My targa brace

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Facime

Facime

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Jun 1, 2006
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...just picked it up today. Front and back plates are 1/4 inch steel and the bars are 1'' tube. Im gonna have the guy make a second generation of it with a couple changes, but all in all Im happy with it.

I had this made because my Targa shimmy was particularly bad. I dont know if I got a driveline problem or if there is some lingering issue from when this car was "tapped" in the front, but between 65-85 it develops a nasty vibration. Oddly though it almost not even noticeable when the top is on, and now when I put my bar in as well.

Anyways, wanted to post these pics of the bar and see what you folks think.

targa2.jpg


targa3.jpg


targa4.jpg
 
xarewhyayen

xarewhyayen

276 whp - 324 tq @ 13psi
Oct 3, 2005
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holy shit thats the greatness!! see if you could get a group buy going? how much did you pay? could you get me one?
 
Facime

Facime

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I paid around 100 bucks to have it made and then I did my own finish work, prep and paint (I didnt have the time to get this one powdercoated). Future versions will be powdercoated, at least thats the plan.

I was introduced to this fabricator by a guy I met on another forum. I designed the bar and gave him a template to follow. He made this one as the prototype, and he will be building a jig from it. Yes I can get more made. And yes I will ask the moderators for a possible group buy.

Im glad you guys like it!


Edit: we also talked about widening the front bar in the center just enough to have the "Supra" logo laser cut into it!
 
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xarewhyayen

xarewhyayen

276 whp - 324 tq @ 13psi
Oct 3, 2005
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Philly
good work weez. Id def get in on the GB its really nice... any insight on the modifications you plan to make to it for your newer version? i love how the sun visor shape is incorporated and the plate in the rear. Looks like it belongs there, and doesnt defeat the open air greatness of the targa... Whats it weigh? Whats you opinion on the difference it made in overall body flex?
 
Facime

Facime

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xarewhyayen said:
good work weez. Id def get in on the GB its really nice... any insight on the modifications you plan to make to it for your newer version? i love how the sun visor shape is incorporated and the plate in the rear. Looks like it belongs there, and doesnt defeat the open air greatness of the targa... Whats it weigh? Whats you opinion on the difference it made in overall body flex?
Click to expand...


When I picked it up yesterday I talked to the guy about the way the back plate mounts. We both agreed that the tube bars should come all the way back to the rear mount locations and the "tabs" will drop down off those bars, and then gusset that into the rear plate more like the front.

When sitting in the car you really keep that open roof feeling (and my fab guy and I both agreed the center made for a great "oh shit grip". As far as flex goes I cant say because by the time I got it painted it was too late for anything more than a trip up and down the highway. But I can say that ALL my targa "shimmy" went away (my car has a wicked one roll on about 65MPH). I can see already that I will definately be taking the top out alot more this summer!
 
xarewhyayen

xarewhyayen

276 whp - 324 tq @ 13psi
Oct 3, 2005
959
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Philly
looking closer at the pics now that you said about the bars extending to the mounting location... you're right, itd create much more rigidity than the bars attaching to the plate, and the plate to the mounting screws. The more i look at it, the more i want one.
 
Facime

Facime

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Jun 1, 2006
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Im headed to the meet in Portland tomorrow so some guys will get a chance to look at it. After I get back from that I will try to get approval to conduct a group buy.

2 things - Realize I did all the finish work to get it prepped for paint, so getting that done before powder coating might make the price go up...or people could just get em raw and do em themselves...dunno. Also, one other benifit of this design is that it fits where the Targa stores when your not using it.
 
Facime

Facime

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JustAnotherVictim said:
Why did you decide to get the bars curved?
Click to expand...

It was just an asthetic thing. I had seen the X-brace, but I didnt find a big "X" over my head all that appealing. Dont get me wrong that guys fab work was phenominal, I just didnt like the design. Also that one was really for a different purpose, more of a racing design. I wanted something for the street, that eliminated shimmy and flex, and at the same time kept the open air feeling as much as possible.
 
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pimptrizkit

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Dec 22, 2005
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right on pete , that looks pretty dang good,

cant wait to see it in person.

got the motor and tranny yanked out of that white one already!. :biglaugh:
 
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