jpd3253

Anyone have an idea as to the weight of the 'vert's targa top? Also, how next to impossible is it for one person to remove and reinstall it?

Icemark

I find it very easy to remove and re-install by myself.

probably 20 lbs, but I'll see and weigh one tomarrow

Tournapart

iTrader: (4)

i love my vert, but when the top is up the blindspots are DEATH!

Jaguarx7

Yeah, driving topless is very nice as far as vision is concerned. I for one though would love to eliminate the targa and go with a lighter, more simple canvas top. And a tonnau cover.

jpd3253

Thanks, I'm trying to decide if targa removal for autox would be worth the effort or even a factor.

Icemark

well, its fiberglass, so it really does not weigh that much. In fact the headliner part is probably a good 1/3 of the weight, so if you removed the headliner, then you get a lot more helmet room.

vaughnc

It's not that hard to remove:
1) Retract the top 1/2 way so it faces verticle (my perfered method)
2) push the "pop-out" buttons on the rear hindge covers
3) put the covers in the glovebox
4) pull the rear hingle release levers
5) Remove Top
6) Place top in RX-7 Convertible Storage Bag
7) Place bag in trunk
8) Snap on boot to protect retracted top

Don't forget that helps stiffen the car and eliminates all cowel shake when the top is up.

Adjust the side mirrors slightly past the edge of the car, that helps tremendously.

Trav

So you want increased wind-noise and less protection from the elements?
Frankly, the 'vert top on RX7s is better than most others I've seen except on maybe the latest models out there... Go compare ours to a Miata top for example.

imo.

Jaguarx7

If I didn't want more noise and less protection I wouldn't own a convertible. The only time my top is up is when it's raining, or too cold to put the top up if it starts raining. And Icemark, were you saying that the targa piece itself was fibreglass? I hope not, because mine's steel. I've had the trim off it for about a year, so it can be seen plain as day.

Icemark

There is steel in the top behind the mounting plates for the latch and hinge, but the top itself is fiberglass.

jpd3253

Thanks for the tip. But since I casually autox in non-SCCA events for the fun, I typically run with the top down. My initial weight question was essentially grasping for some non-destructive weight reduction. However, applying your tip to a spare cover might work a certain track events where the roll bar requirements have been relaxed.

jpd3253

Interstate speeds with the top down gets old real quick. The top is well designed. Consider the drag coefficient for the 'vert of .33 versus the coupe at .31

Icemark

The weight is 20lbs 14.4 oz of my 88's targa.

I would imagine that the 89-92 top would be slightly higher as it has the extra rain gutters, but I would not expect that to add more than 1lb.

Jaguarx7

Ice, where are you finding fibreglass? I've looked all over that thing and can't find a square inch of anything but steel and vinal. And the top may be well designed for what the designer intened, but some people like comfort, and others simplicity, and I prefer the latter. That's why I prefer an XK120 over an XK8, a model A over a Taurus, and a Packard V-12 over a Ferrari V-12. I don't care about noise or "protection", I just want the most simple and light top available.

Icemark

The whole thing is cast fiberglass. Have you not removed the headliner???

Jaguarx7

I've had the headliner off for over a year.

Icemark

well the whole Targa roof is plastic injected fiberglass... if you look at where the headliner pops in do you see the mounting holes??? Thick plastic.

Does your roof have the drip rails on the top like a 89-92??? Or how about under the targa roof clamps... you don't see the metal plate pop riveted onto the fiberglass???

Jaguarx7

The latches on my targa piece are bolted on not riveted on (10mm head, in case you're wondering), and the headliner pops into metal brackets attached to the flat sheet metal piece. BTW, the car was built in february 1988 if that changes anything.

kiyoshi

When I weighed mine (88), it was about 20 lbs. I got other one and cut out the top part where two (top and bottom) fibergrass meets. Then I covered there by aluminum sheet. Now it becomes around 10 lbs. I am doing this just for my experiment of vert weight reduction.

Icemark

No, you did not understand what I said.

I said:
Of course you have 10mm bolts, again remove the bolts and roof clamps and you will see large pop rivets, that hold the retaining plate to the fiberglass of the rood.

The roofs are fiberglass.

If yours is metal, then it is either not a factory roof, or you are mistaken.

Take a picture of the roof with the headliner removed and post it or email it.