ok maybe thats a little ghetto. is it possible to make the original roof section fold in half to store? it would make fitment issues... you'd just have to hinge it in the middle.
That may not be a a bad idea - the 2 part top, not the duct tape. That's how the targa section on an Automoda convertible is done. Check ou the pics of LZeitgeist's car in this thread: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/046658.html The targa section is made of 2 metal parts similar to T-Tops, but there's no center bar. There's a groove in one, and the other one hooks into it. The metal is covered in canvas to match the rear folding section of the top.
If that design works on a convertible, it should easily work on a targa. And they fit in the trunk.
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10:31 AM
Apr 17th, 2005
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
i don't have the automoda one (i'm pretty sure mine is one of the ohio dealer cars) but it dose fold in half. if i can get the car together again sometime soon (couldn't help myself and started playing with the body), i can come back by and let you look at it to see if it's something you can adapt.
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05:11 PM
sonic50 Member
Posts: 3873 From: All over the USA Registered: Aug 2004
I went back in time to get a good pic that shows off the targa added pieces, front and rear....Also if you look at other pics there doesn't seem to be any weather stripping.....Is the fit of the roof to its edges that good to provide protection from the wet.....?? How does it all work??
edit: Were you able to save the overhead lights??? Or are you going custom??
[This message has been edited by pavo_roddy (edited 05-25-2005).]
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03:39 AM
Pontiac Boi Member
Posts: 711 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Aug 2003
The Dirty Rat was my favorite Fiero when I first found out about this little plastic car 2-3 years ago. I remember numerous threads and even short clips of the car running and of his wife revving it. Since then, I haven't heard much about the car, it's good to see a little update. I hope we get more updates and it gets completed soon.
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04:08 AM
sonic50 Member
Posts: 3873 From: All over the USA Registered: Aug 2004
I Need An Update On The Roof.....Gimme Tons Of Pics ..Inside And Out
Thanks
------------------ "This car is so good looking its almost indecent. - AutoWeek on the new 1986 GT" Chilliwack Fieros MSN Messanger tylercaddick@hotmail.com
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02:17 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Sorry that I haven't been as active as in the past. Had a lot of things going on outside of the car scene. Right now we're in process of buying a house - with this -
Nice oversize 2 car garage. Hopefully the Rat's new home. Once we get settled in - it's back to business. Thanks for the interest!
Rob D.
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
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03:55 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Well its official - the above picture is the new home of the Rat. I'm getting the keys tomorrow and painting that garage floor this weekend. Stay tuned to see some progress on the Rat soon!!.
YeeeHawww!! A concrete garage floor - it's the little things that make me happy!
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
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06:48 PM
GKDINC Member
Posts: 1813 From: East Tawas MI Registered: Dec 2001
Originally posted by jscott1: I've been anxiously awaiting updates on the Dirty Rat too. It would be nice if we could learn exactly what the deal is with the B&B targa kit.
It's crap. Finish work is crap. Empty promises are crap. The constant run-a-round is crap. The top design is crap. The replacement insert is crap. The latch design is crap.
crap crap crap crap.
Give me $3500.. I'll take a sawsall to your car, slather on some fiberglass, put a little bondo and primer on it.. and you'll have the same quality in half the time. I'll only take 6 months to do it instead of a year.
Chester won't say anything cause he's a hell of a nice guy. Me, I'm a jerk, so I'll call 'em like I see 'em.
CRAP!
Good news is though.. Chester finally has a SWEET place to house the Rat and now he can focus on doing the finish work and re-inforcements of the frame and top that should have been done when the car left B&B a year ago.
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02:25 AM
Aug 13th, 2005
SLOWnSTEADY Member
Posts: 1706 From: Hiawatha, IA Registered: Jul 2005
where did you get eh 3 pecie top? i have been wanting to do that sense i got my car, i wasthinking about trying a honda del sol top. but i would rather go with that.
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12:46 PM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40962 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Originally posted by jscott1: I've been anxiously awaiting updates on the Dirty Rat too. It would be nice if we could learn exactly what the deal is with the B&B targa kit.
quote
Originally posted by datacop: It's crap. Chester won't say anything cause he's a hell of a nice guy.
I suspected as much.
