Targa Top Weakness
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Targa Top Weakness
I love the choice of being able to remove the roof on the coupe whenever I feel like it.. When I do take it off it seems like the whole car is very unstable and weak without the support from the Targa top. I try and avoid going really fast or hitting any bumps while the top is off because it feels like I'm going to bend the frame like a bendy straw ... Is this something to really be worried about or am I just stressing myself out?
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Melbourne, FL
The frame will not bend. It's still a very stiff piece of metal.
There's plenty of ways to help combat this. A harness bar is the first place to start. Connecting the two B pillars helps a lot. You could buy a. Convertible x brace and add that as well, again, that helps a lot as well. Add the camber brace that connects the frame just forward of the motor, that should help too. Maybe go crazy and put in a roll cage if you get nuts.
There's also frames that you can buy that replace the targa with metal bars,.but I always thought that was a bit... Pointless.
Start with a harness bar, they're easiest to source and make a big difference. Look for a very x brace or aftermarket reproductions. The camber brace I think is pretty easy to buy too.
There's plenty of ways to help combat this. A harness bar is the first place to start. Connecting the two B pillars helps a lot. You could buy a. Convertible x brace and add that as well, again, that helps a lot as well. Add the camber brace that connects the frame just forward of the motor, that should help too. Maybe go crazy and put in a roll cage if you get nuts.
There's also frames that you can buy that replace the targa with metal bars,.but I always thought that was a bit... Pointless.
Start with a harness bar, they're easiest to source and make a big difference. Look for a very x brace or aftermarket reproductions. The camber brace I think is pretty easy to buy too.
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@CorvetteC4Zr1 you are right, the C4 really shakes without the targa on. (You may have heard the C4 was originally designed for T-tops like the C3, but a last minute "directive" from management required the engineering team to go to a targa.)
It is disconcerting when you are blasting around a corner and hit a bump with the targa off as your Vette will really shake !
As @FAUEE said, you won't hurt the "frame," so you really don't have to worry.
I'll add one more suggestion: the Vette2Vette no flex bars. I have these on my Z and they definitely help stiffen the car up.
https://www.vette2vette.com/?q=produ...ner-bar-system
It is disconcerting when you are blasting around a corner and hit a bump with the targa off as your Vette will really shake !
As @FAUEE said, you won't hurt the "frame," so you really don't have to worry.
I'll add one more suggestion: the Vette2Vette no flex bars. I have these on my Z and they definitely help stiffen the car up.
https://www.vette2vette.com/?q=produ...ner-bar-system
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Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 96
Likes: 5
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 96
Likes: 5
@CorvetteC4Zr1 you are right, the C4 really shakes without the targa on. (You may have heard the C4 was originally designed for T-tops like the C3, but a last minute "directive" from management required the engineering team to go to a targa.)
It is disconcerting when you are blasting around a corner and hit a bump with the targa off as your Vette will really shake !
As @FAUEE said, you won't hurt the "frame," so you really don't have to worry.
I'll add one more suggestion: the Vette2Vette no flex bars. I have these on my Z and they definitely help stiffen the car up.
https://www.vette2vette.com/?q=produ...ner-bar-system
It is disconcerting when you are blasting around a corner and hit a bump with the targa off as your Vette will really shake !
As @FAUEE said, you won't hurt the "frame," so you really don't have to worry.
I'll add one more suggestion: the Vette2Vette no flex bars. I have these on my Z and they definitely help stiffen the car up.
https://www.vette2vette.com/?q=produ...ner-bar-system
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Melting Slicks
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That is a good option and stiffens up the car.
I hardly take the top off my ZR-1, but on a nice spring / fall day it is nice to pop it off and go for a ride.......You immediatley notice a difference, but just be careful. Take those train tracks and speed bumps carefully, and you will be good.