Just bought a batch of seals from @914Rubber and included in that was the rear targa top seal; the one with the fuzzy strip. So I pull off the top and pull the original seal and start to compare that to the new one. The original has metal plates cast into the short side pieces. The new one does not come with those metal plates. What to do? Before I start cutting and getting creative has anyone been down this road and found a good solution?

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Early or late targa top?

It looks like the one on the bottom is late and the one on the top is early?

Can you show the whole rear seal and molding?

This is what I did:
https://youtu.be/3ByJvvXwkdk
See at 14:41

I just did this. Here's how I did it:
Cut small strips out of some sheet metal.
Drill holes (use the old metal as a template).

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Hans,
I think you mean 13:41 as the whole video is only 14:40 it's a little hard to follow as an instructional video going by at mach 5.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ByJvvXwkdk

Click on the "settings" icon in the lower right of the video and change the speed.

Thanks

To answer DickSteinKamp - I believe this is an early top. It's on a '73 with an 8/72 build date anyway. And BDStone914 - it looks just like the one you pictured. Thanks to the others for sharing their experiences.

I've looked at this more since last night. Keeping that metal reinforcing piece would seem to make for a much better fit but I don't see any way to do that without slitting the new seal and then attempting to glue it back together. The downside is ruining the new seal and maybe it's just not worth it. I'm probably overthinking it which is not unfamiliar territory for me.

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@mikey914

The original metal strips can be cut, or it’s easy to make short ones using a tin snips and some sheet stock from Home Depot. I did the latter.

I just cleaned up the metal after removing the rubber and re-used it on top of the new rubber. No need to glue anything. Also used a drill bit to make holes in the new rubber where they needed to line up. Wasn't that bad of a job.