I would love to see some pics of 4th gen's with Targa Tops

sfGi8nt · 05-20-2002, 10:28 PM

...you know, like a removable hard top, kind like the vettes!
Have any of you guys seen one or have pics of one?
I would love to have t-tops, but since mine is a coupe, the only change I would make, is to be able to remove the whole top whenever I want.
Possible?

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TONEZ28 - 97 Black A4 z28 : 270rwhp / 290rwtq
Appearance : 01' z28 Chrome 5 Spokes- All GTS Blackouts-Billet Grill-
Orange Reflective z28 & Bowtie Overlays and Camaro Fill-in
Mods : K&N FIPK-Flowmaster-TB Bypass-Airfoil-
160 stat-Cutout-!MAF Screen-BFG DR's (track use only)
Best E.T. : 13.64 @101.50 w/ 2.04 60'
w/ Drag Radials : 13.56@100.80 w/ 1.97 60'

neil350 · 05-20-2002, 10:56 PM

Never heard or seen one, there has been talk of it though.

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93 T/A
"The Only 2 things in life that make it worth living, guitars tuned good and firm feeling women" Waylon Jennings

94YELLOWBIRD · 05-21-2002, 12:39 AM

dont know if it is possible.

if im thinking correctly the only brace for the top of f-bodies is in between the t-tops.

and if you dont have that your car has no structure stability

dont really know for sure, but though of doing the targa at one time and was told this by a GM dealer

RYANA · 05-21-2002, 12:55 AM

I want to do the same thing but I am thinking that you should be able to brace the same as a convertible right. Might be expensive but it couold be done i think what do you guys think

neil350 · 05-21-2002, 11:14 AM

It can be done, the convertible obviously dont have the brace. It would be a lot of custom work. Maybe I can let one of my friends with a Vette that has that roof option let me borrow their pannel so I can take some measurments.

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93 T/A
"The Only 2 things in life that make it worth living, guitars tuned good and firm feeling women" Waylon Jennings

sahlomonic · 05-21-2002, 11:56 AM

I've actually seen an ad in the back of a Car Craft (or something similar) mag from this shop in Cali that does Targa conversions. That's about all I know . . .

pu12en12g · 05-21-2002, 06:23 PM

Here are a few concept photos I had done, entertaining this idea...

http://www.mnfbody.com/memberpages/p...rgaconcept.jpg

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~ Black 95 Z A4 Convert~
P t ' s w e b p a g e
Custom PCM, ASR PCM mod, 1st gear mod, short shifter, 3" CUTOUT, TB Bypass, ported/polished MAF, Vortech/K&N CAI, LT4KM, JET IAT, BMR STB, BMR SB, BMR SFC's, TPIS Fuel Pump (SS HOOD, Ground-Control/Eibach ERS, 160 stat, Ignition Booster waiting to be installed !)

snakeatinZ · 05-21-2002, 11:10 PM

THAT IS FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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1996Z28 A4It changes colors?,69 Z28 Badges,3:23's,K&N FIPK, cutout,Moroso Blue Max wires,NGK TR-55s, LT4KM,HotchkisSTB,1LE Elbow,Clear turns, 17X9.5 LG Worldchallenge wheels,3:23Perf. rear end,RWHP:265/RWTQ:294 1/4mile:13.6mph: 103

05-21-2002, 11:38 PM

If i had money, I would get that in a heart beat. toyata Supra targa top what?

Camaro Targa top. How about a targa top with t-tops? eh?

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93 Patriot Red Z28 - A4, 3.23 Gears
*Mods*: Hooker Super Competition Catback, Holley 58MM Throttle Body, Holley Powershot Filter, 160* Thermostat, A. Anderson Programming Chip

Audio: JVC KDSH77 HU, Infiniti Kappa 6.5"
Max's Patriot Red 93 Z

pu12en12g · 05-22-2002, 01:46 AM

The first one to successfully complete this conversion, will have sponsors and magazines knockin at the door...

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~ Black 95 Z A4 Convert~
P t ' s w e b p a g e
Custom PCM, ASR PCM mod, 1st gear mod, short shifter, 3" CUTOUT, TB Bypass, ported/polished MAF, Vortech/K&N CAI, LT4KM, JET IAT, BMR STB, BMR SB, BMR SFC's, TPIS Fuel Pump (SS HOOD, Ground-Control/Eibach ERS, 160 stat, Ignition Booster waiting to be installed !)

naaz90 · 05-22-2002, 10:15 AM

ok whos the first to sacrifice their Z for this. I think it would be easier to somehow keep the tops attached to the center piece (as one whole unit) and cut it out. Then you would have one solid piece and still have a way to attach it securly useing the existing tops bracketry. You would just have to smooth out the cuts and line it with weather stripping.

Ok whos first??????????

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'94 Z28 M6
Hedman Headers, Borla Cat-back, Power Programmer, 373 gears

PICS
http://community.webshots.com/user/naaz90

acarnut · 05-22-2002, 02:18 PM

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by naaz90:
ok whos the first to sacrifice their Z for this.</font>

I had T-tops on my previous Z, and thought about it, being a fan of the C4, C5, and CERV III (concept car) and their targa tops. It certainly has a 'cool' factor.

But I had a reality check.
- cost of mods
- reduction in resale value
- relatively small opening
- little gain in open area over the t-tops
- buffeting at highway speeds
- where will you put this panel when it's off?
- hassle to remove/install by one person
- hassle to remove/install compared to power top of convertible.

So the last point led me to just buy a convertible. Makes the openings in my t-top car seem kinda small in comparison.

Now then - if you started with a convertible, and grafted a hard top to it, done in two pieces so as to give you a targa option, that would be interesting.

The convertible, being a factory built topless car, is simply braced better than you'd get trying to fix up the coupe (6 or 8 point cages notwithstanding).

DaveH

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'00 Z28 Conv M6 Pewter, LoudMouth, OEM SS Hood, Home-made short shifter handle, Corbeau Targa RS seats, Lowered ~2.5", SFCs, 1LE LCA and PHR bushings, some wobbly Z06 wheels (18x10.5"), my Home page, more pics that don't fit on my home page.

dlx3200 · 05-22-2002, 02:36 PM

RK sport has a sport back. They say it's developed to create a targa top feeling. Hope this helps.

MadKilla · 05-22-2002, 02:37 PM

I thought of this also, but it wouldn't be as difficult I think as some of make it out to be. If you took a regular hard top roof, you could probably cut it and graft the ends onto the t-top braces. You would need to reinforce the roof, running maybe a flat steel strip epoxied from one latch to the other in the front and back, because when you lifted it it would flex otherwise. You would also need to make a secure latch for the center of the top, because it would probably lift at high speed. The T-tops secure under that center strip. I would be willing to gunie pig my SS for this , since I already have a hardtop to drive around. The cool thing is you could probably make the roof to work before you ever even had to cut out the center roof support. So technically you don't have to chop the car up to do it. Once it worked you could cut the divider, design the center latch, and weather trip it. Done. If anyone in Orlando is interested, I am going to go get a roof and t-tops off a wrecker this week, and give it a go. BTW, if I cut the divider I would need some super tight double diamond subframes, who makes the strongest?

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[url=http://www.geocities.com/jpw32811/znred.html [/URL]

2002 NBM SS
13.3@108<-- 1st and only pass ever in M6
94 Z28 Mid 12's with some traction

Gun control is hitting what you aim at

[This message has been edited by MadKilla (edited May 22, 2002).]

pu12en12g · 05-22-2002, 04:00 PM

Yeah I wouldn't even consider going from T-Tops to Targa... no point.. but HARDTOP to TARGA... now THAT would be BADASS

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~ Black 95 Z A4 Convert~
P t ' s w e b p a g e
Custom PCM, ASR PCM mod, 1st gear mod, short shifter, 3" CUTOUT, TB Bypass, ported/polished MAF, Vortech/K&N CAI, LT4KM, JET IAT, BMR STB, BMR SB, BMR SFC's, TPIS Fuel Pump (SS HOOD, Ground-Control/Eibach ERS, 160 stat, Ignition Booster waiting to be installed !)