The journey begins, cab top replacement

[Chuck Moreland]

My tired looking top has got to go. I've been putting this off for years, telling myself that the top is always down anyway. But enough is enough.

I just bought a new top skin and I'm now heading out the the garage to begin the deed.

About 20 years ago I replaced the top on my '69 Camaro, but none since and never a 911. A quick search of the archives says this is gonna be a beatch.

I've got no instructions and the previous threads really don't tell much.

I am looking for tips from anyone who knows. I don't have any specific questions yet, I haven't even unwrapped it, just planning ahead.

Assuming I learn something useful from this experience, I plan to write a tech article for Wayne. Hopefully, future generations can benefit. Think of your tips as a contribution to a collective effort.

[Fun911]

Chuck,
I can't offer any advice, but how about a prayer..I have looked over previous posts also on top replacements. It seems like an engine rebuild would be easier Goood luck and let us know how it works out....

[Thomas Owen]

Chuck - I am sure Kurt B replaced his about a year ago, maybe less. He could probably offer some tips. I seem to remember John Walker commenting about this as well.
Good luck

[Jack Olsen]

Thom Fitzpatrick, too.

[Chuck Moreland]

The deed is now complete.

Although I didn't track the hours, I'd say this was a 15-20 hour project. It was a big project but maybe not so impossible as some of the other posts would have you believe.

I'm not saying it was easy, it wasn't. If words like "trim to fit" and "Professional installation strongly recommended" make you nervous then you might want to pass on this project.

The difficulty is that most of us are not familiar working with fabric and glue. It's not quite the same as nuts and bolts.

Here are some pics of the finished job:







I am pleased with the results. There is some wrinkle on the side of the rear window but it's not bad. Now that I've done it I look at other 911 cabs and it seems they all have some wrinkles. I never noticed before.

I think I am going to pass on the tech article. I got tired of taking pictures, there is a lot of detail to go into.

I can give a few general tips:

1) Seperate and label all the hardware as you remove it. There is a lot of hardware.

2) Take pictures as you disassemble each part. Capture the detail of how things go together.

3) Sequence is very important to assembly. Pay attention to the order in which you disassemble. This will give you guidance on the order to re-assemble.

4) In general assemble starting at the rear and work your way forward.

5) Save the old top until the project is completed. It may be helpfull to go back to see where glue and hardware was placed.

6) Have patience. It is at least a 15 hour job for a newbie.

[Steve W]

It's too bad I just ran into this thread or I would have told you of my experiences. I would say it is a very difficult job to get it right, and if you get it wrong, you would have just bought yourself a top and a bad job. The shop that did mine had my car for 7 weeks because the sides of the rear window would not lay smooth and the front and rear sections did not align at the base. They claim the 83-84 frames were a little different as they say they have done hundreds of 911s. Since they were a top manufacturer, they stitched 4 iterations of the top and rear window until they got it right because they wanted to know what was wrong. In the end, and $800 later, I had a new top, headliner, and recovered B pillar rubbers. I would say it certainly is not a job for a first timer and probably not worth the time required. I will pull my motor out, rebuild the tranny and get that right, before I would ever figure out how to install a top right.

[JMPRO]

Chuck, i'm impressed by any one that would tackel that job. As my dad would say "looks like you went to school on that one". Looks like you did a fine job, maybe you can add a new line to you website, " cab top repair". Your car looks good.
Jerry
78 911 SC Targa
Forever red

[Chuck Moreland]

Steve, that window looks like glass! I wish you hadn't posted that picture. Now I feel like taking another shot at mine. Good thing I keep it down all the time

That's the difference between a pro that has done it 100 times and a first timer.

Jerry, I think I'll stay out of the cab top business thanks. I don't need that much pain.