Hi,
I've been helping David Bladon recently with an article for an upcoming issue of PP that explains how I made-up and used a carbon fibre targa roof brace with the objective of cutting the dreaded wind roar from the targa roof on my 964.
This was after I read on another leading Porsche forum about a 964 owner in the US who made his own brace from a strip of carbon fibre, which he found to be very successful at reducing wind roar (he's recently confirmed it's still working well). After digging around on the internet, I discovered the theory that the roar is caused due to the increasing effect of aerodynamic lift on the targa roof as vehicle speed rises. The idea of the brace is that it helps to maintain the shape of the roof frame in the face of the upwards force exerted on the roof, thereby preventing it from rising.
I used my brace, basically a carbon fibre rod with rubber and nylon caps to prevent scratches on the roof frame, on the drive to Le Mans this year and am pleased to report no wind roar, even at speeds up to 150kmph. It doesn't leave marks on the frame either.
So we can include the views of other targa owners on the efficacy of the brace, I would like to loan out it out to a few other owners so they can give it a try and let us know what they think. I would propose to drop the brace round to you, so I can explain how to use it and to make sure you are happy that it will not damage your roof. For that reason, I would welcome volunteers from the SW London / East Surrey / Thames Valley areas, please. If you are interested, please send me a PM.
Thanks and regards,
Paul
I've been helping David Bladon recently with an article for an upcoming issue of PP that explains how I made-up and used a carbon fibre targa roof brace with the objective of cutting the dreaded wind roar from the targa roof on my 964.
This was after I read on another leading Porsche forum about a 964 owner in the US who made his own brace from a strip of carbon fibre, which he found to be very successful at reducing wind roar (he's recently confirmed it's still working well). After digging around on the internet, I discovered the theory that the roar is caused due to the increasing effect of aerodynamic lift on the targa roof as vehicle speed rises. The idea of the brace is that it helps to maintain the shape of the roof frame in the face of the upwards force exerted on the roof, thereby preventing it from rising.
I used my brace, basically a carbon fibre rod with rubber and nylon caps to prevent scratches on the roof frame, on the drive to Le Mans this year and am pleased to report no wind roar, even at speeds up to 150kmph. It doesn't leave marks on the frame either.
So we can include the views of other targa owners on the efficacy of the brace, I would like to loan out it out to a few other owners so they can give it a try and let us know what they think. I would propose to drop the brace round to you, so I can explain how to use it and to make sure you are happy that it will not damage your roof. For that reason, I would welcome volunteers from the SW London / East Surrey / Thames Valley areas, please. If you are interested, please send me a PM.
Thanks and regards,
Paul
