Got my Z-top
 

It's really nice and although I'm not sure how it will fix in the car, on the floor it fits together great :dance::dance::dance:http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509400496.jpg
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:dance:

OMG awesome. I guess now you have to paint it and then who will do the install? Im very curious since i may want it too, for my 986 facelifted model.

By the way, how much did it cost ? :)

Well they're about $3000 with shipping out of Ohio but i bought it off Ebay for $1000 😉 The seller bought it, didn't even have time to unpack it, his IMS blew on him. It was on Ebay for about 2 weeks. Starting bid $1000 no reserve, didn't get a bid. It's really nice. I'm thinking I may try to fit it. Depends how much it takes. I cant test fit it because my other hardtop is on the car and I dont have anyone around to help take it off ☹
Im going to either have it painted or I may wrap it and make it custom. I can always peel it off.

I have mixed feelings about these tops; on one hand I really like them (maybe secretly want one), but... A Boxster with a Z-top is (almost) a Cayman, and part of me says that if I wanted a Cayman, I should buy a Cayman, not make a Boxster into a Cayman. I suppose that even though I like the look, at the same time I have problems with changing something to look like something else. For example, has anyone ever bought a Cayman and then cut off the top to make it a convertible? I would guess not (or at least with any frequency), as a convertible Cayman is available...the Boxster.

Apologies if I have offended (as not my intent), and remember... I might secretly want one. :)

BTW... I like your decor (seriously), although I do also have mixed emotions on the top as a coffee table. Please tell me that isn't what you are going to repurpose your old hard top for. ;) (Although my wife says the trend now is to mix, match and clash...what better than a Gaurds Red Porsche top table?)

Thanks for your input. I feel like it going to be the best of both worlds when I'm done. The looks of a Cayman when the weather is cooler and the feel of a convertible when it suits me.

Oh and my wife's away at a conference or the top wouldn't be in my living room 😉

Putting a Z-top on Boxster is not trying to make it look like something it isn't. :rolleyes:
Quite the opposite, actually. A Cayman is just the coupe version of the 987 Boxster, so the Z-top is just how the 986 hardtop should have looked from the beginning.
Your statement is sort of like saying that a 996 cab with a hardtop is trying to look like a 911...

It's sad how the first thought (after looking at the picture) is: "How did he get his wife to let him bring it into the house?!?!?!?"

I'm so whipped. :(

LOL she's away on a conference. If she came home and saw that she'd kick my butt. So don't feel bad ;)
While the cats away....

cayman, 987 boxster, and 986 boxster all have fundamentally different lines. front and rear bumper covers are much more modern on the 987 and 987c. cayman has the sharkfin intake. even the 987 and 987c differ in this area - look at the relief around the intake on the two cars - different.

the 986 has classic lines, modeled after the 550 spyder. the 987 are much more modern. a ztop on a 986 is not a cayman - it is something unique.

not to mention, a ztop allows you the best of both worlds. buying a cayman gets you a coupe only.

oddly, you search threads on the ztop and there is always some guy saying "you want a cayman, buy a cayman".

we guys are lucky (cough ;)) owning the most versatile Porsche platform ever created.

...and as being the savoir of PORSCHE, the 986 deserves to offer the best of all worlds.

1.) interchangeability of parts 986-996
2.) Midengine
3.) similar looks (996, interior and exterior)
4.) Roadster
5.) Spyder (humps)
6.) Cayman (hard top)

A wonderful versatility, no other model will ever offer again!

did you say spyder?

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509472440.jpg

Job 1,2 and 3 done 😀

The first 2 pics are the scariest things I've ever seen on Halloween 👻 http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509474452.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509474472.jpg
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Easy stuffs over now 😐 http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509479426.jpg

awesome sauce....:eek:
plz keep us updated, eh :cheers:

:dance::dance::dance:http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509481708.jpg

don't forget to remove your third brake light ...

ah, bran's already on it.

Ya I forgot. I also forgot to take off the black mldg that covers where the ears fit. I just wanted to see it on. I'll do it take it off and remove those things once i get help. This is too stressful by myself �� http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509483215.jpg

Could someone tell me how this little cover comes off? 🙄 http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509484302.jpg

i understand that stress. i have a spinlock-shaped divot just behind my drivers door when a hardtop hoist very similar to the one you are using dropped my top onto my car (works ok when no hatch on; doesn't work very well when the hatch is attached).

It just pops out (a type of snap joint).

The red part and the black edge? Also I'm sorry but I dont know what a snap joint is.

Yes. It's like a ball and socket joint on those, IIRC.
Get under it and gently pry straight up.

Thanks I just don't to want to break it.

I guess it's more of a peg and socket.
The black mounding is separate.

..........

Does it come off too?

Appreciate it 🙂

I love the look pf the Z top. The regular hard top is fugly in my opinion. The soft top has a nice slope back to the clamshell. The Z top follows the same lines, just longer.

Yes, the black molding comes off, too. I'm not sure how, though. The metal trim piece needs to come off first, so maybe it would be more apparent once you get that bit off.

I'm so jealous of this thread. :p

Here are some pics of what ive found.
1. Oddly my top doesn't seem to need trimmed at all.
2. The only thing keeping my top from resting where it supposed to is its hitting the covt top.
3. Applying quite a bit of downward force only gets me 1/2 an inch from being flush.

After thinking about this I'm going to have to remove quite a bit of material from the underside of the top.
OR what if I just removed the convertible top and stored it for the winter? Not sure if it's true but I've done a search and several articles I've came up with day this is something that fairly easy to do.
Also ive removed 3rd brake light, made no difference.
Opinions?

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I removed the soft top, I want to say it was 2-3 bolts on either side. I've posted a picture of my Guards Red Z-top previously if you want to see a finished product shot!

Lol your pic was in my phone already! I was using it for my finished product pic to show friends.
So not hard to remove? Sounds like the thing to do instead of filling off alot of the top.
Thanks

I've removed those bolts and cables but I'm stuck where its held by whatevers under thishttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509562651.jpg

Seems to be connected here
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1509562748.jpg

Do you remember that part?

HOLY MOLY, JB :eek:
Now SOMEONE is determined ;)

Ya I'm retired and it's cold and rainy so I'm bored to death.

Haha, good eye on the pic!

I believe the bolts you're looking for are farther back. The whole thing will lift out nicely assembled in one piece. I still have my original (w/ plastic window) and my later replacement '03 glass window top sitting in storage. If you use this method, you will ensure nothing goes out of alignment for reinstallation in the summer. Oh, another benefit is you can now see my 3.8L engine under the hatch ;)

"wanne see, wanne see"...:cheers:

I got it. Thanks. Just need some help getting it out.

Figured out how to get it out 😀

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