If your canvas top is good don't change it! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

mikes_box · 04-02-2011, 10:03 PM

Hey guys helped a buddy of mine do a window replacement on his boxster canvas top with the vinyl window. It was not hard at all and would highly recommend it for those who have a damaged window from the elements or just cracking. It took us about an hour and a half to remove the top. Once removed we brought it to an upholstery place who sewed in a new plastic window for a FRACTION of a price to have them do the whole process themselves or to buy a new top with a new plastic window or the one with the upgraded glass top. We got the ideal from one of the members who had just down a sew in himself (Landrovered)...http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28193 He used a 40 gauge window which everyone thought was too thick but was DOT approved to use as a window but I believe that the stock window is all a 40 gauge window because it is thick when feeling it after we took it off. We ended up using the 30 gauge slightly smoked tint vinyl that Jake D had suggested. Not as thick as the 40 but pretty good. It was ordered from the company Jake D had posted and before buying it I had called the place and they said it was used for boat windows and was treated with uv protection and was built to withstand weather and sea conditions. We got the top back yesterday from the shop and got it installed. Took us about 3 1/2 hours after trying to figure out how we took it apart and to put back as it had been a few days since we took it off. Came out great! Will post pictures. If we were to do this again, I have confidence that we could do this in 3 hours with removal and replacement. At first it seemed like a daunting task but after it was said and done it was not bad at all. I wish I would've done this on my boxster but all the post here on people who have done it always made it feel like it was horrible...

Jake D · 04-03-2011, 07:41 AM

Awesome.. Can't wait to see the pics. Did you remove the whole top assembly or the canvas? I'm still hunting around for a shop who can sew in a new window if I bring them the assembly. So far everyone wants me to remove the canvas which is what I was trying to avoid.

How much total in repairs do you have in it, and is it harder to see out the back with it tinted?

Jake D · 04-03-2011, 05:17 PM

MAN..... hurry up with those pics! I've been bored all day and keep checking back to see how it turned out cause I know it's gonna probably look awesome and make me go search a little harder tomorrow to find someone to sew one in for me.

BTW thanks for the shameless plug. Haha. I

laphan · 04-03-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake D

Awesome.. Can't wait to see the pics. Did you remove the whole top assembly or the canvas? I'm still hunting around for a shop who can sew in a new window if I bring them the assembly. So far everyone wants me to remove the canvas which is what I was trying to avoid.

How much total in repairs do you have in it, and is it harder to see out the back with it tinted?

Like in your other thread, EV's in Toledo will put a new window for you for $300 labor and $40 for 40 gauge plastic.
They told me to leave the canvas in the car and the $340 total covers all the work (we just have to drive the car to their facility).

Jake D · 04-03-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laphan

Like in your other thread, EV's in Toledo will put a new window for you for $300 labor and $40 for 40 gauge plastic.
They told me to leave the canvas in the car and the $340 total covers all the work (we just have to drive the car to their facility).

Thanks.. thats about 2 hours away. If I cant find someone more local then I might make the trip

mikes_box · 04-03-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake D

Awesome.. Can't wait to see the pics. Did you remove the whole top assembly or the canvas? I'm still hunting around for a shop who can sew in a new window if I bring them the assembly. So far everyone wants me to remove the canvas which is what I was trying to avoid.

How much total in repairs do you have in it, and is it harder to see out the back with it tinted?

Sorry Jake, will put pictures up in the morning. In regards to the procedure we took the canvas off the frame and I'm telling you that it was not as hard as people seem to make it and its the first time I've done it. I have done a frame and canvas swap in the past and that by far is just easy to do because its only a few bolts and can be done in about an hour or even less if there is two sets of hands. Total in repair was cheap--$220... If you lived in san francisco I'd do it for $320 including the install and glass replacement...lol

landrovered · 04-04-2011, 05:48 AM

Good to hear that everything went well for you. It is really nice to have a top that looks like it should instead of having a yellow cracked rear window that you cannot see out of. I got mine done just in time, we have had some serious spring rains this season and it does not appear to be letting up any time soon.

Jake D · 04-04-2011, 08:30 AM

You said it didn't take you very long to remove the canvas, so why have I seen anywhere from 9hrs to 16hrs(101 Boxster Projects) to replace the top? I mean I understand that the original top will have all the holes and everything should line back up.

I was wondering about removing the whole assembly and taking it to a shop. I was wondering if I removed the assembly if the rear part of the canvas could be unfastened and then the window sewn in. That way the whole canvas wouldn't have to come off. I'm just trying to find the easiest/laziest way to get a new window sewn in.

Called another shop today that I was referred to and they said they wont sew one in because it wont hold up and will most likely leak.. anyone agree/disagree with that statement?

mikes_box · 04-04-2011, 11:06 AM

Jake, Here are a few pictures of the top with the new window. You can hardly tell from the pictures that it is tinted as the tint is not too dark at all. Its just slightly tinted and can tell in the sun but in the garage it looks pretty clear. It took me literally 1.5 hours to remove the top. You just have to have a step by step guide to do it and follow the instructions. Its basically all screws and a few fasteners. The shop I did it was a shop that does the repairs for a local p-car dealership and they specialize in car tops and interior the stitching was sealed so no leaks.