Cracked Targa Top 1987 Coupe

Alfonso Gomez · 10-07-02, 07:53 AM

Stupid of me. I had not taken the top off in about 2 months. So I took my wife for a spin and she asked to take the top off. After loosening all four hold-down bolts, I started lifting the top but it was stuck. So I stood on the door sill and yanked up and heard a sharp CRACK . The driver's side rear corner of the plexiglass top broke . It seems the top was stuck due to weatherstripping glue or something. The piece did not fall off. Is there a fix? What kind of glue can be used? Is a fiberglass targa top better than the plexiglass one?

Where can a new top be purchased without having to mortgage the house?

The Car Whisperer · 10-08-02, 08:50 PM

I work with Acrylics, you can glue the roof with any good solvent type Acrylic cement. WELD-ON is a good manufacturer of these products. You can get it at a local plastics supply company or you may even be able to find some at a hobby shop. Acrylic solvent type cements are water thin. You apply them to the assembled part, in other words put the pieces together in exact alignment first. You can apply the adhesive with a small artists brush, just dip the brush in the solvent adhesive and touch it to the joint, it should flow right into the joint by capilarry action. Let it sit undisturbed for 24 hours and you should have a good repair. It wont be as strong as before it broke but should hold together fairly well. Apply the adhesive carefully because it runs easily. Position your roof so that the solvent wont run all over the place, it may cause permanant damage to the surface if it does.
I would probably go with the Weld-On #4.

RS84Syr · 10-13-02, 01:27 PM

Alfonso, unfortunately this is a common problem
with the glass tops. I had a similar problem a
few years back where I got a crack in the front
passenger side.

I searched everywhere and found a NOS top at
a local Vette shop. Better yet, I was fully covered
under my glass replacement with my car insurance.

Got a new $1,000 top for nothing.

Good luck in you search. I put a simple
bead of black silicone on the crack while
I was shopping. Yours sounds a little more
complicated being on the corner and all.

Rick

BigRed · 10-13-02, 01:33 PM

Ive had by fibreglass top get sticky or stuck before so what I did was go to the parts store and bought some Dielectric grease (Reccomended by people here) I spread it on the seals which are new and I noticed they are much softer.

They seal better so water doesn't come in also when I take the top off it falls off after I pull the bolts. Nice! Thanks guys

So I'll reccommend the same to you after your top is fixed