More Power

curbo · Post by **curbo** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:22 am

Can you advise?
I need lots more power from my planned 356 project, so would it be more cost effective to switch from the 356 engine and go Hi Performance type 1 instead, your thoughts would be appreciated

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:48 am

Definitely. No doubt about it. Half the cost. 2ltr and upwards available. Etc, etc, etc... i'll have your redundant motor

58herbie · Post by **58herbie** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:25 pm

pm'd you

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:04 pm

Hi
I could say I am not a stick in the mud but if a really fast car is required buy a really fast car. Mind you "Stuka" the Vw powered 356 has been the motivation behind getting on with my 356 but mine runs a modified 912 motor and goes plenty fast enough for me. The Carrera pan America road race features a modified class which includes 356's which seem to mostly run type four vw engines on fuel injection running through 911 gearboxes and rear suspension and can apparantly exceed one hundred and fifty miles per hour and from the outside look pretty stock, and I would like your brake assemblies please.. Bill.

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:44 am

If you want more power, how about the 356 with 3.3 turbo power that someone has done in the states.
Is that enough?

vwretrosteve · Post by **vwretrosteve** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:48 am

i do have access to a 3.3 turbo motor and g50 box

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:45 am

I think Hendrik is refering to Chris Toy's turbo 356. I mailed Chris after looking at the engine shoehorned in 356 and asked him just how did he do that. He told me the clearances around the engine bay were less than 20mm. I couldn't believe it but he has done it. However some have said its fine in a straight line but corners...

I am old fashioned ( even remember girder forks bikes on the road ) but I would go early 911 SWB ( don't they look great!) and make that special . The 356A probably drives okay with 90bhp if everything suspension, gearbox, and chassis is sorted but where will you use that added power? Racing? I just wonder how much money goes into the current racing 356A's? I bet Mike Smith knows! And that's not Carrera versions.

Spend the money on making it look nice and take it out for weekend trundles. 50 year old cars are exactly what they are OLD!

(Stick in the mud, but my honest opinion!) Roy.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:07 pm

A nice type 1 with 130 - 150bhp should make a nice 356 package and still retain the balance/handling nicely.

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:21 pm

The 3.3 Turbo was more of a 'because you can' rather than because you need to

Nice job though.

20mm clearance? That's loads! Room enough for another turbo...

vwretrosteve · Post by **vwretrosteve** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:40 pm

i suppose it all depends on how fast you want to go ?
then the real problems start- going fast is relatively easy - its stopping, or getting around corners which tend to be the tricky bits!

Brakes and so forth - gearbox ... i guess the easiest options are all type one based because of the availability ... csp or kercher brakes, built swing axle gearbox etc.

motor wise i would suggest a large capacity type 4 based unit - mainly as i had lots of fun with a 2.4 in my old samba - plenty of torque and a more driveable format than many a hi po type 1 motor.

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:47 am

curbo wrote:I need lots more power from my planned 356 project

Then hopefully you have already decided the specs on brakes, suspension and gearbox? the engine spec will, to my mind, be most influenced by these. I have toyed with the idea of "whilst I'm in here" with my forthcoming engine rebuild, but having decided to keep stock brakes, gearbox and suspension then it will be more reliability upgrades rather than performance