Cab Question, It'll be warm Someday

Big Ed · 03-10-2003, 02:51 AM

OK, I know that this is stupid, but please bear with me. I got my '88 930 Cab in December and it did not have the owner's manual. Been trying to purchase one since then but our host is out of stock...

Assuming that it ever gets warm up here in the Northeast, I will want to put the top down at some point. I've looked at the top and it isn't readily apparent to me how this is done. Can someone walk me through it?

Thanks much, from the dip$hit in the icy Northeast.

Huey581 · Huey581's Garage

Manual or power top????

Big Ed · 03-10-2003, 04:39 AM

Power top.

Adam · Adam's Garage

Ok. Under the main gauges (Speedo/Tach) there should be a rocker switch (goes forward and back). It is kinda hard to see from above, just feel around under those gauges. It's a spring loaded rocker. From memory, pushing forward raises the roof and back lowers it.

Make sure the ignition is set to ACC, not full ignition. Let us know how you go.

Big Ed · 03-10-2003, 04:55 AM

Thanks Adam. No latches to release, it all happens automatically?

Adam · Adam's Garage

It should do...

Seriously, the '89 is all electric, so I'd assume that your '88 has the same mechanism. Just give it a try, I doubt you'll break anything if you stop the instant you hear grinding, crunching and screeching...

Post a picture or two if you get the chance. I love widebody cabs!

BlkBird · 03-10-2003, 01:04 PM

One very important thing to note. There is a horizontal bar running from one side of the roof to the other, pivoting at either end. It is attached by two straps to the front of the roof, and two elastics to the rear.

As the roof goes back the elastics pull the bar to the rear. Just a simple pull. Once the bar is in the rearward position it forces the roof fabric to fold out or away from the metal skeleton of the roof. Make sure this happens!!!!

Otherwise... have a look at the skeleton as it folds down. There is a sharp rod about 2" long that no doubt adds rigidity to the skeleton as it extends. I call it the "spike".

If your roof fabric is NOT pushed away by the pivoting bar, the spike will poke a hole through the fabric. Have a look at most cabriolet roofs - see a 1/2" slit cut through the material right above the where a door post would be? Yep - the spike!

So for lack of a $1.69 piece of elastic your roof gets skewered. And of course it gets worse every time. So either manually move that pivoting bar and the fabric, or sew a new elastic in place.

One last detail - you roof will only go down when the key is in the accessory position.

lukeh · lukeh's Garage

I have the same car. Make sure to unzip the top before you put it down. Fold the plasit window down and smooth it flat. As was mentioned by BlkBird, watch out for the spike. Also, as the top folds down, I have noticed the top can get pinched between the lowest pivot point of the skeleton and the sides of the back wall. This wore a seperation into my top. Did that make any sense? Make sure to always put the boot on. The prior owner didn't and the wind flapping put a hole in the head liner.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Is that why there is a zipper on the back window? Cool, I always wondered what that zipper was for.

Be REALLY careful about the "spike", ask how I know...

Enjoy the top down driving, I love it.

Bill

Big Ed · 03-11-2003, 04:48 AM

Thanks for the pointers, guys. My top is brand new and I'm guessing they don't give these things away, no? Now all I need is 60 degrees warmer than the expected high if 10 today...

BlkBird · 03-11-2003, 06:03 AM

Mike (aka Big Ed),

Very nice car! So who makes the roll bar? My DAS roll bar seems to impede the seat movement more than the one in your photo... or do you find the Recaro's don't get stopped by the roll bar?

Big Ed · 03-11-2003, 06:34 AM

BlkBird, Thanks for the compliment. The roll bar doesn't impede the Recaros very much unless they are reclined..then there's quite a bit of limitation. I have no idea who made the roll bar, installed by P.O. and professionally covered in vinyl so no markings visible.

Love your car too. I have G50/50 envy big time.

BlkBird · 03-11-2003, 06:52 AM

Mike,

Yeah the five speed is sweet. Lets me keep the car in the turbo zone almost all the time. My DE instructor hated how I could leave the car in third gear and just use boost to cover the gear spread. Or as I was fond of saying, "who needs a tiptronic automatic when you have third gear and a turbo behind it".

What changes have you made to the car? You may recall I have done the GHL, K27 and Kokeln setup. Just had the Andial fuel enrichment system installed too. All works very very well!

Big Ed · 03-11-2003, 03:40 PM

Blkbird,

The upgrades to my car I can also thank the PO for, I was actually pretty jazzed when I found it because it had all the upgrades I'd do myself anyway (except the G50, coming next winter if all goes well). It has: Kokeln intercooler, K27, electronic boost control (I've left on LOW thus far and it hits almost 1 bar), electronic fuel control, cat bypass, Borla exhaust with wastegate dump.

Took it out on Sunday when temps reached a balmy 43 degrees. I love the sound when you stomp on it (like a jet plane revving for takeoff) as the turbo spools up -- my pulse quickens everytime as I wait for the a$$ end to hunker down and then "off like a prom dress"!

I gotta move someplace warmer.

Mike

BlkBird · 03-11-2003, 05:59 PM

Mike,

Warmer weather - that's why I left Toronto. That and the US tax system. Come visit Atlanta some time. You can see from this board we have an active group of Pelicans. Usually anywhere from 21 to 7 at any given event. We do love our cars!

And the mountains are just waiting for you... can't you hear them calling?

cellison · 03-12-2003, 03:37 AM

Ed, one thing you may want to do to take car of the rear window, is place a clean 100% cotton towel on top of the outide of the window once its zipped down. This helps to keep it from getting scratched.

You do need to come down to Atlanta. We need another turbo to compete/compliment Chris' BlkBd, and he does let everyone drive it.

Charles
88 Cab

BlkBird · 03-12-2003, 04:20 AM

Everyone? No, not everyone. Only those who give me THEIR keys to hold - just in case Blkbird ends up in the shop for some reason.

atlporsche · 03-12-2003, 07:40 AM

oh...northeast....

it's gonna be 75 here in atlanta...

sjd

Big Ed · 03-12-2003, 07:47 AM

Our summers are really nice, so maybe what I need is dual residences. Yeah, that's it....