Covering targa panels.
Discussion
I am going to have a go at re-covering my targa panels. I have found some black mohair hooding on line at £35-90 a metre x 1.5 metres and It looks as though a metre should be enough for both panels
This must be fairly common job but I can’t find much information on line (except for a write up by a gentleman called GJR on Griffith / Chimaera roof re-covering which is helpful, thank you..)
Can anybody point me to any other information on the subject, or give me any advice.
In particular;-
Is the fabric glued down to the whole surface of the panel or just stretched tight and glued at the edges? (mine just seems to be attached to the edges but maybe the glue on the panel surface has just failed.)
Should the fabric be applied wet to enable it to shrink tight as it dries, as you would do for canvas, (My existing covering wrinkles when it gets wet)
Any information and advice will be very very gratefully received.
(Sorry the post title came out in bold - not sure why)
This must be fairly common job but I can’t find much information on line (except for a write up by a gentleman called GJR on Griffith / Chimaera roof re-covering which is helpful, thank you..)
Can anybody point me to any other information on the subject, or give me any advice.
In particular;-
Is the fabric glued down to the whole surface of the panel or just stretched tight and glued at the edges? (mine just seems to be attached to the edges but maybe the glue on the panel surface has just failed.)
Should the fabric be applied wet to enable it to shrink tight as it dries, as you would do for canvas, (My existing covering wrinkles when it gets wet)
Any information and advice will be very very gratefully received.
(Sorry the post title came out in bold - not sure why)
Edited by lewdon on Wednesday 19th July 13:16
The fabric on the underside of the target panels ( PVC on mine ) should be firmly stuck down to the whole surface including the dished areas.
The reason it all comes unstuck and saggy is because modern water-based adhesive is absolute *@¥#$%* crap and just won't stick properly like the good old solvent-based stuff I loved to use back in my glue-sniffing days.
Last year at Spa we saw a brand new McLaren in which the whole interior roof trim had just fallen away and was resting on top of the head rests.
I am sure the owner would have been even unhappier than Ron Dennis, and he is known to be quite a stickler for perfection.
It is not really desireable to have your roof fall down at 200mph is it?
That's why we always take our roof off first, but you don't have that option with the McLaren do you?
Hence an S is a far superior car, yes?
I guess we can blame 'elf & safety for virtually banning the good adhesives from the workshops that employ one person or more.
If you're doing your own trimming, try and get a decent solvent based adhesive. But open a window for ventilation ( and lock the door to keep the H&S inspectors out whilst you're merrily sniffing away! )
Good luck
The reason it all comes unstuck and saggy is because modern water-based adhesive is absolute *@¥#$%* crap and just won't stick properly like the good old solvent-based stuff I loved to use back in my glue-sniffing days.
Last year at Spa we saw a brand new McLaren in which the whole interior roof trim had just fallen away and was resting on top of the head rests.
I am sure the owner would have been even unhappier than Ron Dennis, and he is known to be quite a stickler for perfection.It is not really desireable to have your roof fall down at 200mph is it?
That's why we always take our roof off first, but you don't have that option with the McLaren do you?
Hence an S is a far superior car, yes?
I guess we can blame 'elf & safety for virtually banning the good adhesives from the workshops that employ one person or more.
If you're doing your own trimming, try and get a decent solvent based adhesive. But open a window for ventilation ( and lock the door to keep the H&S inspectors out whilst you're merrily sniffing away! )
Good luck
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 19th July 14:45
I´ve recovered my panels in the past,it´s easier with an extra pair of hand´s. Without going into too much detail glue one edge and underneath, fix the material to this, then glue the whole panel strech the material over the panel and press it down onto it has you go.Has you strech it against the tangs, cut the slits in the material and press it down over the tangs. It´s not too difficult if i can do it.
glenrobbo said:
The fabric on the underside of the target panels ( PVC on mine ) should be firmly stuck down to the whole surface including the dished areas.
The reason it all comes unstuck and saggy is because modern water-based adhesive is absolute *@¥#$%* crap and just won't stick properly like the good old solvent-based stuff I loved to use back in my glue-sniffing days.
If you're doing your own trimming, try and get a decent solvent based adhesive. But open a window for ventilation ( and lock the door to keep the H&S inspectors out whilst you're merrily sniffing away! )
The vinyl on the underside of my panels appears to be in good nick and still stuck. I am hoping to leave it in place and just loosen it round the edges to get at the mohair.The reason it all comes unstuck and saggy is because modern water-based adhesive is absolute *@¥#$%* crap and just won't stick properly like the good old solvent-based stuff I loved to use back in my glue-sniffing days.
If you're doing your own trimming, try and get a decent solvent based adhesive. But open a window for ventilation ( and lock the door to keep the H&S inspectors out whilst you're merrily sniffing away! )
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 19th July 14:45
Is evostick still solvent based , it certainly smells like it?
I can't remember where I originally found these on the webinternet, but here are my saved PDF versions ........
