Targa Kit instructions
This Targa-Kit makes it possible to change your OPEL GT to an "AERO GT". Please pay attention to the instructions exactly, do the job only if you are qualified to do carbody work. If not, please consult a qualified craftsman. The OPEL GT when Factory made isn't stiff enough to become an AERO, that is why a few things need to be adjusted, but with a little know how there is no problem at all.
CAUTION
DO NOT cut off the roof BEFORE welding in the strenthening , NEVER !!!! Do all welding work by an Argon gas cylinder welding machine (MIG I ASSUME) . Using a swayzall for cutting the roof is recommended. (WTF is a swayzall??)
The kit contains;
Frame reinforcement kit
(2 x inner rocker panels,
4 x Frame Pieces for underneath,
3 x Frame Pieces for inner rear section,
1 x T-Bar frame for inner rear section
Replacement Glass Fibre roof
Roof insert for new roof
Template for cutting the roof
Complete Roof seal kit
Lock system
Special Glue for fibreglass parts)
Before welding in the strenthening, make sure that the car bottom is clean from paint and primer, Welding ONLY on clean steel. Front and Rear axle must be mounted, If the car is on a lift, please make sure that BOTH suspension units are loaded. Remove ALL combustionable parts from the interior.
The Underneath Strenthening
2 x squared steel tube - front lifting jack support l/r to Chassis
2 x squared steel tube (flat) rear Chassis to lifting jack support / trailing arm support.
(Basicly is 4 Square tubes that go alongside the Jacking points, the the Chassis rails. Looking at YXY's Targa in the Gallery shows these in the pictures of the car on the ramps)
Now weld in the additional inner rocker panels, please note that the distance between new and old (good condition) rocker panels is about 3-4mm, Take care that the Seat Belt connections are still usable.
(OK, this is an Extra INNER SILL on the inside of the car to make it Double layered, Simple and effective)
The strenthening for the rear inner section contains 3 x Square steel tubes, The long one goes INTO the Horizontal U-Profile, Now weld the 2 short tubes, Left and right, from the Upper Strenthening to the rear wheel housing.
(Its a thicker steel section that fits into the existing framework (the part that Makes the FRONT of the rear shelf) Then its braced with 2 more smaller pieces onto the Inner Wheel Arch)
Now weld the T-Bar frame (2 pieces) into the rear interior, Make sure that the facing board will still fit. Next step is welding in the sheel metals left and right to the rear.
(This is a MASSIVE square sectional steel beam that sits along the bottom, UNDERNEATH the rear seat/shelf. Then 2 gussets from the semi-circular , sort of making them SQUARE ended instead)
Now for the fun part , Basicly, Close the doors, Make sure gaps are ok then SPOT WELD the upper frame sides to the vehicle body. When fixed properly, cut through the frame at the door height and Viola, the door now opens and the frames are now part of the body work.Then fit the template to the roof and CUT OFF the roof.
The rest of the document explains how to fit the supplied seals using the supplied glues.
This is where I admit to not HAving picked up my GT yet, so I'm not sure how the door frames are going to work. (Does the Window slide inside) the picture on the link above show a Rubber seal similar to the "Manta A", I'm guessing that it will all be explanitory when I come to do it.