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02:29 PM
PFF
System Bot
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Yup, that’s me - mister nice guy. Archie will tell you, I have no problem speaking my mind, and I will document the whole ordeal. Unfortunately, right now the Rat has not been a priority in my daily life. I have a road trip to Atlanta for LINUX training this week and been busy with the new house. Here are a few pics of the house and the new home of the Rat. Please excuse the mess in the garage - haven't had the time to arrange things there yet.
Front of the house. The home is a one story brick ranch - 1500 square feet.
Back of the house
The garage - my favorite part. Roughly 800 square feet of wroking pleasure!
Rob D.
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
[This message has been edited by chester (edited 08-13-2005).]
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03:57 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Here are some of the pictures of the work done. Mind you he had to remove the cooling brackets from the car to weld in the frame support. Instead of drilling out the spot welds, they RIPPED them off the car leaving nice tears in my floor boards. The fiberglass work is, well not to my liking. The only good thing I can say about it is that it's fairly thick. The mounts for the top and where the top latches to the roof are only in the fiberglass - there is No metal reinforcement under the glass what so ever - even though I was told there was...yada yada yada. He said that the latches would be OEM Miata latches. When I got the top - I found pin locks. I'll post pics of them later. Here are a few pics of my dissatisfaction with his work. BTW I've given him over a year now to make good on this and fix what he screwed up. Seems after all the broken promises he just fell of the face of the earth. Take your car to him at your own risk. I will not let ANYONE touch my car again after that experience. I figure I can do a better job in my garage with my hand tools then some "professionals". If you want a targa - get a T-top kit instead. Much better deal in the long run...
rips in the floor boards
The glass work - no even edges/corners...
Rob D.
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04:11 PM
datacop Member
Posts: 1426 From: Indianapolis, IN, USA Registered: Jan 2004
Originally posted by chester: Yup, that’s me - mister nice guy. Archie will tell you, I have no problem speaking my mind...
I figured you were busy from bits and pieces that I have gleaned from different threads.
What I suspected was that the Targa was "less than satisfactory". When I saw pics of it being picked up, it didn't look completed. That (among other things) was kind of a tipoff.
In what part of Atlanta are you going to be?
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06:14 PM
Boomtastic Member
Posts: 2359 From: Athens, Alabama Registered: May 2000
We're staying at the Courtyard Marriot @ 6250 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. I'm figuring thats like down town Atlanta. We'll be there tomorrow afternoon/evening till Saturday morning. Yeah, it was a real dissapointment to me the way the car was done. No pride in workmanship whatsoever. That's ok. I'm finally getting over it now. The rough is done, and I do mean rough but it WILL be right when I'm done with it - you can take that to the bank!
Rob D.
quote
Originally posted by Raydar:
I figured you were busy from bits and pieces that I have gleaned from different threads.
What I suspected was that the Targa was "less than satisfactory". When I saw pics of it being picked up, it didn't look completed. That (among other things) was kind of a tipoff.
In what part of Atlanta are you going to be?
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06:30 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
Sorry to hear that this is STILL dragging on! I thought it would have been settled last year when I saw it ....
Congrats on getting the house too (you guys deserve it!), although I know you'll really be living in the garage.
Good to see your still kickin' around. Check your email. Yeah, I never did get any restitution from Bill but what can you do? Break his legs?? Hmmm....now that's an idea!? I would have settled for a partial refund at least for the labor but ever since I mentioned that he fell of the face of the earth. Oh well. You live and learn I guess.
Thanks on the house. I has been a long time comming. When we were looking I told Renee that the only stipulation I had was that I had to approve of the garage - the rest was whatever she wanted. She did good as always! Air conditioning is getting installed next weekend and back to work on the car we go....
Rob D.
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06:34 PM
chester Member
Posts: 4063 From: State of insanity...moved in and comfortably numb... Registered: Jun 2001
We're staying at the Courtyard Marriot @ 6250 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. I'm figuring thats like down town Atlanta. We'll be there tomorrow afternoon/evening till Saturday morning.
You're actually about 10 miles north of downtown. Pretty much the opposite side of town from the airport. Not entirely a bad thing, but you may get to experience some of the worst traffic that Atlanta has to offer. Hopefully your training is near the hotel. That will keep you out of most of it, during rush hour.
Sending you a PM.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-13-2005).]
Yes..... 
