Convertible top replacement questions - please help me decipher my options

[SCWDP911]

Hey guys,

I need to rep[lace my poor top on the 83 cabriolet. It is the original top and has seen better days unfortunately. I have a couple of options available and wanted to get some opinions, especially if you know a lot about cabs!

I have not been able to find anything local to me here in west TN (closer to Memphis) that I am comfortable with yet. It may be out there thogh and I have not found it, so if you have a recommendation, please pass along. My cuurent options are:

Option 1:

I met a couple of guys in AR at the 2007 Porsche Palooza. One guy had just had his top replaced by a shop in Tulsa. The guy did a great job on it. Tope looked great. No issues from day 1 the guy said. Then I met another guy there, who owns a collecible car restoration shop in OK. This guy only does the high end restos. He uses the same shop for his upholstery work and highly recommended him. I talked to the guy and his rate is very reasonable, about $1500-1600 for the whole job I think. Plus I would have to spend about $300 driving out to OK and back. But hey, plus side is another road trip in the 911!


Option 2:

I have found a a used top from another Pelican that is reported to be in "super clean" condition. It is off a 1992 car so it is a power top. It would include every thing to basically unbolt mine and bolt in this one. I have read here that the power tops can be used in place of the mnual tops and can be made into manual tops themselves, by changing latches I think. So I think it would work in my 83 with no issues. Plus there is cost would be less than $1500 shipped to me, I get to spend more time getting to know my car better, I do not have to drive to OK (not sure if this is a plus or minus), and the seals would all be in in better condition than mine probably... Negs are I have to do it, and it only saves me a few hundred dollars, will everything lineup just right(?), ia there an issue using the later mosel top in a first year cab I do not know about, etc, etc.

I need to give the guy on the used to a decision pretty quickly (if you are reading this post sir, I will let you know as soon as I can today, I just woke up this morning with these questions in my brain still). Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

[SCWDP911]

I forgot to add that one of the pluses on the used top, is I could sell my frame to recover some of the costs...

[SCWDP911]

OK< I guess my main questoin is doies anyone know how much alignment may have to take place afterwards. I mean if I am swapping complete top for complete top, I am wondering if there will be a lot of alignment issues to deal with afterwards, and if so, hwo difficult that will be to tackle... I have to make a decision tonight, so if you can offer some good advice, I would sure appreciate it...

[SCWDP911]

bump

[3.2 CAB]

Hi Shane, I have sent you a PM, Tony.

[1982911SCTarga]

A little cabriolet trivia: The cabriolet top frame is number-matched to the body, according to this SC cabriolet technical book that Porsche published in 1983. This ensured a good fit between the top and the windshield frame at the factory. Once the best-fitting top was selected for the car, the frame was number stamped to match the body's numbers.

In the years to come, smart people will be looking for the correct numbers in the right places.

Brian

[SCWDP911]

Wow, that is something I have never heard before. Definitely somthing to at least conisider. Thanks

[Thomas Owen]

Shane - let me offer a couple of comments after replacing the top on my '88.

1. I would not get the used top and just expect to bolt it on. You may never get the wrinkles and creases out of it since it was fit to another car.

2. the '92 top is a one piece, your original is a two piece. I tried one of the later tops on my '88 and did not like the look. Smaller back window and bigger blind spot, so I went back to the 2 piece original.

3. After my research I found many difference in the tops being offered for replacement. I went for the 'German Canvas' from World Upholstery and it fit perfect. Be sure to ask ANY shop doing the replacement about the top material and their source.

I did all the work on mine and it came out perfect. It was, however, a lot of work!

Good luck -