DIY convertible top replacement for 1995 993

[aschuftan]

has anyone replaced the convertible top for their 1995 (or similar yr) 993?

is it easy? special tools?

where did you get your top?

a local shop is willing to do it - parts and labor for $2500

is that cheap for this kind of job?

any help, suggestions, advice appriciated.

aron

[Peter Serbanica]

I install 993 tops using GAHH German canvas in New Jersey. I charge $1900.00 installed plus tax and shipping.

[John4kcsq]

has anyone replaced the convertible top for their 1995 (or similar yr) 993?

is it easy? special tools?

where did you get your top?

a local shop is willing to do it - parts and labor for $2500

is that cheap for this kind of job?

any help, suggestions, advice appriciated.

aron

Hello,

I am in the process of replacing my top also. I have a replacement top and liner already. I am looking for a DIY on this. Or any helpful hints. What to do or what not to do. I searched the archive and recieved no hits. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks, John

[aschuftan]

I install 993 tops using GAHH German canvas in New Jersey. I charge $1900.00 installed plus tax and shipping.

[aschuftan]

I install 993 tops using GAHH German canvas in New Jersey. I charge $1900.00 installed plus tax and shipping.

thanks for that price comparison. Unfort i live in California so cant send it to you. could you tell me- is it a job i can do myself (i know its your livelihood but i dont have that much money and i'd like to try and "bond" with my car and doing this may help)

aron

[aschuftan]

has anyone replaced the convertible top for their 1995 (or similar yr) 993?

is it easy? special tools?

where did you get your top?

a local shop is willing to do it - parts and labor for $2500

is that cheap for this kind of job?

any help, suggestions, advice appriciated.

aron

Hello,

I am in the process of replacing my top also. I have a replacement top and liner already. I am looking for a DIY on this. Or any helpful hints. What to do or what not to do. I searched the archive and recieved no hits. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks, John

hey john- any luck finding a DIY on the top? I have a pdf version of the 993 manual with step by step instructions if youd like.

just email me at aschuftan@hotmail.com

aron

[pluto6]

I may be able to update people in the next few weeks. I am going to be attempting to take off the top off my 1995 to get the window re-sewn back on. They charge about $500 to take off the top to do this. I am not sure what I am really getting into, but I will find out. I figure as long as I don't break anything, I can always take it in, and have the shop fix it. With the engine and brakes and tires, I can't afford lots of money on cosmetics...

I will let this forum know how it goes, although I may be working on it for a few weekends...

I also have found nothing online regarding replacing the top. A few places discuss replacing just the window (they say it only takes a couple of hours doing the sewing by hand... I found it to be extremely more difficult than that, and after getting about 4" after 2 hours, I figured it would easier to take the top off, and get it professionally sewn (the auto top place here will do the sewing for about $50 for just the sewing).

Paul

[aschuftan]

I may be able to update people in the next few weeks. I am going to be attempting to take off the top off my 1995 to get the window re-sewn back on. They charge about $500 to take off the top to do this. I am not sure what I am really getting into, but I will find out. I figure as long as I don't break anything, I can always take it in, and have the shop fix it. With the engine and brakes and tires, I can't afford lots of money on cosmetics...

I will let this forum know how it goes, although I may be working on it for a few weekends...

I also have found nothing online regarding replacing the top. A few places discuss replacing just the window (they say it only takes a couple of hours doing the sewing by hand... I found it to be extremely more difficult than that, and after getting about 4" after 2 hours, I figured it would easier to take the top off, and get it professionally sewn (the auto top place here will do the sewing for about $50 for just the sewing).

Paul

hey paul- where did u get t he window and for how much? on second thought my roof could probably last a few yrs more- just my window needs replacement...

aron

[John4kcsq]

Hello,

The top I just removed from my car has a zip in rear window. At one point I saw a replacement window (zip in style) on ebay it was advertised as a genuine Porsche part.

