / running with the roof on, as they too need the extra stiffness. I cheated by making this little cross bar. Works just as well.

Goodluck.

 

[greathuskie]

thanks for the info, im going to get crackin on this top in about 2 weeks, im just finding all the info now

i think im going to use the latches from a supra, im going to look at it to make sure they will work or if they are inside the roof so i wont be able to use them, i might make something like you did

will let you know if i come across some troubles....

 

[audiodude123]

Hi,

I like the look of the DSM in a Targa.

http://www.eclipsetarga.mynetcologne.de/P5180032a.jpg
http://www.eclipse-targa.de

 

[nutshot]

I agree that Targa's are cool, I don't think the 1g is the best platform, it looks like the B pillars would suck in a lot of air... Perhaps if there was a decent vent system at the back of the car (under the hatch, or in the hatch) to relieve some of that pressure; otherwise I wouldn't do it.

 

[MrPikolo]

i'd think a t-top design would look cooler and I would actualy consider buying a kit if it was at a good price.

 

[Raph]

the Targas r neat,....But..the company that made em (Gockel) is the only ones who sells the replacement rubber seals for the roof,they only sell completed kits(i.e. u have to buy the seals for the front,sides and back..),so if the roof be leakin..ur pocket be bleeding...and every targa which doesnt leak has beenfixed in the past and/or will leak again in the near future..

nice though,especially in yellow..

 

[splerm]

anyone know where i can get some information on how to do the targa top conversion on my 2g? if someone could help me out, that would be much appreciated. thanx

 

[Brklynmutt72]

Has anyone heard about the possiblity of cutting a traga top for the 2g? if not do you think I would loss structural integratity? If not does anyone know of a shop that could handle this mod?

 

[al5dsm]

Yes this mod has been done before, twice i believe... do a search on it, it should bring up some things on it.

http://www.drespecengineering.com/ are pics a guy who did it

 

[Brklynmutt72]

nice but is a roll cage mandatory!

 

[brcewane]

without the rollcage your car will twist all over the place, I believe that guy has even put a bunch of posts about the extent of the rollcage he had to put in so that it wouldn't twist.. When it twists, it is going to leak water like a MOFO and you will actually see your dash move.

Plus if you don't put one in, your car has no structural integrity if it rolls...

no cage + roll = dead

 

[Sinner]

a rollcage is'nt absolutly needed, you could just strenghten the subframe by welding in some frame connectors but that would require knowing what you are doing and that the frame is strengthend before cutting the top, if you did it all yourself and had the skills to do it properly (which most people don't) it should'nt cost as much as most people say it does.

 

[ProJectEclipse]

I got a targa top on my Eclipse, and roll cage is a must have i got the 6pt roll cage myself check it out

 

[TBSpyder]

Has anyone thought of just fabricating bracing identical to a Spyder's instead of a roll cage? I don't see why that wouldn't work. But then again I've never had the need to look into such a project...

 

[Sinner]

Originally posted by TBSpyder
Has anyone thought of just fabricating bracing identical to a Spyder's instead of a roll cage? I don't see why that wouldn't work. But then again I've never had the need to look into such a project...

Here you go this is someone who is actually thinking, a rollcage is'nt absolutly needed as long as you add the proper bracing to the frame of the car.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by Sinner

Here you go this is someone who is actually thinking, a rollcage is'nt absolutly needed as long as you add the proper bracing to the frame of the car.

It's apparently not possible (or, practical) to get enough torsional rigidity into the "frame" with underbody bracing, as it's not been done on the three or four targa abomninations ...er, modifications I've seen articles on.

I've always thought you'd be better-off mounting a roof clip on a Spyder, but I guess the modifiers who have that much money have the sense to go with it, and won't bother.

Did Dre ever really get his sorted out? Is he still around here? And what of the brave sucke.... er, adventurer who bought his?