Targa Top painted from factory? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Targa Top painted from factory?

Discussion in '348/355' started by radback, Aug 22, 2022.

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  1. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    Nicely done!
    So... No regrets?

    If only we could paint the rubber seals too, that would make the gap invisible.
     
  2. carl888

    carl888 F1 Veteran
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    Oct 31, 2003
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    I appear to be in the minority, I love the original unpainted and textured finish of the TS roof.

    Has anyone attempted to return a painted roof back to the original finish?

    (Maybe I'll be the first)
     
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  3. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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    #28 348Jeff, Nov 10, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2022
    None at all - dont get me wrong I do like the textured black hard tops but out of the 2 variations I prefer the colour coded look - just a bit more modern IMO especially as I have the color coded sills, bumper and engine deck.

    I know what you mean and in theory you could get coloured rubber, however, I think it would look awful when using the car with the top taken off so your just swapping one problem for another.

    I was thinking about this very thing yesterday and "back in the day" you used to be able to buy textured vinyl roof kits for that "sporty look" LOL Ive not looked too hard but I bet you can buy some wrap or similar to do that.

    Whilst driving in the sunshine yesterday I actually didnt want to take the roof off for once! :)

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    Next job is to recover those 2 small panels in the actual headling which are in fact just one piece of cloth so not really 2 panels at all. I've had the headlining out before and it is a right pain to do - one of those jobs where you have to remove a lot more pieces to get at what you want. Gotta be done though!

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  4. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
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  5. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    This makes me wonder if the fiberglass top is really identical between the 348 and the 355.
    Maybe they made the 355 top a little bigger to improve fitting?
    Hence the different part number?

    I'm OK to buy a 348 targa and change the pegs and maybe some rubbers, but if the fit is not good because the top has slightly different dimension, that's another story...
     
  6. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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    In my own personal experience they are interchangeable apart from the fitment of the rubber seals where the top joins the windscreen header
     
  7. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    I don't get it. The rubber is fitted on the windscreen header not the targa roof. So how can it be different as it stays on the car and not the roof?
    Or do you mean the rubber on the car is different but the top is the same?
    Sorry it is a little confusing.
     
  8. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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    I'm referring to how the seals on each side of the targa top plus the "gutter" that butt up against the car body seal around the windscreen area. I had to trim mine slightly on the targa, NOT the bodywork seal.

    Very unflattering photo before trimming of my 355 top fixed to the 348 body


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  9. bayferrari

    bayferrari Karting
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    jeff348, what was the material (leatherette) that you used to recover the interior panels. I've got a spare top that needs new inside liners. Yours look great, by the way.
     
  10. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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  11. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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  12. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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    I think so - I've had both fit but had to trim a little bit of rubber off where your arrow is pointing to make it get a snug fit.

    Note - they changed the rubbers on 348 across the years so early 348 rubbers are not the same as later ones - not massive differences as a guess.
     
  13. mihakrapez

    mihakrapez Karting

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    Where did you get this roof. Is there someone selling them as I want one for mine.
     
  14. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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  15. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    #41 radback, Mar 2, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2023
    Rubbers for 348 and 355 Targa top are totaly differents. I know for sure now. ;)

    By the way, anyone knows how to remove the outside rubbers from a 355 targa top?
    Inner ones are easy, but the outside ones look glued on another part.

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    Thanks.
     
  16. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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  17. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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  18. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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  19. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    Nobody painted a 355 top? o_O
     
  20. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    I'm surprised to see nobody here could hep me about my question about the rubbers disassembly requested for painting the top, with so many painted targas.
    :(
     
  21. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
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    I painted my spare roof red from yellow. The rubbers stayed in situ. I have even replaced the rubbers on my OEM textured roof. It’s not a fun job. The rubber is secured with screws and sikaflex. You can mask the rubber and re apply a film of sikaflex to get the desired result when you re paint a roof.
     
  22. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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    Mine was recently painted with the rubbers in place - Elliot's idea of applying a film of sikaflex sounds like a good idea to get the best result.
     
  23. radback

    radback Formula Junior
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    What did you use to remove the texture?
    I was planning to use orbital sander, but with rubbers in place it seems difficult to smooth the border of the top without damaging the rubbers.
     

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