Targa top latch broke

Told ya...............Shoulda gotta TB
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Part #62219400. $898 through Ricambi, obviously more from the dealer. Ouch!

 

Which brings up such questions as:
1. Which Alfa/Fiat part is it, or
2. Can it be welded/repaired, or
3. Is it available used

 

Unfortunately I didn't drive it...Had a kiddie Bday to go to today, was an all day thing in the 95 degree weather

 

I have two used 348 latches (in great mechanical shape, but the plastic/rubber coating could be better). They came with a cloth targa top that I purchased for my 355 GTS (I had to purchase two 355 latches for more than $1K). I haven't decided if I want to sell the latches because if I ever decide to sell my 355, I would probably sell the cloth top separately and would then be able to give prospective buyers a choice of 355 or 348 latches. If you really need the latch, PM me what price you think is fair. I would, however, prefer to sell the pair. Is there anyone else out there interested in buying one latch?

 

Welcome to the world of Ferrari. There is nothing else quite like it!

 

This is a great candidate for someone to remanufacture a part based on the current prices. If a small run could be done for $150 per piece (for maybe 25 pieces), then the sell price could easily be brought down to $350 or so. Still expensive, but a little more reasonable. It seems like there should be used parts as replacements floating around.

BT

 

The 308 targa latches are ~~ $300 used. I don't know if they are similar in design, though.


The real killer is that it is probably just an Alpha Romeo or FIAT part...marked up for use in Ferrari. Italians are funny that way.

It would be unusual for Ferrari to actually make a one-use product; they typically just re-use parts from other production runs.

Anyway, snap a pic of it...maybe it can be welded back together.

 

Well there is a very limited number of Fiat/alfa convertibles of that era that might have such a latch. The X 1/9, fiat spider (124 was it?), Alfa spider in the US. Can't really think of any others off the top of my head. In europe they had a fiat ritmo cabriolet as well (sold as strada in the states I think). I'm sure parts diagrams are online somewhere for those cars.

 

Ferrari also uses Porsche parts (e.g. ZF Differential) in our cars. What do the 911 and 993/996 targa latches look like?

Heck, we've got a VW heater valve clone in our 348's!

 

If the latch is metal, it usually can be welded. Take the latch of the cover and take it to a welder.....they usually charge $50.00 an hour and its done.
.....another option (I do not recall the exact configuration of this latch) maybe a machine shop can fab one for you?

Can you post a picture of the broken latch?

 

Wow that cheap.. Most shop rates here in Vegas (for a good shop) are $100.00 to $130.hr.

 

$50.00 an hour for a pro welder is the going rate in Toronto.
I have had them tig alloy cylinder heads while still on the motor which saved me the cost of an engine tear down to repair the affected part.

 

Those latches are cast pot-metal... which why they break, you'd need a pretty skilled welder to do anything with it.
You could probably have a decent fabricator make new ones out of billet for less than the Ferrari ass-raping price.

 

I'd try this on it before I threw away a broken $800 latch: http://www.muggyweld.com/potmetal.html

 

Update: These latches are not made of pot metal. Every part of them is magnetic. The part that is broken in the picture is made out of two pieces that are staked together. The only reason that they are two pieces, instead of one, is that the rubber cap on the end of this "lever" is held in place by being clamped between the two pieces. You can remove the lever by drilling out two rivits. It sure looks to me like the lever could be welded back together at the break, or you could make a new one out of 5/32" stock - trace out the outline of the old one onto a piece of stock, and cut it out on a band saw, bend the flange onto the end, and glue the rubber cap on. It certainly looks to me like I could fix one of these (broken in the same place) for next to nothing. Patching it together with any kind of epoxy would be a waste of time.

 

For sure I would have this latch repaired if I could not find a used one for cheap. Like Uncle Milty said, it can be done with some flat stock steel.
Of course if you buy a new latch you can sit and admire it every time you get in the car...
BT

 

I haven't looked closely at my 348 latches, BJ, but I'd also try to repair your latch. I'd try to see if I could disassemble the latch, remove the broken part, trace it out on a solid piece of flat bar, and try to cut it out or even grind it down to shape on a grinder. Not sure how easy it would be to do, but you sure could spend a lot of time making something for the price of a new one! Maybe a shop would even do this for you.... If so, maybe they could even make up a bunch for other brothers! I'm sure your's isn't the first that's failed. Please keep us informed on progress!!

 

I decided to take my targa latches off to remove the sticky finish and check for cracks. I was interested to see that one of the latches had a bent lever - notice how the rubber shoe is off center - and sure enough, there is a tiny crack at the radius where the pointer is indicating. I'll need to keep an eye on this.

It would appear to be important to make an inspection to confirm that the rubber shoe lines up properly with the pocket on the windshield frame. If the shoe is off center on the pocket, it will ENORMOUSLY increase the amount of tension on the lever in the latch, and lead to premature failure. It still appears to me that the lever can be welded if it is removed (easily) from the latch, and there should be no need to replace the entire latch assembly because of a broken lever.
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