Targa C3??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 210
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From: Orlando FL
Targa C3??
What do you think about a C3 Conversion from TTOP To Targa, has anyone seen one modified to a Targa? What would it take to make it safe,,,,,I photoshop my vette to look as a Targa and did not look bad :-)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
Severe bird cage reinforcements. The car was designed from the ground up to have that bar in place. It's a structural piece.
You can buy aftermarket one piece panels. They don't fit particularly well, but they exist...
You can buy aftermarket one piece panels. They don't fit particularly well, but they exist...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 58
From: Freeport, Illinois
What kind of structural reinforcements are in the convertibles, and can they be added to a coupe?
I'm not sure what the attraction is to make it a targa intead of T-Top, though. It will be unique, but not in a good way, value-wise, and the only difference functionally would be no bar when the tops are off. Not much of a difference for what you'd have to go through in my opinion.
I'm not sure what the attraction is to make it a targa intead of T-Top, though. It will be unique, but not in a good way, value-wise, and the only difference functionally would be no bar when the tops are off. Not much of a difference for what you'd have to go through in my opinion.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,192
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From: Charlotte N.C
targa
The only difference I see is that you might have less leakage, but by the time you construct this piece and get it to latch properly , ask yourself this--Where will I store it because it will be bigger and not 2 pieces now. Just my 2 cents.
Richard
Richard
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: myrtle beach sc
Army
68's Were originally suppose to have a targa top. There was too much twist and flex between the halo and the windshield header. I read that if the car was on a slight grade, that they could not get the top pins to line up. Lou.
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Point being; I think without proper reinforcements, there is going to be a lot of structural flex. That's not to say it can't be done though.
Terry
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: No Where USA
Did you ever have one? I have one on my car right now and fits and seals just as good or better than the T Tops.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
The center bar is indeed a structural piece. However, 'verts don't have as many critical points for the top to line up to, as the T-top cars do, when you want to put the tops in place. So if you have a 'vert, you just live with the additional chassis flex
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,605
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From: No Where USA
The only problems would be finishing the areas that were cut to make it look stock. You could get an astro top instead of modifying the t tops.
Race Director
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From: San Jose CA
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 256
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From: Burbank, Ca
I have a 74 that the t-bar was cut out and the two t-tops where fiber glass together to make a Targa top, I'm putting back to stock. I also have a 75 Convertible currently up on jack stands. The door gaps are quite different when siting on the ground then when jacked up. To say they don't flex is not being honest
Race Director
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From: No Where USA
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lacements.html
If you're using a vendor other than Astro, I apologize and am curious as to who it is.
What I can say is that the *external* fit pictured in the first thread looks better than what I've got on my car, but mine seal.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,627
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I thought about going this route a few years ago. I did a quick photoshop work and I didn't like how the car looked as much as I had expected. From a side profile the back hatch window part looked like it was sitting higher then the top of the front windshield.d
I can search for the photo I did if you want to seee it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...with-no-t.html
Ryan
I can search for the photo I did if you want to seee it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...with-no-t.html
Ryan
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: No Where USA
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ss-t-tops.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lacements.html
If you're using a vendor other than Astro, I apologize and am curious as to who it is.
What I can say is that the *external* fit pictured in the first thread looks better than what I've got on my car, but mine seal.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lacements.html
If you're using a vendor other than Astro, I apologize and am curious as to who it is.
What I can say is that the *external* fit pictured in the first thread looks better than what I've got on my car, but mine seal.
Most of the people in the first thread seemed to like it. The second thread is for the t top replacement. Never used those.
I have the one piece and I get no leaks and it fits just as good as the t tops.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
palmbeachvette76: likes it, doesn't seal well, is a win "for the price difference"
qwank: fitment issues, but is dealing with it because it's a good deal. Huge gap in the front of hte window. doesn't seal well.
682xlr8: liked it a lot, "sealing is a joke", "be careful when washing the car"
7t9l82: not a bad product, as the others have described
texasbaehr: uniformly positive review
superbuickguy: poor communication (well, GM doesn't like to talk much about the glass tops either
), 1) terrible customer service and terrible delivery
2) poor manufacturing tolerances
3) poor quality control
rosslato: uniformly positive review
So 2 positive reviews and a lot of "good for the price", assuming you can deal with sealing issues.
I already have a pair of glass tops that seal well, so clearly I'm not their target market. I am vaguely interested in the acrylic tops though. It'd be nice to have something lighter to put on the car.
So perhaps my original comment is too harsh, but I definitely think this is an instance of buyer beware - or at least be prepared.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran