Aluminum Shoulder Plates

[Teo]

Hello,

I attempted to install a new convertible top that I bought on Ebay on my 1999 Boxster. Seems that I messed up the aluminum plates on the sides trying to stretch the fabric over them and then pull them into place. I don't know if it's the top (seems like it was perhaps cut a bit narrow) or my failure to follow instructions, but I need to replace those aluminum plates. I searched the Boxster parts catalog from autoatlanta.com, came up with a possible 986 561 115 00 but it doesn't look right in the drawing.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Tod

[1schoir]

Hello,

I attempted to install a new convertible top that I bought on Ebay on my 1999 Boxster. Seems that I messed up the aluminum plates on the sides trying to stretch the fabric over them and then pull them into place. I don't know if it's the top (seems like it was perhaps cut a bit narrow) or my failure to follow instructions, but I need to replace those aluminum plates. I searched the Boxster parts catalog from autoatlanta.com, came up with a possible 986 561 115 00 but it doesn't look right in the drawing.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Tod

Tod:

986 561 115 00 is the correct part number for a 986 left side shoulder plate. The right side is 986 561 116 00.

The drawing of the part in the parts diagram does not look like the shape of the actual shoulder plate, but that is the correct part nonetheless.

How did you mess up those plates? They are pretty sturdy.

Regards, Maurice.

[Teo]

Hello,

I attempted to install a new convertible top that I bought on Ebay on my 1999 Boxster. Seems that I messed up the aluminum plates on the sides trying to stretch the fabric over them and then pull them into place. I don't know if it's the top (seems like it was perhaps cut a bit narrow) or my failure to follow instructions, but I need to replace those aluminum plates. I searched the Boxster parts catalog from autoatlanta.com, came up with a possible 986 561 115 00 but it doesn't look right in the drawing.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Tod

Tod:

986 561 115 00 is the correct part number for a 986 left side shoulder plate. The right side is 986 561 116 00.

The drawing of the part in the parts diagram does not look like the shape of the actual shoulder plate, but that is the correct part nonetheless.

How did you mess up those plates? They are pretty sturdy.

Regards, Maurice.

Maurice,

Thanks for verifying these part numbers. I used double-sided tape to hold the top canvas to the plates where the holes in the canvas lined up with the screw holes from underneath. I practically threw my shoulder joints out trying to stretch the top across so that I could anchor some temporary screws in place to hold the canvas (on both sides). Turns out the pre-marked holes in the canvas were very optimistic in terms of their placement. I ended up using an awl and various sizes of screws to try to get the plates lined up. They were bent up a little from the last guy who owned the car, I kind of finished them off.

I think my approach should have been to screw the plates in first, then stretch the canvas to the forward edge and clamp it, and glue the cloth to the plates. Then when the glue dries unclamp and re-screw the plates in. Saw that on another posting on renntech.

-- Tod

[1schoir]

Hello,

I attempted to install a new convertible top that I bought on Ebay on my 1999 Boxster. Seems that I messed up the aluminum plates on the sides trying to stretch the fabric over them and then pull them into place. I don't know if it's the top (seems like it was perhaps cut a bit narrow) or my failure to follow instructions, but I need to replace those aluminum plates. I searched the Boxster parts catalog from autoatlanta.com, came up with a possible 986 561 115 00 but it doesn't look right in the drawing.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Tod

Tod:

If you get new shoulder plates, be sure to take a look at this DIY to get another view on how to install them and finish the install of the canvas to the front: http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/replacingthetop-adiy

Regards, Maurice.

Tod:

986 561 115 00 is the correct part number for a 986 left side shoulder plate. The right side is 986 561 116 00.

The drawing of the part in the parts diagram does not look like the shape of the actual shoulder plate, but that is the correct part nonetheless.

How did you mess up those plates? They are pretty sturdy.

Regards, Maurice.

Maurice,

Thanks for verifying these part numbers. I used double-sided tape to hold the top canvas to the plates where the holes in the canvas lined up with the screw holes from underneath. I practically threw my shoulder joints out trying to stretch the top across so that I could anchor some temporary screws in place to hold the canvas (on both sides). Turns out the pre-marked holes in the canvas were very optimistic in terms of their placement. I ended up using an awl and various sizes of screws to try to get the plates lined up. They were bent up a little from the last guy who owned the car, I kind of finished them off.

I think my approach should have been to screw the plates in first, then stretch the canvas to the forward edge and clamp it, and glue the cloth to the plates. Then when the glue dries unclamp and re-screw the plates in. Saw that on another posting on renntech.

-- Tod