So.... after placing the targa top in the truck for the first time, I drove the car for 10-15 miles. When I later went to take the top back out I noticed the the trunk lid had actually rubbed on the top of the targa top. Is the clearance that tight? Could I have clamped it in incorrectly? Seemed fairly straightforward but was surprised that I had effectively zero clearance. Only minor rubbing damage but don't want to see that happen again. What did I do wrong?

did you have the top in the trunk the right direction? Targa latches inside the cups, lip edge in the white holders and rear held down with the rubber holders?

Unfortunately mine has done that for years. Rubbing is at rear edge of the top, right where the reinforcement for the trunk lid crosses. It happened even when the car was brand new. Still happens with all new clips/holders front and rear. I've started putting a piece of old sweatshirt material on the back edge of the top before closing the trunk . . . seems to help.

I think you have to consider the fact that the car is new to you and the top hadn't shown any wear from rubbing on the trunk lid until now. That tells me most likely the problem was the way you clamped the roof into the trunk.

First, as Garold noted, make sure you have oriented the roof in the same direction as it attaches to the car. When you close the lid, push down with a gentle amount of force. If the trunk doesn't latch immediately, stop and readjust the roof. Remember that the roof can adjust both fore and aft and side to side. My car is really picky about getting the side to side alignment just right ... if I'm off by just a little bit the trunk won't close without an excessive amount of force.

Mine has a rub mark from where someone had either sat on the back trunk, or completed numerous dukes of hazard slides. Which in turn knocked the trunks support beams lower to rub the top while in the trunk.

+1

I just put a couple layers of duct tape on the inside trunk lid to cushion it.

( back in the 80's when it ran)

This should not happen even when new. Your latches may be in the cups but they may not be ALL the way in. They are kind of clumsy to get in and if not in all the way, the targa top sits too high.

On the back end, the top fits into the rubber roof brackets. Once inserted, the rubber surrounds the edge and goes over the top of the roof, preventing the roof from coming into contact with the rear bonnet lid. It also sets the roof in place low enough to not touch the lid. My guess is there's something wrong with your installation, that it's not secured properly.

Mine does that too, started happening after replacing the side targa seals. Stiffer/taller seals made it raise enough to rub.

I just bought a large thick bath towel at TJMAXX on sale to lay across the top for protection. i agreee about the tnew seals, once i put on new seals it seems to stick up just a bit more

Also check the rubber snubbers that hold the rear edge of the top, they are different left to right. The side seals and rear seals on the top shouldn't really be an issue as the clamps all attach to the fiberglass part of the top.

Also check the rubber snubbers that hold the rear edge of the top, they are different left to right. The side seals and rear seals on the top shouldn't really be an issue as the clamps all attach to the fiberglass part of the top.

Thanks for the input. short term I'll jus go the route us using a thin towel between them. Longer term will check to see what is really going on. Original seals are on the top so it can't be new seals.

It does not touch the trunk lid.
Check out how you are putting it in the trunk....it can go in wrong and the lid will close....

No matter how much I fuss with the positioning of my top, there is always interference with the lid. I have replaced the rear latches and they are correctly oriented. It just is what it is.

That's a new one for me, didn't know they were different. could have been the prob.

They have a small "R" and "L" embossed on them. I think even the reproduction ones have the markings.

I'm also having the same issue. I've checked the orientation of both the tier catches at the bac of the car as they are on the correct way and the bolts are at the bottom of the slotted holes. I've fiddled for ages trying to get it to not be in contact with lid, it's driving me mad!

Where can you get the plastic clips and rubber snubbers that hold the top in the trunk.

^^^^ 914rubber.com sells the rear rubber holders. I think Pelican has the front plastic ones.

My trunk lid does not rub at all on the roof. Like stated above, be sure the clips are in the cups and aren't lifting the roof up a bit too high.

Funny, sometimes the roof just pops perfectly in place in the trunk, and sometimes it's like assembling a freekin' Chinese puzzle to get it to fit correctly.

Well after careful inspection earlier on today I've come to the conclusion that the rear trunk is contacting the black rubber roof holders, obviously once the roof is in the slots of the holders then this opens them up, and I think that the tab on the top is just a little to high. What does anyone else think?

I had a similar problem that I couldn't get the front clips (the white plastic ones) to align properly and get the trunk lid to close. Remember these cars are unibody and any body damage over the years could cause an alignment issue with any of these body panels. The tolerances are so tight that everything must fit just perfectly. Using the factory body measurements, I learned my 914 is off by about 3/8" from left to right at the rear trunk firewall. I just lay my top in carefully latching it down only at the rear. I put some rubber cushioning material on the trunk ribs and at the corners in the trunk and the tops sits in there just fine. I recently did the Tale of the Dragon with the top like that and didn't have any movement at all. Now could we just solve the top leak at the side window and the windshield frame?

Old thread with some good info.

When I bought my 914, the top had been rubbed bad enough over time it wore away the gel coating where the rear trunk rib rubbed. I picked up another top from @914Werke and now don't want the same thing to happen again.

I also have all new top storage hardware and can tell, the trunk lid rubs or pushed down on the top very slightly. I'm using a towel for now.

Anyone have any tricks to solve this rubbing?

Older picture when I started assembly after paint. Everything is new and I don't see any adjustment for the front clips unless holes are elongated.

My car too has the same problem, but it is not a reference...

That being said, there was a post talking about the height of the top window rubber seal. I believe I have noticed that the seam sealer around the strut mount/inner fender area had been generously applied and the window seal was actually touching the seam sealer. You might want to validate if the roof is only supported by the four points and no other area.

That's all I got .

Keep us posted.

that's what the owners manual indicates.