I am looking to purchase a hard top in Artic Silver for my 2002 C4 Cab so that I can use her in some of the winter months.
I have been searching all the usual places and have been coming up dry so if anybody out there has one or know someone who does, please pass the info along. Thanks.
You obviously haven't checked all the usual places. Found one on eBay just now in Great Neck NY. Not around the corner but close enough to investigate. Most folks won't ship 'em so you're going to have to travel to find one but good news is you can put it on your car and drive it home. It even matches your color. Priced right now for a penny. Rest is up to you.
Trust, me i have been looking more than you can imagine. I have already spoken to the guy in Great Neck but his is from a 2004 911 so the latches in the rear are different as I have a 2002 and they changed the latches in 2003. I'd have to changes my latches and i have been told in no uncertain terms that is not an inexpensive route so the search continues.
A 2004 top will fit your 2002 cab without any modifications to the locks on your car or the latches on the top so long as the locking pins attached to the top are the non-threaded version. The pins you want have a blunt tapper to tip tip with a short pin entending horizontally from the end of the locking latch itself. The only change made the to locking latch prior to 2005 was Porsche added a plastic sleeve to the ends of shaft to reduce chaffing between the exposed metal pins and the lock itself due to customer complaints about a squeeking noise. They didn't change the receiving lock itself at this time. I know this because I installed a 2004 top from a 996 on my '07 997 back in 2008 by simply adding the older style, pre 2005, receiving locks to the car itself. I did not make any changes to the locking shafts that were attached to the top. ( This is the same style of receiving lock that should already be installed in your 2002 - 996 from the factory. If not, you'll need them anyway and I got mine from Sunset Porsche in Oregon for about $ 250 for the pair + the UPS shipping.
When the 997's came out Porsche made a further change to the shape of the centering tabs on the top itself and the plastic receiving pieces built into the windshield frame that the tabd fit into but for your car this isn't and issue if you use a top from a 996. I didn't find it necessary to change the tabs on the '04 top I used on my car as is still fits snuggly without any issues on the road regardless of weather conditions. No leaks, wind noise or squeeking.
If you need to install the receiving locks there is a good how to on 6speedonline.com step by step with pics and part numbers. I posted detailed instructions on the Renntech site back in 2008 buy did not go the extra step of including the pics as the installation of the locks was pretty straight forward but, with that said, pics always make things easier to follow.
I think I still have the invoice from Sunset Porshe with the part numbers for the locks if you'd like to compare them to the part numbers on locks in your car if it would help. A match would confirm that the '04 top will fit your '02 Cab.
Wow, this is very different than what the dealership told me. I'll give great neck a call again and maybe drive out there on Saturday to see if it fits. Thanks. Wish me luck.
That's not surprising. Porsche is in the business of selling new parts not retrofits to older ones. Most dealers have neither the knowledge nor the desire to assist an owner on a project like yours. I have found both Sunset and Suncoast Porsche to be very accommodating in this area. I have used Pelican as well over the years for parts on both my 997 and the '01 Boxster I traded in on it. Good luck on the top and enjoy the drivev and let me know how you make out.
