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348 Targa Latch Question

Discussion in '348/355' started by ///Mike, Dec 19, 2016.

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  1. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #1 ///Mike, Dec 19, 2016
    The latches on my 348 top are floppy and won't stay in any one position when they're not latched. That makes installing the top a bit of a goat rodeo since the latches want to contact the painted windshield frame as the top is maneuvered into position.

    Is that normal? It's been years since I've installed a top on another TS but I don't remember it being such a hassle. And is there a simple fix for it? Some sort of targa latch Viagra, maybe?

    Thinking I may remove them from the top later to de-sticky them and was hoping to solve the floppiness issue at the same time.
     
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,463
    Winston Salem, NC
    #2 Ricambi America, Dec 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    #3 Wade, Dec 19, 2016
    Mine had just the right amount of friction so positioning the latches was never a problem. In other words, they were never in the way when lowering the targa top into position for mounting.
     
  4. vinny

    vinny Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    167
    R.I.
    Full Name:
    Vincent Pitocco
    #4 vinny, Dec 19, 2016
    Mine are the same
     
  5. bballto

    bballto Karting

    Mar 10, 2014
    155
    #5 bballto, Dec 19, 2016
    Caught my finger in one of those latches while putting the top back on. Ouch
     
  6. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #6 ///Mike, Dec 20, 2016
    Thanks for the help (and the hilarious pic), gentlemen.

    After stripping the sticky from one of the latches I realized that the end that can potentially come in contact with the windshield frame is actually hard rubber, which significantly reduces the chance of damage if it were to touch the paint. Once I get the latches painted (planning on using Duracoat gun paint unless anyone else has a better idea) I'll look into applying some of the loop side of industrial strength Velcro to the end of the rubber piece for even more protection for the paint.

    I'd hoped there would be an easy way to shim one of the latch pivots with a nylon washer to make it tight, but in light of the above it seems unnecessary at this point. Woulda been nice if Maranello had built a light duty mousetrap spring into the latches though.

    BTW, cleaned the top up really well and applied a coat of CarPro DLux sealant, which really darkens and shines up exterior plastic. That ought to help the textured top blend in with the nero paint. I've been very pleased with the DLux sealant and would recommend it to anyone with a textured black roof.

    Thanks again for the input.
     
  7. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #7 ///Mike, Dec 20, 2016
    Ugh. I'll bet it did hurt. My latches require a whole lot of effort to close. So much so that I'm planning to test it with one fewer shim per side to see if that won't take some stress off the latches. I can't imagine the pain of getting caught by one of those things. Reminds me of the cash drawer spring in the old BritCom "Open All Hours", if anyone remembers that.
     
  8. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
    8,269
    Worcester, England
    Full Name:
    Phill J
    #8 4rePhill, Dec 20, 2016
    The latches on both My hard top and My soft top flap around when unlatched, but all I've ever had to do is lean across and hold the far latch down with a finger tip as I lower the front edge onto the top of the windscreen (having long arms does help!).
     
  9. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #9 ///Mike, Dec 20, 2016
    Exactly what I've been doing but I've long been spoiled by the fact that my X1/9 top latches stay in place, which really did make top installation a breeze. On top of that (pun kinda intended), it fits neatly in the front trunk so you didn't have to lose legroom when carrying the top. And the X chassis seems a bit stiffer too. Sadly, it's down at least 150 hp from where it oughta be, but my 348 reminds me of just how cool the X1/9 design was, especially considering that it predates the 348 by over 15 years.
     
  10. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
    8,269
    Worcester, England
    Full Name:
    Phill J
    #10 4rePhill, Dec 21, 2016
    IT'S NOT JUST ME!!!!!! :)

    I've owned two "Bambino Ferrari's" as they were known in My family (X1/9's to those outside of the family), and I've always been baffled by how FIAT/Bertone managed to do such a better job of storing the Targa roof than Ferrari did - It's an amazing piece of design that doesn't even rob you of any front storage space!

    To this day I still think of owning another X1/9! - Absolutely love them! (Mind you, a couple of weeks ago I did spot one in traffic, and with the modern cars all getting bigger and bigger, it did look a bit like a go-cart! - Still put a big smile on My face though! :D )
     
  11. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #11 ///Mike, Dec 21, 2016
    No, it's not just you. My first sports car was a '76 X (which I still own, although it's not on the road). That started a lifelong love affair with Italian automobiles, especially the pure sports cars. At one point I owned an import car repair facility and I'm still involved in the biz to some extent, but there's something about Italian cars of that era that's still special after all these years, and I attribute that to the X. In addition to my '76 I also own an '85, although it's soon to be on the market because I just don't have enough time to devote to them all and after the 348 is finished I'd prefer to put time into the '76 X.

