DISASTER STRUCK

Jez 356 · Post by **Jez 356** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:04 am

Hi all

Sunday morning started fantastically - an early start to go to Goodwood Breakfast Club - down the M27 and onto the A27 - Glorious weather.....

Then the knocking started and the temperature shot up. I pulled over and sat for an hour with my mate having a coffee from the thermos. The temperature dropped and I though that I would just go a little way down the road for some extra cold oil to top up the engine - big mistake. When I got there, they said they were not serving so go away.......! They then said there was another station two minutes down the road. I never got there.. the engine seized about 5 miles from Goodwood outside Chichester.

So now I have a car with a seized motor in the garage.

I have spoken to PRS who I am hoping will pull something out of the bag - fingers crossed.

I was planning to drive the car to Yorkshire when I move in the next few weeks. So now I have a heavy lump of metal that I hope Paul at PRS will be able to take away before I move house and sort out in due course.

So disaster on all fronts If anyone has any ideas or words of wisdom - I am all ears.....

I have been trying to look on the positive side - I may end up with a later engine / I may use the opportunity to install a remote oil cooler / I will also take some time to rust proof the underside of the car (at some point).

It will be a better car for it when it is finished / repaired..........

Keep the faith - I am trying to !!!

davidppp · Post by **davidppp** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:29 am

Hi Jez..

Sad to hear that.

I have a decent rebuilt 912 motor absolutely complete, and surplus to requiremnts if that helps..

Kind regards
David

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:40 am

theres an engine up for grabs on the for sale section too....
good luck, bad luck comes in threes, i think that means you are clear now ?

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:44 pm

on the bright side ... you're moving to Yorkshire

we have quite a few 356 boys & girls up here if help is needed

Jez 356 · Post by **Jez 356** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:06 pm

Good timing re the engine for sale - however would this not be an opportunity to go for a later 912 or 356C/B engine with the bigger oil pump and a bit more HP

I have a 741 gearbox in it already so a later motor should just slot in ??

What are the implications of installing a 912 motor into a 356A - Any issues I should be aware of ?? I maybe interested in the Davidppp option - I will PM you David as well.

With something a bit more 'modern' I might be able to keep up with the Northern guys on runs out then !!

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:14 pm

I think the only differences are the 912 air filters (wont fit if you have the long piped versions still fitted- no clearance in the ebgine bay) and the tin wear- which should be a straight swap from what you have in now in 90% of the time.
The only other issues might be with it being an a, and cable-ing issues or such like, I am sure good ol PR Services will know !
Keep us informed- my 912 engine into my b is a bit of a not-known area for me !
d

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:43 pm

It can be done and has been done and I will in time do it to my 54 356

Fly wheel

Cables

and Rev counter are some of the bigger issues

I take it the A is still 6V if so then add the generator at 12V as you might as well upgrade..

Just check any 912 motor or 356 motor as they are getting expensive now and I think that is bacause other people have put up a price to hence every one follows it..Gant have one up for sale at £10,500 + VAT when Stu's Andy Prill built racer was used but good at £6000 and 140BHP +!!!

I some times thing people think of a number and double it.. Cubist manages to find engines for sensible money..

Jez 356 · Post by **Jez 356** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:48 am

Thanks guys

I can not believe all this - the costs are just horrendous

I have now packed all my books - but the Duane Spencer one sounds as if it has the answers. I will unpack that first when I get to Yorkshire! At least I will have a double garage to work in !!

I just need to get a good deal on a sound block and put the ancillaries from mine straight on then really.

Mine is already 12 volts so a later mtor should be straight forward.

The tinware was all powder coated not too many years ago and PRS serviced the carbs and tidied it all up in April including a Bursch exhaust so I have most of the bits.

I will have another chat with Paul at PRS to guage costs etc........ that will be fun !

Regards Jeremy - trying to stay positive!

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:54 am

we have some good engine builders up North who you might find to be very well priced too

davidppp · Post by **davidppp** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:44 am

Hello again, Jeremy.

I'm afraid your right..doing these cars correctly is now very costly indeed.

Its not the cost of the assembly work..you cannot save more than a couple of hundred quid there..its the cost of parts which is so high..as generally so many are required to do it right..

Also the checking cracktesting etc is vital..

Its always soo tempting to cut a corner here or there, and then you end up with something which is a couple of grand cheaper but you can never fully rely on..

The 356 is now a big investment in total and saving that amount seems hardly worth the potential hassle..

Just my 2p...

Kind regards
David

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:13 am

David there is no mistery to these engines only what people have created. The engine is basic and easy to work on BUT!!! BUT there has been a lot of info out there that is duff and people follow it.

I am about to do another engine and I will take my time as I do. It is silly to say but you have to stick 100% to the factory book and do one step at a time. There is a few things different now adays with more modern meathods but overhaul don't take ANY short cuts. I am thinking of one item on my rebuild I have to change due to one small chip in the gear wheel.

All I can say is Andy at AJP is a real force on these motors now and if your doing the work your self then he is IMHO the first port of call to get the case measured , checked , cleaned up and then machining work done to get you started.. Esp when it comes to the cranks. then balancing as well. At this stage you have the start of some thing right eg a data point to start from.

But like you say it's about the parts not the labour.

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:23 pm

well my two pennies is that my engine cost 500 quid.
Yet to be tested but I trust my initial feelings in that its a good'un.

Bung a vw engine in it for now, thrash the nads of that one, put a smile back on your face, and put a bit aside every month to have the 'proper' engine done.
Doom n gloom gets you nowhere, a fat cheque book only buys time !!!
Good luck

Burma-Shave · Post by **Burma-Shave** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:47 pm

Sheesh, scary stuff. That motor for sale at £1100 seems like a good deal to me - that must be a better idea than a VW unit? At least until you get your own motor back on its feet.

Do you know what happened to yours yet? Crankshaft broke?

davidppp · Post by **davidppp** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:03 pm

Hello all.

The VW route is by far the most economic: with all the modern tweaks a 100 BHP type 1 is a good bet.

And a T4 even better..most definitely better..

I do like the T4 motor route..but hard to look stock!

Kind regards
David

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:13 pm

type 1 100BHP that's just for starts.

I know of a type 1 kicking out 240BHP!!! wan'a race

a few tweeks on a type will get you a nice 130BHP easy. spend some more and your upto 160-170bhp.

if any one wants to go this route then call Pete at Funkunbliz Portsmouth.

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

DISASTER STRUCK

DISASTER STRUCK

Thanks guys

All a bit rich for me !