Targa Brace
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Targa Brace
MAD markets a brace that ties the windshield header and A pillars to
the C pillar (?) when the top is off. I notice a lot of cowl shake in
my 96 when open. Has/does anyone use one of these?
MAD want $399, but I think it could be fabed up for alot less.
Any thoughts? :crazy:
the C pillar (?) when the top is off. I notice a lot of cowl shake in
my 96 when open. Has/does anyone use one of these?
MAD want $399, but I think it could be fabed up for alot less.
Any thoughts? :crazy:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 28
From: Medina OH
Re: Targa Brace (vettman96)
When I added the harness bar from EM, the ride in my 85 improved 100%, even with the top off.
I'm the king of bolt-on's, but I don't care for the targa brace.... No doubt it would improve the stiffness of the car with the top off -- but it looked "bulky," I know cosmetics should not be a factor, however :leaving:
I'm the king of bolt-on's, but I don't care for the targa brace.... No doubt it would improve the stiffness of the car with the top off -- but it looked "bulky," I know cosmetics should not be a factor, however :leaving:
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Targa Brace (85 Stalker)
A long time ago there were two options in this department. One was the targa truss from R&D racing, the same company which makes the camber brace. It uses square tubing and does look pretty bulky.
The other option was the TTR Performance Anti Flex Support Brace. It uses round tubing and in my mind looks 100% better than the R&D racing unit. TTR performance was up at the Musuem one day and had them on sale so I bought one. I don't use it often but I love it when I do.
Unfortunately I believe TTR performance is now bankrupt so your only option is the bulky unit from R&D racing, or make it yourself.
The other option was the TTR Performance Anti Flex Support Brace. It uses round tubing and in my mind looks 100% better than the R&D racing unit. TTR performance was up at the Musuem one day and had them on sale so I bought one. I don't use it often but I love it when I do.
Unfortunately I believe TTR performance is now bankrupt so your only option is the bulky unit from R&D racing, or make it yourself.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Targa Brace (85 Stalker)
Right, it looks odd, but with the chassis improvement when topless I
think I might try to fab one up myself, an at least try to make a
change at the windshield header to blend it into the contour with
a bit of style.
Thanks
think I might try to fab one up myself, an at least try to make a
change at the windshield header to blend it into the contour with
a bit of style.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Targa Brace (vettman96)
I don't have any pics of mine but it blends a lot better than the R&D unit.
BTW, I'm not talking bad about R&D Racing. I've got the camber brace and love it, I'm just saying that I don't t like their styling for this particular product.
BTW, I'm not talking bad about R&D Racing. I've got the camber brace and love it, I'm just saying that I don't t like their styling for this particular product.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 8
From: Hiram GA
Re: Targa Brace (Nathan Plemons)
While we are talking about body stability with the targa removed, doesn't someone, MAD or Ecklers offer a bolt on cross brace that goes underneath the car, and is advertised to do the same thing, eliminate the shaking of the body without the targa? Has anyone bought this product and what do you think about it? :cool:
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Targa Brace (Amazing1)
Although I'm sure it will help some, it can't serve the exact same function. You're bracing at the bottom for something that twists and flexes at the top.
It would probably make your car drive about like a convertable. I've never driven one so I don't know how they feel compared to a coupe.
It would probably make your car drive about like a convertable. I've never driven one so I don't know how they feel compared to a coupe.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Re: Targa Brace (Amazing1)
The MAD targa brace is the R&D unit. I do agree it does look bulk and wish the headliner part was more fulsh. maybe even incorporate it to fit with the canvas top so when you park you can cover your vette.
But I do own the chamber brace and cross bar which made a big diffrence in driving the car with and without the top. R& D does make a great quality product
But I do own the chamber brace and cross bar which made a big diffrence in driving the car with and without the top. R& D does make a great quality product
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Targa Brace (eddieL98)
That is just what I was thinking of doing, use the brace with a
fabric overhead when necessary. I was really surprised at the
change in the chassis with the lid off, and do not care for the
shaking and slop. :thumbs:
fabric overhead when necessary. I was really surprised at the
change in the chassis with the lid off, and do not care for the
shaking and slop. :thumbs:
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Re: Targa Brace (hardlight)
Does the chasis frame work as good as the targa stiffener? If it does then i would rather go with that then the top. I don't really care too much for the looks with the top brace on even if i padded the thing up.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Targa Brace (stalkervette)
I'm no engineer, but it seems to me that the chassis looses its
rigidity when the "box", (the connection between A Pillar and C pillar)
is opened by removing the top. The items such as a lower x brace,
or the hardbar behind the seats would not compensate for the
open top. Neither would provide the stiffness at the top of the
"box". I am trying to think of the chassis as a cage, and that top
piece would be critical.
rigidity when the "box", (the connection between A Pillar and C pillar)
is opened by removing the top. The items such as a lower x brace,
or the hardbar behind the seats would not compensate for the
open top. Neither would provide the stiffness at the top of the
"box". I am trying to think of the chassis as a cage, and that top
piece would be critical.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Targa Brace (vettman96)
I'm no engineer, but it seems to me that the chassis looses its
rigidity when the "box", (the connection between A Pillar and C pillar)
is opened by removing the top. The items such as a lower x brace,
or the hardbar behind the seats would not compensate for the
open top. Neither would provide the stiffness at the top of the
"box". I am trying to think of the chassis as a cage, and that top
piece would be critical.
rigidity when the "box", (the connection between A Pillar and C pillar)
is opened by removing the top. The items such as a lower x brace,
or the hardbar behind the seats would not compensate for the
open top. Neither would provide the stiffness at the top of the
"box". I am trying to think of the chassis as a cage, and that top
piece would be critical.
Here's a neat trick. Take the top out of your car and then go park it on a hill. Try to put the top back in, it absolutely will not fit. The cross bar cannot correct that, neither can the camber brace, it's the car bending in the middle that causes this problem. The bottom X brace is the most promising, but it also adds the most weight and gives up some ground clearance. It's also questionable how effective it really is. The only way to know for sure would be to install one and then go park on a hill and see if the top will go back in.
I dont' drive my car with the top out enough to warrant the x-brace. I need my ground clearance around the campus speed bumps. For my purposes the roof brace works just fine. Now if I was into road racing I'd probably have every piece of chassis stiffening available. :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire There's nothing like a 'Vette
Re: Targa Brace (vettman96)
Many of you may already know this, but it's interesting to note that when the C4 was being designed, it was done so around a T-top, rather than a targa configuration! I am currently reading "Corvette From The Inside" by Dave McLellan, who was the Corvette chief engineer from 1975 to 1992 and just learned this fact. It seems the development team put considerable effort into designing the new body to have much greater rigidity than previous generations. All their work was based around a T-top platform and it's structural tie. However, McLellan states that "...at the last hour, Lloyd Reuss ( a GM exec) vetoed the use of the T-bar, insisting that the car should be a targa configuration. Without the T-bar, all our calculations were moot". Reinforcements were added to try to compensate for the loss of this important part of the structure, but the end result was a body with less stiffness than they wanted. One of these changes was to the rocker sill. The orginal design was for a tapered sill (low in the front and high in the rear). So, when you feel the body flex with the top off, just think of Lloyd. :mad :crazy:
