t350t targa top

[hollowlegs]

going over 120mph yesterday noticed the targa panels lifting slightly so backed off, enough to see daylight through, its a 53 plate, with the stainless metal plates sitting on the inner edges of the panels, they looked slightly bent with the windforce trying to lift the panels up, where can i get new ones as i suspect bending the current ones back into place will weaken them? and is there any tips on how to reduce windoise/get a better seal between panel and roof?

cheers guys

[targarama]

hollowlegs said:

going over 120mph yesterday noticed the targa panels lifting slightly so backed off, enough to see daylight through, its a 53 plate, with the stainless metal plates sitting on the inner edges of the panels, they looked slightly bent with the windforce trying to lift the panels up, where can i get new ones as i suspect bending the current ones back into place will weaken them? and is there any tips on how to reduce windoise/get a better seal between panel and roof? cheers guys

Sounds like the newer fitment. Do they attach front and rear of on the sides of the panel?

How well sealed were the panels in the first place? What speed does whistling start from the panels (if the answer is below 100mph then they aren't adjusted 100%).

[hollowlegs]

no i think its the older design, the catches are on the sides of the panels, whistling did start at around 85mph which didnt bother me, now its more like 60mph, the rubber seals dont look too great for the windspeeds they have to deal with IMO.

[yi8tvr]

hollowlegs said:

going over 120mph yesterday noticed the targa panels lifting slightly so backed off, enough to see daylight through, its a 53 plate, with the stainless metal plates sitting on the inner edges of the panels, they looked slightly bent with the windforce trying to lift the panels up, where can i get new ones as i suspect bending the current ones back into place will weaken them? and is there any tips on how to reduce windoise/get a better seal between panel and roof? cheers guys

Vaseline the rubber seals will help. Some guys ive heard use KY Jelly but hey everyone to there own. Ive also heard its a bit of a ritual at some meets for the guys to smear KY Jelly around the tail pipes, cant for the life of me think why

>> Edited by yi8tvr on Wednesday 17th May 15:07

[hollowlegs]

ok thanks i'll give that a bash! iv only had the car a week and yet to go to one of these "meets".lol

[targarama]

Can't see how vaseline would make the seal tighter (ooer). I'd get onto a TVR dealer about some new catches or adjusting the existing ones. One the newer (front/rear mounted) panels there is the possibility to use washers and other means to tighten the catch mounting.

[yi8tvr]

targarama said:

Can't see how vaseline would make the seal tighter (ooer). I'd get onto a TVR dealer about some new catches or adjusting the existing ones. One the newer (front/rear mounted) panels there is the possibility to use washers and other means to tighten the catch mounting.

No it wont make it tighter Trefor but it seems to make the seal between the rubbers better. Mine leaks at about 90mph if fitted with care with vaseline it starts leaking air at around 120mph.

[Podie]

Doesn't vaseline destroy rubber...?

[alt]

Podie said:

Doesn't vaseline destroy rubber...?

Ah, so is that why men who "are good with colours" get their own special condoms?

[yi8tvr]

Podie said:

Doesn't vaseline destroy rubber...?

I dont know podie im not an expert with vaseline, are you

[Rippers]

My roof panels started whistling bang on on 80mph. Recently adjusted them and the problem seems to have vanished. Not been much faster this week due to the wet but at 80mph all is silent.

Cheers - Rippers

[targarama]

Rippers said:

My roof panels started whistling bang on on 80mph. Recently adjusted them and the problem seems to have vanished. Not been much faster this week due to the wet but at 80mph all is silent. Cheers - Rippers

Yeah!

People think T350 targas are noisy - they don't realise they're just like coupes and silent from the roof at normal speeds, but with a bit more cool batmanesque style, loads more headroom and rooflessness when needed

[hollowlegs]

yeh but depends by what you suggest by normal speeds.

my personal view is although i love my t350t to bits i do think that for a car which is capable of 175mph or thereabouts there shouldnt be any windnoise till at least 150mph, just think more time could have been spent on the design of it.

it shouldn't be a around to get a good fit every time of fitting.

[targarama]

hollowlegs said:

yeh but depends by what you suggest by normal speeds. my personal view is although i love my t350t to bits i do think that for a car which is capable of 175mph or thereabouts there shouldnt be any windnoise till at least 150mph, just think more time could have been spent on the design of it. it shouldn't be a around to get a good fit every time of fitting.

I agree the panels should be much easier to fit 'well'.

But you ry driving one of those Merc SL hardtop cabrios above 120mph then - whistles loudly. Same goes for many soft tops at silly speeds. Considering 90% of my driving is at or below 100mph I'm happy.

Would be nice to know it won't pop off in a vmax attempt though.

>> Edited by targarama on Friday 19th May 16:57

[m33ufo]

I've recently bought a T350t...love the car. There isn't a section in the manual for panel removal and refixing. Is there a generally accepted method for this....? Mine is a later model roof.