HTH
Targa Panel Retrim
Soft Top Installation
HTH
Targa Panel Retrim
Soft Top Installation
TVRees said:
I can't remember where I originally found these on the webinternet, but here are my saved PDF versions ........
HTH
Targa Panel Retrim
Soft Top Installation
Thanks, they help a lot, very much appreciated..HTH
Targa Panel Retrim
Soft Top Installation
remember to make sure that the weave is in the same direction on both panels.
mine were done 'professionally' as in I paid quite a lot of money to a recommended chap in Glasgow.
They looked fine but were not fitted to the car for another couple of years (as the rest of the car was being refurbished)
Only then in daylight it is obvious the weave is 180deg out as one panel looks lighter than the other from the front and darker from the rear.
Also in hot weather the interior leather? sags (water based glue)
Bit pissed off really.
Still another couple of years down the road and the tangs are now loose and the glass-fibre bulging due to them starting to rust.
mine were done 'professionally' as in I paid quite a lot of money to a recommended chap in Glasgow.
They looked fine but were not fitted to the car for another couple of years (as the rest of the car was being refurbished)
Only then in daylight it is obvious the weave is 180deg out as one panel looks lighter than the other from the front and darker from the rear.
Also in hot weather the interior leather? sags (water based glue)
Bit pissed off really.
Still another couple of years down the road and the tangs are now loose and the glass-fibre bulging due to them starting to rust.
Totally agree with what has been said about modern glues. Mine was done 'professionally'. The outer was however stuck with a different glue as that glue was black and appears to have been fine. The Ambla faux leather under mine was however applied with a 'modern' spray adhesive and it just wont stay stuck in heat. It is a pigs ear job! The problem then is that you cant merely apply a solvent based glue as it wont bond to the water based adhesive; the Ambla and the grp have to be cleaned down first, and as I haven't yet managed to obtain enough spare Ambla (Jaguar 'Doeskin' if anybody has a source) I am wary of removing the recently applied Ambla as it is easy to stretch and distort it.
When looking for the glue to use make sure it is solvent based, plenty of names like Evo-Stik have a non solvent based glue on mass sale.
I would agree that dealing with some details of the black cotton duck looks tricky, especially the sewn side. Have you priced it up with a trimmer? Doing the loose targa panels is an easy job for them and surprisingly cheap. A poor job will be with you a long time!
I am pretty good at making and mending but that was one job I didnt think it was worth doing myself.
When looking for the glue to use make sure it is solvent based, plenty of names like Evo-Stik have a non solvent based glue on mass sale.
I would agree that dealing with some details of the black cotton duck looks tricky, especially the sewn side. Have you priced it up with a trimmer? Doing the loose targa panels is an easy job for them and surprisingly cheap. A poor job will be with you a long time!
I am pretty good at making and mending but that was one job I didnt think it was worth doing myself.
greymrj said:
I would agree that dealing with some details of the black cotton duck looks tricky, especially the sewn side. Have you priced it up with a trimmer? Doing the loose targa panels is an easy job for them and surprisingly cheap. A poor job will be with you a long time!
I am pretty good at making and mending but that was one job I didnt think it was worth doing myself.
A local hood company told me it would take a whole mornings work at £50 per hour plus materials plus VAT. That’s too expensive for me. (my time is free so I can make 5 unsuccessful attempts for that price, I hope I can get 1 out of 5 good enough to be good enough.)I am pretty good at making and mending but that was one job I didnt think it was worth doing myself.
Though if I could find anyone local at a significantly lower cost I would be delighted to have them do it. I am beginning to find the idea a bit daunting now.
I agree with Griffinr and Phillpot that Thixofix is good stuff, but I like the idea of the “time” part of evo-stik timebond, (which I believe is also solvent based and thixotropic).
I think I will need all the time I can get before the glue sets solid.
TVRees said:
Oh good man, they do list doe skin as well. Been struggling with that one. I owe you. 
Re the price for trimming, have another look and see if you can find a 'back street' old style trimmer, like the two I know (Lancashire) SO much cheaper.
Is near Cambridge any good, as I have just had a quote from a trimmer local to me to do the rear section and the 2 panel's for 650 + vat. I still need to confirm exactly what I require as I don't think it included the under side of the panels. That was for materials and labour. All other places were quoting at least 1000 + vat. Let me know if you surround like me to ask him or if you would like his number as he is not on the internet, he did tell me he has done several chimera hoods that the local dealer used to get him to do. When I went to his he had a classic MG he had been working on and it looked good. Hope this helps, I will be getting him to do my hood once i've sorted the last repair.
greymrj said:
Oh good man, they do list doe skin as well. Been struggling with that one. I owe you.
And, Ambla in Magnolia, which might be the answer to my bits of re-trimming - Good find! Samples sent for....(In case you hadn't spotted it, the same BAS site has S series hoods at £325 and the material for covering the targa panels..)
Edited by RayTVR on Friday 21st July 22:28
Edited by RayTVR on Friday 21st July 22:29
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