Here it is!
Woody said it would only take 20 minutes to swap out, and about two hours later in the blazing Texas sun (96 degrees today!) we determined it would take longer than 20 minutes
The delays came with aligning the new top's bracket to get the three bolts per side in. If you do this top and frame swap, make a mental note before you remove your old frame as to where the bracket sits horizontally and vertically on the car in the body area where it bolts down. There's about a finger's width from the base to the bottom of the bracket... it does not sit directly on the rubber rain mat material.
You can't make it out in the pic but both sides of the car are covered with dried sweat. I messed up a fingernail and it bled a bit. I could swear I saw Woody crying at one point, but that might have been perspiration. So, it's safe to say that this little grocery store parking lot mod cost us blood, sweat and tears :ah:
This top has a headliner in it and is very quiet and a lot cooler than my factory top from 1997. It's pristine too. I swear it looks brand spanking new. And the other upside that Woody will read about here?
ONE OF MY ANNOYING SQUEAK/RATTLES BEHIND MY LEFT EAR IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Must have been the top mechanism. Or, it's those banana shaped air dam thingies that hook to the clamshell arms that I've yet to put back on. Either way, it's gone and I'm as happy as I have been in a long time with my Boxster.