    Nice to see that I'm not the only one though. When I started out with the '76 I thought of it as a mini-308, but in retrospect it's more of a mini-348 even though it's a contemporary of the 308. But that's just another example of how the X was ahead of its time, as well as an explanation of why I so admire the 348. :)

    Oh, and heck yeah they're go-karts. That's the appeal! Ever driven an Elise? Lotus was just 20 years late to the game. ;)
     
  12. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
    8,269
    Worcester, England
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    Phill J
    #12 4rePhill, Dec 21, 2016
    The basic mechanics of the X1/9 are pretty much the same as a 308 GTB/GTS, only with half the number of cylinders for the engine and a McPherson strut suspension at each corner rather than wishbones. I'd say it's a great car to practice on before tackling a Ferrari if you have concerns about putting a wrench on a Ferrari, especially if you want to try your hand at an engine rebuild!

    About the only thing I didn't like about the X1/9 was the incredibly cheap, hard, brittle plastics in the interior - I've had cheap Christmas cracker gifts that were made of better quality plastic!

    And if you ever had to drop the fuse panel down! :eek: - Good luck getting that spaghetti wiring back up under the dash panel ever again! (I had to drop one of mine down once to sort a blown fuse out. What a game trying to shove it all back up again! - No wonder they used proper metal knurled retaining bolts - They were under a fair old bit of pressure from the wiring! :) )

    Being 6' 2", I also found that the accelerator pedal made My ankle ache when I first drove the X1/9's as I had to hold My foot more vertical than I was used to in My BMW's, but after a while My ankle got used to being doubled back on itself. I now find I have the same thing happening with the upright throttle pedal in My 348! (Painful but happy memories! :D ).

    Like a lot of owners, I did find Myself wishing the X1/9 had a bit more power. I used to wonder about dropping in an Alfa Romeo 3.0 V6 into My first X1/9 - Or even a 2.4 Ferrari Dino V6 for some real pedigree! (I was never that hot about the Uno 1.8L turbo or the 2.0L Lancia twin cam conversion idea for some reason - Even though they would have been far easier options). That car already had some modifications done to the standard engine by the previous owner, along with an ANSA exhaust, and a rare, genuine Dallara widebody kit, with compomotive 5 spoke split rim alloys to fill the arches. Never did do the engine conversion in the end though.

    The second X1/9 was left completely stock, apart from a set of Scuderia Ferrari shields on the front wings (I used to tell everybody: "Hey! - She can dream can't she?" :) ).

    Never had a go in a Lotus Elise. I know they're a great little car and in the spirit of the X1/9, but it's not Italian! As you have also noted, there's just something about Italian sportscars that gets under your skin. They have character and a charm that sportscars from any other country seem to lack!

    X1/9's are fetching good money in the UK these days, and finding a rust free car is not easy at all, but I do look at them on a regular basis and think to Myself: "Hmmm.... How about another Bambino Ferrari?" :)
     
  13. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,778
    Ontario, Canada
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    Mike
    #13 AceMaster, Dec 22, 2016
    Not normal at all. Once mine lock into place, they don't move until I unlock them.
     
  14. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
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    Phill J
    #14 4rePhill, Dec 23, 2016
    I think you've misunderstood what the query was about.

    When the latches are locked into place on the car, they stay locked in position and are fine, but when they are released, they flap around loose, rather than being stiff and not moving.

    So when you go to fit the roof to the car, as you lower it down onto the windscreen/shield rail, the latches droop down and can catch on the rail/seal.

    To counteract that, you have to hold the latches back with your fingers to clear the rail/seal as you lower the front edge down, which is okay if you've got long arms and can reach the far latch, but if you've got short arms then it can be a bit of a pain.

    ///Mike was wondering if it is normal for the latches to be loose as it's been a while since he's fitted a top, and if it is normal, is there is a way to tighten the latches a bit so they don't flap around when they're unlocked.

    TBH, I just got used to leaning across (carefully!) and holding the latches back whilst fitting the top, and it's not something I really thought about looking into.
     

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