Convertible "clamshell" adjustment

[insite]

the bolt you mentioned that you thought was non-adjustable IS adjustable. you loosen the nut and turn the center with a screwdriver. it's an eccentric that will move the front of the clamshell up and down.

as for the cables, there is a procedure for proper tensioning. i'll look it up this evening and post it.

[releese78]

I see, you are correct. I adjusted this and brought it down a little more. Now it seems about right. God bless 986forum!

[Andy804]

Hi everyone, I'm reviving an old thread because I think this is relevant to the problem I'm having with my convertible top cover right now. However, the photos on the thread have since been taken down and I'm really not sure where the three points of adjustments that were mentioned are located at.

Here are photos of my problem. As you can see the convertible top cover doesn't sit flush with the trunk or rear quarter panels with the top down. It's fine with the top up. Anyone know if the adjustment areas mentioned in this thread is going to be the solution? And if so, can someone post photos of these adjustment points?

[sandia]

Andy:

I am having the same problem since I installed an 03 top and frame on my 01 986. I have adjusted the bolts at the rear ball joints for the cables that tighten the rear fit of the top. I have also added length to the arms that control top movement, the rods going forward from the pivots, the ones with red or white plastic tips that snap onto ball joints near the rear of the doors. I don't know about a third point of adjustment. I have managed to get the top to go forward enough to latch and to reduce the gap at the rear of the clamshell to about 1/2 inch, at best. Tightening the rear tension cables seems to pull the top away from latching at the windshield header. So, it has been trial and error for me even after reading all the posts I could find. I assume you have seen the posts by 1Shoir or Maurice? Have you received any helpful responses or found useful materials? Good luck.

John

[Andy804]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I haven't had much time to work on the car but did find a couple other threads that may be useful. I've not seen those posts by 1Shoir or Maurice that you mentioned. In the meantime, I discovered that if I have the rear shelf speakers removed, the clamshell sits flush as it should. With the rear shelf speakers, the top is folding down onto the rear-most portion of the rear shelf speakers and perhaps that is limiting the travel needed for the clamshell to sit as it should. I'll try adjusting the arms later today or tomorrow as you mentioned.

[tonythetiger]

Originally Posted by Andy804

Hi everyone, I'm reviving an old thread because I think this is relevant to the problem I'm having with my convertible top cover right now. However, the photos on the thread have since been taken down and I'm really not sure where the three points of adjustments that were mentioned are located at.

Has the top been replaced and if so, a glass back? I have this issue with my 2002 that had the top replaced by the previous owner. It was a plastic window replaced with a glass back aftermarket. Now the clamshell doesn't drop all the way because the top sticks up a little. Been a few years now and I just live with it.

[Andy804]

Originally Posted by tonythetiger

Has the top been replaced and if so, a glass back? I have this issue with my 2002 that had the top replaced by the previous owner. It was a plastic window replaced with a glass back aftermarket. Now the clamshell doesn't drop all the way because the top sticks up a little. Been a few years now and I just live with it.

Mine is a 2003 (first year with the glass top from factory). Car has 33,000 miles on it and the top has never been replaced to my knowledge. The rear window still has the Porsche logo on it and the fabric top has signs of wear given the age/mileage of the car. I fiddled a bit with the rods with the white plastic ends that John (aka sandia) had mentioned. Both of these rods now seem as long as they will go and these photos are the best I can do this morning which to me looks near perfect enough for now (at least from 1 to 2 feet away).