Engine access with glass rear screen?

[mikefocke]

Didn't the insulated top come in around 2000 with the S model and in 2001 all models?

[qikqbn]

Yes, Boxster S has inside liner, but Gahh 3 bow tops, at least when I purchased mine, did not offer the inside liners. If you had a Boxster S you could just transfer it over, but the Gahh top did not have it as part of their kit.

[tonycarreon]

if you have a 2000+ regular top, you should have the extra sound fabric under the top. i do. it was reused when i had the GAHH was put on.

[Georg]

Originally Posted by ddb

Georg,

If you haven't already seen this thread it's a good one started by a member here, Boxtaboy, chronicling his experience with his added 4-bow glass window top. It should answer a lot of questions about this option as well as show some pictures.

Best of luck,

ddb

2003 OEM glass convertible top installed on an 01 Boxster

Thanks ddb. I also saved Maurice's complete works unabridged. Starting from the page you mentioned I got lost in various net places, so I cannot say exactly where I saw this, but I got the impression that if my mechanics (motor, transmissions etc) are working fine there is no reason to change anything other than the top and frame for the 03- OEM solution, in which case it would be a very easy straightforward unbolt-bolt job. Am I missing sthng?

Originally Posted by qikqbn

...If you have the money and you like the look of the 4 bow, then go for the 4 bow. The Gahh top cost me about $1400-1500 installed using my existing 3 bow. To do a 4 bow system you will need a fabricator to make the 4th bow fit on your existing setup or purchase an entirely new 4 bow set. Just the glass top and fabric will still cost you around $1500 installed plus whatever the cost is to setup the 4th bow.. You can most likely find a 4 bow top from a Porsche dismantler or buy it new from porsche... Either way I think you will be paying about $2500-3000 for the 4 bow system used from a dismanlter...

So the 4th bow is not a separate part and the only difference between 3- and 4-bow frames? If I buy the 4th bow as a part, it will need to be modified to be installed on my frame?

BTW, Bill, I have seen it posted repeatedly that the GAHH setup puts a lot of stress on the window (I guess by the fabric stretching too much when folding). How's yours? I am not so much worried about the window coming loose (they seem to have worked that out), but mostly about everything else (transmissions, cables, motor) being overworked in the long run.

The problem with buying from a dismantler is that I would be buying used. For the frame I wouldn't mind. But for the top I am not certain it makes sense, unless you are planning to sell the car at a specific time.

Maybe find a 4-bow frame at a dismantler and buy a GAHH top for the 03- car?

Originally Posted by qikqbn

one advantage of getting the 2003-2004 4th bow top is the sound insulation on the inside of the top. The 3 bow systems do not come with that.

GAHH now sells the top as an Akoustik version (supposedly OEM GI after 2009). I just don't know if that would be stiffer (maybe too stiff for the health of the mechanics).

Originally Posted by qikqbn

best of luck. Having a glass top does wonders for the look and feel and the convertible top. You will not regret installing it. best of luck ;^) bill

Thanks. Am trying but it looks like it's not very easy...

I saw a 01 Boxster with what looked like the GAHH top outside an independent service place, but it was pouring so I'll go back take a look again. If I am lucky they have one with the OEM 4-bow top as well to compare side by side. Is the roof line (profile) the same as the current model?

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Georg

I got the impression that if my mechanics (motor, transmissions etc) are working fine there is no reason to change anything other than the top and frame for the 03- OEM solution, in which case it would be a very easy straightforward unbolt-bolt job. Am I missing sthng?

You have a 98, and I remember reading that the 4-bow off an 03 or 04 is not a simple bolt-on for pre-2000. I don't recall it being impossible, but there's something else involved.

[Georg]

This is what I was referring to:

Originally Posted by schoir

Rick:

BTW, if you wanted to stick with your old style transmissions (which is not what I have chosen to do), I don't see why you wouldn't be able to swap in the new '03-'04 glass top and frame in place of your '99 top and frame and have it work the same way that the old top worked.

I don't believe that the change from 3 bow to 4 bow frame would have any negative effect on the timing providied by the after-running time built into the "old" system.

It's worth a try if your old "Version A" transmissions and the rest of your system are working 100%. It's easy enough to put the old top and frame back on if it doesn't work for you, at least until you get the rest of the new parts.

Regards, Maurice.

[Georg]

Saw a car (01 I believe) at an independent place with what looked like a GAHH top installed. They had installed it themselves in the past but could (would?) tell me neither top manufacturer nor year of installation.

Side by side with mine with the pvc window and an 03 (OEM glass) 3 cars further away:

(1) wife says mine looks better (hmm...) for a reason I failed to grasp - no surprise there, I guess
(2) straight from the back my car itself looked better - probably more sqwat with my OEM sports suspension
(3) straight from the back the GAHH top looked the best. The shorter glass made the top look smaller and wider adding to that beautiful butt (I could add a remark here but I would probably be banned a couple of days after joining so I'll keep it to myself)
(4) profile: my car looked way best, next was the GAHH, then the OEM glass top. GAHH and OEM glass was a close call as Bill's bubble of the OEM was almost totally outweighed by the bubble in GAHH's glass. For some reason GAHH's window has a pronounced convexity to the outside (rear) in the vertical axis (besides left-right). I had the guy open-close slowly and checked for a reason, but could not see that there would be a problem with the rear shelf if the glass had been vertically straight. Maybe GAHH's mind works in mysterious ways (or mine doesn't at all ).
(5) OEM look: undecided yet. GAHH looks nice but I am not certain it looks like it might have been an OEM item (due to window design, not quality, which appeared on a par with the OEM units).

Main reason for opening/closing little by little was to check for stress to the glass or the joint. It appeared to be a close call (GAHH must have used every mm of size they could with that window) but it does not look it would be an issue. That said, it looked like the window top edge might have started separating itself, but not certain. Then again it might well have been a previous generation top. Something was amiss though...

Someone had asked for size difference. I am afraid I did not have a measure on me, but the OEM window was more than 50% taller than the GAHH.

Overall, I am for the time being leaning more towards the GAHH unit: according to those guys OEM top and frame additions would escalate the OEM glass top cost to several times that of the GAHH. OEM from salvage yards would of course work, but then you are buying a used top w/ so much life in it (maybe not more that your carefully looked after current one).