968 Cabrio Component Locations

lsinlv · 07-05-2006, 08:05 AM

Had a failure of the drivers side lift. I have removed the cover in the rear seat area and found the transmission and cable. It's obvious the cable is bad, and I can see it wrap back into the trunk area.

Couple of questions. Is the motor hidden under the small shelf under the rear window?? how do I access the motor???

Also, this failure caused the "b" pillar/upright to break in half

, I am assuming this are made of aluminum and should be able to be welded...if not does anyone know of a good salvage yard for any 968 cabrio parts???

Thanks.

Larry

mscromer · mscromer's Garage

I don't know about anyone else but I am confused as hell as to what you are talking about. What exactly are you calling the"drivers side lift" are you talking about the seat motor? Then you talk about the transmission and cable going to the trunk area and "B" pillars being broke. I might be missing something but I'm lost. Can you clarify this and maybe we can help.

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

mscromer...I believe he is talking about the lifting motor for the top. I'll check around for parts and see what I can find...if you would be kind enough to put the year of your car in your signature line. This will help us to help you. Thanks

I guessed and used a 90 model...here are some places to check..

1991
Roof
Porsche 944 2DR,RED,9-90,RWD, AK9437 $2000 Campbell Nelson Auto Recycling USA-WA(Arlington) 888-337-7757
1990
Roof
Porsche 944 FRAME ONLY 9167 $1500 Oklahoma Foreign European USA-OK(Moore) 1-800-462-2446
1993
Roof
Porsche 968 ConvWHT,GRY,ALL PIECES NEW $10K 0H OLD TAG 0000007083 HD209 $1100 Modern Auto Parts, Inc. USA-MO(St.-Louis)1-888-919-8138
1989
Roof
Porsche 944 BLK,BENT FRAME 000 A
0 NOF $1000
undmg Miami Parts USA-FL(Opa-Locka) 1-800-644-4788
1990
Roof
Porsche 944 BLU,2DR,CONV,AVG 000 A
0 05B139 $800
actual Japanese & European Auto Parts USA-FL(Tampa) 1-813-663-9741
1993
Roof
Porsche 968 Conv TOP BOOT ONLY $1700 NEW 0H HD209 $374 Modern Auto Parts, Inc. USA-MO(St.-Louis) 1-888-919-8138
1991
Roof
Porsche 944 Conv-BLK 000 A
0 04397 $Call Stockton Auto Dismantlers USA-CA(Stockton) 1-800-235-8733
1991
Roof
Porsche 944 PARTS ONLY 9429 $Call Oklahoma Foreign European USA-OK(Moore) 1-800-462-2446
1990
Roof
Porsche 944 73 $Call DC Automotive USA-NC(Rocky-Mount) 1-800-579-2410
1990
Roof
Conv 57 $Call DC Automotive USA-NC(Rocky-Mount)1-800-579-2410

lsinlv · 07-05-2006, 04:04 PM

the car is a 94' and I was hoping from having to buy a complete new top skeleton....again, hopefully the broken part can be welded.

yes, I am talking about the cabrio top mechanism. I know it has 2 motors, which drive transmissions, which are attached to the top, which raises and lowers the top. I have no better way of explaining it.

I wanted to know the location of the motors that drive the top mechanism. my "OEM" repair manual has very little on the cabrio top mechanism. I know by they schematics it has 2 motors.

any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks for the replies!

Larry

earossi · 07-05-2006, 06:03 PM

Usually, the top bows can be weld repaired. As you suspected, they are aluminum.

Also, if the cables that connect the top transmissions to the top motors are bad, you will have trouble sourcing them. I replaced both cables (they are different ) last summer, and had a devil of a time finding new ones. Finally, Stoddard Porsche did a network search which gives them info at every domestic Porsche dealer. In total, there were only (6) cables in stock in the United States. Since I purchased two of them, there are now, presumably only (4) left!

I would suggest contacting Stoddard and have them source the cables for you.

Good luck.

lsinlv · 07-05-2006, 06:37 PM

well, I spoke with Sunset Imports today, and he siad he can source them, but after looking at the cables near the motors (Yes I found them :P), it looks like both have been messed with, as the have "hose clamps" holding them in place about half way through, and I seriously doubt that they are OEM....so I will be replaceing both.

I did note that all of the cabrio hardware; motors, cables, and transmissions are 911 part #'s....so I would assume they should not be hard to source....now seals, that's another story...

earossi · 07-06-2006, 12:16 PM

I doubt that the 911 part numbers mean anything. To the best of my knowledge, Porsche contracted American Sunroof company to design and provide hardware for the convertible top assembly for the 9442 and the 968. Both cars use the exact same top. There is no correlation between these tops and the tops on the 911.

Sourcing the cables will be difficult. You mentioned that the ones in your car had hose clamps on them. You may not be looking at the corrrect part. The cables are about 2 feet in length and are probably 1/4 inch in diameter......not hardly enough to put a hose clamp on. If you can find the cables, they are about $75 each, but you will have to search for them.

lsinlv · 07-06-2006, 01:16 PM

Jeff at Sunset Imports got them souced. From Germany, and at wholesale!!! call him 800-346-0182 I paid $47 @ cable.

yes I was looking at them, and I will take some pics and post them up later....we bought this car from it's orig owner, and it was well maintained, but as I look into the top and it's workings, it's becoming obvious that someone dropped the ball in several areas....sadly. I have already had to replace the missing seals, and seal rails....which were NOT cheap...

earossi · 07-07-2006, 05:02 AM

Yeah, the top seals are incredibly expensive. I have no alternate solution for that.

As many on this forum have done, you can always elect to "disengage" the motorized top system from the top, which allows you to operate the top manually. Most of the posters indicate that operating the top manually is very easy and a one man task.

To try this out, you simply need to use the took included in your tool kit toe loosen up the engagement bolts (one on each side of the car). These bolts are located behind a plastic, removeable plug located in the rear seat kick panels. Just loosen up the bolts several turns and the top can be raised and lowered by hand.

In spite of all the issues, if I had to do it all over again, I would still buy the cab......if you don't intend to track the car. For racing, the cab is too heavy and flexible to be very competitive.

Off topic, I noticed that you have a 914-6. I always wanted one of those, but most of them have rusted away! Great cars.

Ernie