I hear what your saying about the X-brace, but if you take a closer look at it you will see its welded where the two bar meet in the middle, so essentially this is an X, there just happens to be some shape to that X. Yes, a straight bar will distribute load better than the bent bars, but with 1" tube steel its very solid feeling. I also didnt intend this to be a racing bar, its designed for street use, and so far it has done exactly what it was intended to do...stop targa shimmy!


But I appreciate your critique...its valuable input.

Hmm yes the tubing does look thicker when its on the car. It looks like smaller tubing when its hanging there. As long as it gets rid of the shakey-ness, that means it works. lol. It does look pretty good too, in a cosmetic way

Looks can be decieving...it has exceeded my needs and expectations...Went to Portland and back today (180 miles round trip), took her up to and past my usually shimmy zone...NONE! felt like driving with the top on.

Again I stress, this wasnt meant to be for racing, its a street use item...but I would be willing to bet even an autocrosser would not be able to tell the difference between having this on or thier targa on.

Regardless, the reception has been good, so in the next week or so Im putting in my order for at least 10 of these.

i agree 100%, and after looking at pictures of the meet, it seems to go well with the car.

Honestly, I think that it's just because it's painted white. It sticks out. If it were painted black, I think it would look better.

Also, it works. That's enough said right there.

You should get a tinted lexan/gass cover made and put it one of those braces too, The its just like T-tops. I would love a clear targa cover... BTW, ever get a final cost for it? ill get one one of these days

I like the idea of the clear cover! Also I would like the brace too, but I will paint mine black, but if they do get ordered will we have a choice in powdercoating colors?

Thanks
Russ

ive also been thinking of a sort of brace for my 87t when i get it rolling. i was thinking something basic and not bashing but i dont really like the ttop look. also something to think about, having a brace made that you can have on and then put the targa top on also. i mean say you have the brace on and it starts pouring rain, all you have to do is just throw on the top instead of having the remove the brace and the then put the top on.

thats what the clear cover is for!(plus some weather seals)

Well its good to see some thought out discussion on the topic. Certainly there is room for mods on this, and anyone with a little imagination and some "know how" could make it work. But Im going to leave mods up to the people who get one of these for now.

As for finishing, I have decided that they will come unfinished. It saves on ititial costs and keeps my handling down to a minimum. As soon as I hear from a Mod I will pass on information as to how to get your hands on one of these.

brace questions
 

thanks for sharing your creation with all of us! that's a great idea you came up with. Can you answer a couple issues about the design? 1) how much does the entire brace weigh? 2) where the brace sits and touches the existing rubber gasket weather stripping on the front and back parts of the roof, is there additional weather stripping on the underside of the brace to make contact with the original weather stripping? (concern about the bare metal damaging the existing weather stripping).

thanks in advance for your clarification