Step by step - changing the top
 

Hi every one!

Does any body have a step by step guide for how to take of the top and put on a new one?
Im planing on doing i my self...

I have yet to find one online. The problem with changing the top yourself is that the aftermarket tops do not have any of the aluminum reinforcements that go along the top of the window and across the front of the top where it meets the windshield.

You must remove these from the old top and gorilla glue them exactly right on the new top or it will have creases or ripples in it. :eek:

I watched my mechanic do it for a forum member here in Houston and I was amazed at all the skill it took to get it on square, the order in which it had to be installed, and the gluing. Hans had done it a couple of times before with aftermarket tops, and a bunch of times with $2800 factory tops, which come with all the aluminum bracing already glued in the right places for a faster installation. You may want to reconsider doing this job yourself.

If you do tackle it, take pictures and document the work carefully for the forum. I think you'd be the first to post something on the internet about it. :dance:

I've done it myself and its a PITA. I had the directions but i cant find them and they werent very good and Randall is right, the aftermarket tops do not come with the 2 aluminium plates that hold the canvas to the top left & right corners of the Convertible frame.

I had to rip them off the old top and cut off a steal cable that attaches to it and then hook the steal cable on my aftermarket top onto the steal plates and since i didnt have glue... I had to fold it and screw it on and hope that the canvas didnt slip out before i can screw it down... later i took it to a upholstery shop and they repair my handy work for about $60.... i did most of the work at home though.

After market?
 

Is it possible to obtain these brackets from the Porsche dealer?

Not to my knowledge. They come affixed to the replacement tops from Germany. That's why you have to reuse the ones from your old top and the aftermarket companies don't buy them and install them on the top before they ship them to the end user.

I have an illustrated step by step that a fellow Boxster owner wrote up and photographed. Another Boxster owner put it all into a PDF.

PM me with your email address if you want a copy.


I don't think it's TOO difficult, but it IS time consuming. I'd bank on a whole day of work. One gentleman who did it, said if he had to do it again, it would take about 8 hours.

tops
 

I install tops for a living!!!!!!

HI, Hope this helps. :cheers:

http://www.convertibletopguys.com/cgi-local/displaycat.cgi?cat=790

Guys, the DIY has also been put up on Mike Focke's page:

http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

You could try a dismantler and purchase a used/bad top

I have extra aluminum plates