99 Boxster Roof Off Tracks! Need help

[986andmx5]

When stopping to look at clearances during the entire operating sequence I saw there was contact between the transmission V when near vertical and the metal lip under the slide rail on the driver side (likely damaged/disfigured during initial trauma). I was able to bend the lip to alleviate contact, but this did not help with the greater issue of the driver side clamshell support digging further back into the weather stripping than it should when the V is near horizontal.

Something is either bent that I am not seeing- very possible even after much time spent examining all the pieces. And I should remove the cover to the transmission on the driver side to get a better look at it for damage/operation, along with making sure the 3 nuts that hold it in place are still snug.

[986andmx5]

At this point I have replaced almost every component of the driver side clamshell support system with parts off another Boxster. For whatever reason, the arm on that side still over extends aft when operating through the top-down sequence and is not level with the passenger side throughout. Both transmissions are in sequence. I checked that the 3 driver side transmission attachment nuts were snugged and everything is secure there.

The parts coming off the rear of the transmission V all rotate around a fixed point. All components from that point are in good condition/not bent and I have no ideas as to why the driver arm is not operating as it should (seen at 3 min mark in link). The V itself and ball mount were even replaced to rule them out. Any thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t0BlUGbKdk&t=6s

[986andmx5]

This issue has me baffled and slightly demoralized that I will be able to find a solution. I took everything apart today to get a look at the studs that the transmission attaches to and everything looked fine.

I torqued it back together by spec, alignment was still showing true by the notches in both transmissions and yet still having the same issue- aluminum clamshell support arms are uneven throughout travel and the driver side hyper-extends into weather stripping when it reaches it's most rearward position.

At this point I am considering converting to manual operation if that would fix my issues.

[MrBen]

Did you take the transmission apart and check the gears. If the nylon gear is broken or missing a few teeth that can happen. Did you use a drill motor to check the cable operation.