Targa Top Repairs
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
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From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Targa Top Repairs
Well today I got completely fed up with my targa. I have an acrylic top that is coming unglued from the frame. This led to leaks, wind noise and a horrible squeaking sound. The last few days here have been warm, so I decided to try to fix it.
Went down to the autorepair store and purchased some 15min epoxy for plastic. I just got done gooping it into the area where the top was delaminating.
I put a small crack in the top when I clamped it together though :mad You would think that GM would have found some way to blind fasten the acrylic to the aluminum frame, but instead they just glued it :cuss
Anyway, I'll let you know later on how it turned out. It has already cured, as the glue isn't giving off heat anymore. Wish me luck! :D
Went down to the autorepair store and purchased some 15min epoxy for plastic. I just got done gooping it into the area where the top was delaminating.
I put a small crack in the top when I clamped it together though :mad You would think that GM would have found some way to blind fasten the acrylic to the aluminum frame, but instead they just glued it :cuss
Anyway, I'll let you know later on how it turned out. It has already cured, as the glue isn't giving off heat anymore. Wish me luck! :D
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: Targa Top Repairs (JCAIRE2)
Well, so far, so good :D Top held together after I released the clamps. Mounted it to car, and adjusted my fasteners. They were really out of whack from all the flexing and whatnot.
Let me tell you, that was the best 3.49 I've spent so far. The creaks and moans are all gone. Several rattles have disappeared, and I get to enjoy the sounds of the engine, stereo and environment; rather than the cracks, creaks, squeaks and moans the body structure was making.
For now, I'm very happy. I put ~50 miles on the car. I made sure to travel some rough roads, some steep driveways, etc.... I made sure to put it through its paces. I did get one sharp crack noise from the top, but that was within the first 3 feet when I was backing the vette out, other than that, not a sound.
I hope this can help someone else out.
:cheers:
J
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: Targa Top Repairs (JCAIRE2)
Oh well, it didn't hold up through the temperature change last night. The rebonded section hasn't completely failed, but I'm sure it will. As soon as I get a weeks worth of sunny/warm weather where I won't need the top, I'm going to completely seperate the acrylic and frame and epoxy it back together. Hopefully that will work, since I'll be able to completely remove the old epoxy and clean both bonding surfaces. Top is still much quieter though, not as creaky/squeaky.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Manchester MA
Re: Targa Top Repairs (JCAIRE2)
I am going to be dealing with something similar to this in the spring. Last fall I started to lay a fiberglass top (using old top as template). I need warmer weather to finish th glass work before I can swap the glass panel to the frame. I have been thinking about this and I think you are going to need a slightly flexible adheasive. The two materials have different expansion rates and if the glued joint doesn't break something else the acrylic will break around it. Just something to think about.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: Targa Top Repairs (smittyvette57)
I am going to be dealing with something similar to this in the spring. Last fall I started to lay a fiberglass top (using old top as template). I need warmer weather to finish th glass work before I can swap the glass panel to the frame. I have been thinking about this and I think you are going to need a slightly flexible adheasive. The two materials have different expansion rates and if the glued joint doesn't break something else the acrylic will break around it. Just something to think about.
My next attempt will involve me completely seperating the top and frame, sanding or grinding the old adhesive off, laying a new bead, and reassembling the parts. I will need a LOT of luck, so please wish me some! Now I just need some warmer weather, as this is my daily driver.
J
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: Targa Top Repairs (smittyvette57)
Let us know what brand of adhesive you plan on using and its results. Good Luck.
J :cheers:
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