My replacement top has a sewn in window. If you unzip the headliner from around the window this is easy enough to check.

John

hey paul- where did u get t he window and for how much? on second thought my roof could probably last a few yrs more- just my window needs replacement...

aron

[Peter Serbanica]

The window (oem top) is zipped in then heat sealed to top with specialtool from porsche. very difficult to do. Window, which has 2 zippers one for top and 1 for headliner, costs about $800.00 oem. not available aftermarket. Usually whin plastic cracks, top is shot. Check below rear bow for wear marks ect. before you waste $$$$ on window. I only use GAHH tops.

[pluto6]

Aron, and others -

My window is not really in bad shape, just the thread is pulling out. I don't really care about having the whole thing heat sealed, and so am not going to go through getting an OEM window. I have seen ads for good flexible windows out there, and there are people that sell the plastic portion for about $100. I just want to have the window professionally sewn back in place. I realize that it will not be as weatherproof as the $1000 job, but I don't need that or can afford it. I just need the window not blowing in the breeze as it is now.

My plan is to have the shop use the existing window, and sew it back in place, since the plastic is not cracked, and is barely yellowing. It is not brittle, or anything that makes me think that the repair will fail immediately. Also, if the shop says the window is no good, then I will get one of the aftermarket plastic windows like is used for the Boxster.

I am not sure on sizes, but I have to believe that one can find something larger and trim it down, or the shop that does the repairs can probably help me find something.

See this link as an example...

http://www.emiata.com/BoxsterWindow.htm

[pluto6]

The window (oem top) is zipped in then heat sealed to top with specialtool from porsche. very difficult to do. Window, which has 2 zippers one for top and 1 for headliner, costs about $800.00 oem. not available aftermarket. Usually whin plastic cracks, top is shot. Check below rear bow for wear marks ect. before you waste $$$$ on window. I only use GAHH tops.

Peter -

I am thinking that I may need a new top. I am no where near NJ - I am in Pensacola. However - I don't have $2000, and so am DIY. I may have to bite at some point, but I can't right now, and my rear window is literally just hanging in the window.

So there is a reasonable amount of wear to the top as you mentioned. I am sure that someone would suggest replacement, but that is not an option for me.

I am hoping that you will help with some advise, since you do this at your shop.

The cables to the roof look to be riveted in at one point. Drilling them out is the only way to remove right?

Also, the screws that hold the cable down at the bottom seem to be frozen, and also somewhat stripped the head anyways - so I am looking at drilling this out too, unless you have a better suggestion?

Where do you get the 2 sided foam / tape that is used where the rain gutters are held down?

What sort of glue do you use to attach the fabric to the metal areas?

Hopefully if I encounter some other sticking points you will help with some answers?

Thanks in advance.

Aron - as you can see, this is a pretty major project, and probably best left to the pros from what I am encountering. But, I really don't have the money. If you can afford it, I would do what Peter is recommending. There is a lot of wear on my top, and taking it apart is proving to be difficult, and I am sure putting it back together will also be fun. I am hoping that once I get the top completely off, the guy I spoke with will sew the window in, he may tell me it is not worth it. There is a lot of wear that you don't see once you take the top down, and start removing things.

[swalsh]

I am in the process of replacing the roof as well. Have ordered the replacement from www.convertibletopguys.com out of Ri. About $1000 without the headliner. As always, am concerned about the complexity of touching this stuff.

I will update as I proceed.

[Becker135]

I just had this done by a professional, and assisted him in my garage.  All I can say is, it's not a DIY if you want it to come out perfect.  There are so many exacting little steps that only someone who has done it before would know.  This pro does nothing but tops all day long and it still has a slight wrinkle in the window corner.

 

I did tons of research and didn't see one post from someone who had completed a DIY successfully.  FYI, we used a GAHH top and my old liner, total cost $2400.

 

If I could do it over I would have used the heavier A5 top vs the Sonnenland which the car top guy selected.