356 Engine rebuild book ?

[Milly]

Evening fellas,

Can anyone point me in the direction of a useful engine rebuild book/website for my 356.

Had a few quotes from the usual places and it's gonna cost me twice what I actually bought the car for, which I basicaly can't afford . . . so one of guys who's in our VW club who's got his own engine workshop is gonna go through it for me

He's well acquanted with VW engines but would like to give him something to work from if there's anything out there.

Thanks in advance
Paul

[davidppp]

Hello, Paul.

You need all Harry Pellow's books and vids..go to HCP Research via google..

I do not think you will save money to be honest: the cost problem with the 356 engine is not the labour content, but the parts, machining, and having the know-how saves megabucks..

A much better option would be to stick in a VW motor for now, and do the original 356 motro properly when you have the cash..

Kind regards
David

[Milly]

Hello, Paul.

You need all Harry Pellow's books and vids..go to HCP Research via google..

I do not think you will save money to be honest: the cost problem with the 356 engine is not the labour content, but the parts, machining, and having the know-how saves megabucks..

A much better option would be to stick in a VW motor for now, and do the original 356 motro properly when you have the cash..

Kind regards
David

Thanks David . . .

. . . thought about the dub engine, but then haven't you got to fabricate new tinware and the throttle/carb linkage . . ?

5K to 8K rebuilds for a 356 motor will always be out of my price range unfortunatly . . !

[Graham]

If I pulled my finger out and built my workshop in the garden I would offer to build it for you,Ive done dozens now,just no space to do it at home,and Im only a few miles away!

[Milly]

Is it honestly a 'dark art' as everyone seems to say ?

Surely a competent engine builder could do the job ?

[davidppp]

Hello, Milly.

Nothing Dark about it..just that there are so many unique gotchas in them, compared to any other engine I can think of.

Partly because of Factory oddities, parttly just an unique design..and now the complication of some odd aftermarket bits, and knowing what one can get away with.

Its normal to do at least two dry builds..

What labour charges have you been quoted ?

Kind regards
david

[Milly]

Haven't had a breakdown or the engine looked at yet.

Just enquired as to ball park figures to have it looked quoting the symptoms which are "engine runs fine, smokes a lot out of the breather pipe and sometimes out of the exhaust". Really didn't want to waste anyones time if it was out of my price range at the end of the day.

Have contacted the usual suspects and one was 4K to 10K dependant on top or full rebuild and another was 2K to 5K on the core engine.

Like I say, don't wanna sound a cheapskate but I was lucky to land on the car and just can't afford to throw a pile of money at it, is it's not exactly a concours car to start with On the flip side I don't wanna end up blowing it up either

[davidppp]

I really recommend a VW motor TBH..

For under £1000 you will have a sweet running car...you can even use your Zeniths on it!

If you look up the usual sites you will find the cost of the parts, not to mention the unavailable parts..

You should count on replacing it all!

Kind regards
David

[Milly]

Mmmmmmmm definatly worth giving it some thought on the VW motor

Any ideas on the whats required to get it to fit ?

Guess it'll just bolt on ?

Tinware ?

Linkage ?

Many thanks for the advice David

[Ren]

Milly if you keep an eye on ebay there is a man who sells the mestro dvds.

Worth every penny. The best purchase I have got since getting my tub.

It shows you that its no dark art.

But .... parts are not cheap. Im in to a rebuild and spent lots and still have lots to spend yet before im ready to reassemble.

You would be better off if you want to keep the car Porsche (and its value) (and in it for the long run) to save your pennies and look at getting a complete unit from say Duane Spencer (unless your car is matching number). If you want to just potter about in it for a summer and then sell car on at a loss - get a vw motor.

[912uk]

to save your pennies and look at getting a complete unit from say Duane Spencer (unless your car is matching number). If you want to just potter about in it for a summer and then sell car on at a loss - get a vw motor.

Cough BS

lets put it this way buy the book but not the engine. DS

Ren is right though it can be done and it's all about saving hard for the parts. I am about to do another engine this time this one is all on my own I have always had John Lucas to help before.. But I feel I have learnt enough to get it right.

Graham you do need to get that garage sorted out.. you could pay for a garage and a workshop and 4 bed house on the side..

Yep the usual places will quote big prices..and there is a reason for it.. One of them said to me once he gets paid about £1400 to do a full rebuild and that;s also his garantee for it.. So the rest is parts and VAT

The video's are great let me know if you have them on DVD as I bought tape years ago and could do with DVD.

Best thing is to take it all apart and then clean and measure. once measured and understand what parts you have in there.. then you can start the rebuild from there..

I can help with adivce so can Graham and the builders out there can do the machine work and offer parts to you. So with abit of both you can do it your self and learn along the way. I have to say it really does need people to learn how to do these we already lost John this year.. none of these guys are getting any younger..

[Milly]

Many thanks for the replies fellas . . . keepin' it porsche me thinks and gonna go for it

after all what's the point of owning a 356 if it's got a VW motor in the back

p.s. hope I don't regret this post

[912uk]

you may do well your bank balance may do but you will not

it's a long road of collecting parts but worth it I think..