968, First 3 Questions

[jeff968]

IMHO, hook up the power top. I've owned 968 cabs for 19 years and have never had an issue with my power tops and have always kept them engauged. Sure, something could happen but something could happen if you take the car out for a drive too.

[Jay Wellwood]

Originally Posted by jeff968

IMHO, hook up the power top. I've owned 968 cabs for 19 years and have never had an issue with my power tops and have always kept them engauged. Sure, something could happen but something could happen if you take the car out for a drive too.

[cockerpunk]

oh great, an oil thread. this will go well.

as long as you are holding 8psi per 1000 rpm, you have enough oil pressure, and should run as thin of an oil as possible to accomplish this. i've herd of folks running 5w30 in these cars, i have not had the courage to do it myself yet. 0w40 works though, and thats only slightly thicker at temp. synthetic is always better.

mostly i use mobil one, when i used castrol all my oil leaks turned into candles, and that just felt terrible.

[flash968]

this design was piss poor from the onset. it was even written up in magazines at how bad it is. having to turn off the engine (it won't work with the engine running, though there is a mod for that), then stop half way, get out of the car, put a towel down on the window (otherwise the window gets scratched very easily), then get back in the car, put it all the way down, and then get back out and install the cover, is just a ridiculous process. you can forget about putting it down at a stop light. it is slow, noisy, difficult to service, and prone to failure. i have seen almost 100 failures in the 11 years i have been dealing with the 968.

reconnecting the power top after having it disconnected is not for the faint of heart. you have to replace the single use center bolts (they won't hold torque if you don't), and then re-synch the motors. this procedure is NOT described in any of the manuals. if you get it wrong, even a little bit, it will absolutely snap the bow. i just went through doing this, and it sucked.

most cab owners have gone manual by now. it is safer, faster, and easier than in power mode. were i not selling the car, i would still be in manual mode. it is only a matter of time before something fails in power mode, and because the parts are no longer available, a failure would result in a painful and expensive process to repair.

purists will maintain the stick up the butt attitude that everything must be original, and i get that, but it's just not practical. i wish this thing worked better, and i am scared to death of the bow snapping on both of my cars. i wanted a power top, having had manual ones up to then. i was very bummed that this design is so prone to failure. the older the canvas and window, the more likely too, as they flex less, putting more strain on things.

caveat emptor

[Westy]

^^^^Very nice writeup. Thanx

[flash968]

lol - just calling it like i see it.

[thomasryan]

O my my...

[Westy]

Well, 2 diametrically opposed opinions here. The 'unavailable parts' issue concerns me as it would most likely be a small fortune to have something fabbed. Since I also don't have a clue on how I would synch the motors, looks like I'll, unfortunately, have to stay in manual mode. I'm gonna assume those little handles in the trunk are for manual release and function? Car will arrive tomorra morning, so I can further inspect then.

[thomasryan]

Those handles are for the top of the rear 'seats'.

Keep it manual until you can study it. I use the button...but I will drink my coffee black sometimes if it's good coffee.

[Westy]

You mean people actually put stuff in black coffee? But.....why?