red500man

how tight do the targa bolts get tightened. My front header bolts keep coming loose, but I am reluctant to tighten them too hard as I do not want to strip them. Has anyone had them strip out?

ghlkal

Pretty tight

That's not very helpful, I know. I wonder if there's a torque spec on that. Anyway, if they are not pretty tight, they will loosen up.

antfarmer2

Install all tighten back first good and snug then a tweak.

FOURSPEEDVETTE

Make sure your car is parked on a level area before tightening the bolts. If it's not, there is a good chance that the bolts won't get tightened enough and the roof isn't set in place correctly forcing the bolts loose.

QCVette

My '96 service manual states

Front holddown captive screws 13 lb. ft.
Rear locator captive screws 11 lb. ft.

auggy

I have the same concern. They don't seem to go in very well when first starting them. Put some lubricant on them to make it easier. I once discovered the top loose and moving. Whether they loosened up or weren't tight to begin with --not sure. Threads don't look great so I am careful on installation.

Aardwolf

Pretty low tq! I just rebuild a small engine with thread into a poor chinese aluminum head and the head bolts are about half the size. They got 15 ft lbs! If you don't use them often try locktite etc.

Edit, the brackets are adjustable if fitment is not good. Melrose had a really nice thread on adjusting.

Wine&Roses

I read that they should be tightened to 13lb., that's not very tight. but in my opinion, don't need to really crank them in.

Crossed Flags Fan

The topic is only 6 years old......

Joe3571

What if the back bolts screw in just fine and turn and not tighten the top explain that.

mazdaverx7

If the bolts do not tighten and continue to spin, that would tell me that the threads on the mount are stripped.

Joe3571

I don't know the threads seem fine the bolts just screw in they are not loose in any way they screw in then screw out the back then spin and spin im wondering if the brackets are missing something maybe not enough shims guess I'll have to investigate some more I can always get new brackets if need be.

Joe C

if it's not too late to add to the thread, i'll add my 2-cents. IMO, no need for thread locker or thread lube. although i'm a big torque wrench advocate, i've never used a torque wrench on the targa bolts in the near 30 years of owning my 85 (and other c4's). about 20 years ago i bought a small ryobi electric screwdriver from home-depot, installed the correct sized torx bit (t-40 - ????). i keep it with the car. i just tighten the bolts until the electric driver hits it's torque limit and stops. this ryobi driver can't put out more torque than 12-15 ft.lbs. don't know if there's a correct torque pattern to tighten the four bolts, but i torque the front first, then the rear. never an issue with targa bolts (always tighten on level ground).