Replace '85 911 Cabriolet top w/993 style?

[donagain1]

It's time to replace the soft top on my '85 911 Cabriolet. Currently it has the 2-piece cover with the zippered rear window, as per original. I see that there's now a 993 style one piece top with a non-zippered window that supposedly fits an '85 frame. I'm wondering if anyone out there in Forum land has tried this conversion, and if you were successful. If so please advise whether you had an easy/difficult time with the job, whether the frame required much adjusting, and if the results were ultimately worth the effort.

Don

[r_towle]

Does the new one fold the rear window in half when it’s down?

[famoroso]

The previous owner of my former 1988 installed a 993 style replacement top. Looks way better IMO. The rear window folds in half while lowering the top (I'd keep the window CLEAN
at all times with Plexus Plastic Cleaner and place a large microfiber towel between the fold while lowering).

[r_towle]

Please keep us updated if you do this!
I’m getting to old to get in there and deal with that super tight zipper issue.

[Autoban]

I replaced the top on my 1986 and did it myself. I had never done this before. It wasn’t that bad of a job. I think using the 993 top made the job a little easier. It has been on the car now for about three years. No problems. The window folds just fine, as it does on a 993. I like the cleaner look off it. I documented the process on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtetI5TjM7am1w-HNkQPfP4_H-KwGgDgH

Juergen

[john walker's workshop]

Personally, I think the old style top looks better.

[Racerbvd]

I have a 993 top assembly available.

[donagain1]

Famoroso... Thanks for the photos of your (former) car, that style top does make it look sweet!

[donagain1]

RTowle... Haven't done anything yet, but will do. I've already gotten too old to screw with that zipper.

[donagain1]

Originally Posted by Autoban

I replaced the top on my 1986 and did it myself. I had never done this before. It wasn’t that bad of a job. I think using the 993 top made the job a little easier. It has been on the car now for about three years. No problems. The window folds just fine, as it does on a 993. I like the cleaner look off it. I documented the process on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtetI5TjM7am1w-HNkQPfP4_H-KwGgDgH

Juergen

Thanks for the assessment as to the ease of the project, as well as the link, Juergen. It'll prove helpful... if only to aid in a decision to just flat ou take it to a shop and pay the BIG bucks for replacement.

[donagain1]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Personally, I think the old style top looks better.

I agree that the original style for that year model looks great, possibly even better, and there's certainly an argument to be made for things to remain original. However, given the level of inflexibility of my 73 year old 5'11" 240lb post-surgery frame, tangling with the zipper to secure the rear window flap while on the side of the road in a light drizzle is problematic and certain accommodations to the situational realities need to be considered.

[donagain1]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I have a 993 top assembly available.

Thank you for the pics, and opportunity to acquire the whole magilla, but my car's an '85 and needs to retain the original '85 manually operated and latched frame.