akacaj

Where did you guys buy the 996 hard top? There are a few on ebay but none in white.

Edgy01

The reason for a hard top varies with each buyer. I like one for changing the car to a coupe occasionally when I want to secure the car more. Also, during our fire season, it keeps the destructive ash from settling into the fabric top and shortening its life.

Edgy01

Try these two photos for a Factory set reference:

neil.schneider

HOLY CRAP!!!
Dan you are the best! Thanks for taking those great pictures. It will help a lot. Interesting that the two sides are so different. Mine rubbed on the drivers side and a little in the rear. But your drivers side nut is shorter. I would think that I have to lower the screw on the drivers side, so when I tighten it the top won't pull down as tight. Does that make sense? But your drivers side is shorter.

neil.schneider

I found mine locally and have to have it painted. Porsche dismantlers has them too. Not sure the cost. There is a black one on craigslist in my area now also.

Edgy01

The photos show the factory set up so I would use them as the guide.

Good luck!

neil.schneider

Dan,
Thanks again. Upon looking at those pics more, it appears that the side with the hook up for the defroster doesn't even have any threads below the coned section and the other side does. It appears that when you measured the passenger side the bolt was extended and the drivers side bolt was not. The numer of threads on each is 8 in the passenger and 7 on the other.

Edgy01

You're absolutely right!! I went back and checked and sure enough the one with the electrical contacts was hung up--I remiked it at 59.08mm from the bottom of the large nut to the bottom of the bolt. It looks similar in length to the right side now. You did the best thing which was to count the threads.

KC_Michael

I found a used 996 hardtop with the older bayonet mounts. My 996 does not have the receiver hardware. Does anyone know the model number of the older style bayonet receivers? There's a TSB that describes some rattling trouble some have had with these bayonet mounts. Should I consider replacing the bayonet mounts with the newer screw type mounts and get newer screw type receivers? Its not a cheap retrofit (so if the bayonets are alright I'd like to keep them). Thanks.

Edgy01

As I understand it Porsche moved to threaded fasteners because in time the bayonet fasteners (with springs) can't stay tight indefinitely. In time you will have issues. If you don't use the h/top that much then the outlay for changing over may not be justified in your mind. I had come to assume that all 996 cabs came with the receivers, even the cars in which the hardtop was deleted for credit.

KeninBlaine

You can purchase the screw type receivers for the car, and buy a kit that converts your top's bayonet mounts to screw mounts. I don't have the info at hand, but noted it at home in case I ever want to convert a 996 top for my 997. Do a search. If you can't find it, I'll try to find the part no. info at home tonight. BTW, I thought all 996 cars came with hardtop mounting hardware.

KC_Michael

I have one of the last 996 cabs (from 2005). It does not have the hard top mounting hardware installed.

KC_Michael

If anyone who has retrofitted the screw type receivers to their car, would you be willing to sell the bayonet type receivers? How much? Feel free to e-mail directly: mfogo at sbcglobal dot net

neil.schneider

I think that might be a tough find. When I did mine I threw away the bayonets themselves. I should have kept and tried to sell them. I think you could call porschedismantlers in LA i think. It is a junkyard that specializes in porsche. They would have them for less than new. The other idea is to buy the kit for $225 which is likely less than the parts ordered separately.

wiggy

If anybody is interested in it, I have my hardtop and mounting kit for sale as I sold my 911. Its in great shape. Black with grey interior (looked fine with my black on black car). Nice thing about black, is it actually looks pretty good on other colored cars - so no need to repaint it.

$1000 for the hardtop and mounting kit.














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