LH Rear body brace

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:42 pm

Anyone know if the rear left body brace on a 58A is supposed to be bolted in as opposed to welded, which all the others are on my car?

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:39 am

Interesting ----------------- Tell me the Chassis number of your car

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:47 am

Well I might have found the answer to my question over on the 356 registry forum...

"LH brace is removable in the event you have a 4-cam engine and need to put an oil tank in there"

"So the brace can be interchanged with the guard for a Carrera oil tank if so fit"

http://www.356registry.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=65199

another nugget of 356 curiosity!!

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:28 pm

Hi Mr E
would you still like to see pictures of the engine tray area , I took a bunch but keep forgetting to bring the bloody camera home , as for wing braces my '58 had a welded brace , Bill.

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 am

Bill, if you could post those pics up on the other thread that would be great - in regards to the LH rear brace, do you think yours is original? It would seem from reading around on this subject its another 356ism with no hard and fast rules, some do, some dont

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:50 am

I might be able to throw some light on it - if you gave me the Chassis No.

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:40 am

Or you can always come and have a look at my '59.

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:29 pm

Mike, Chassis Number is 103041

Hendrik, I might just take you up on that offer soon

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:26 pm

Thanks James,

It is interesting that this brace is removable - I was under the impression that only Carrera`s had this removable brace to accomodate the Oil Tank that is also in that position

Hendrik tells me that his 59 (a VERY original car) has the brace welded in so it is certainly odd, unless this removable brace was something that Porsche did for a short period - (something else I have to try and find out)

However, I am dissapointed to have to say that your car is not an un-recorded Carrera
My records show it as being built on 03/03/58 with Engine number 69 000 and Gearbox number 18760

I really hoped that I was going to be able to give you some Really Good news

regards

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:57 pm

Its interesting that on the registry thread John Fletcher also appears to have this feature on his 58A, I wonder if this was a feature of some pre 59 cars?

Alas Mike I know I'm not that fortunate, a lowly 1600n it is, but at least it might share at least one feature with a 4 cam car

The details you hold for the car are correct for when it left the factory, nearly 52 years ago, the original engine cases and gearbox are long gone though

If you have either the original cases (swapped by Barry Curtis for industrial) or gearbox (swapped by Roger Bray) then that would be good news

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:06 pm

Ive restored more 356 A shells with bolt in ones than welded ones for sure,was there a cut off on the A's?

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:54 pm

Hi
here is a picture of the rotten cabs brace , its bodged of course but bolted on and it was built early part of '57 and is a T1, and my '58 coup'e was bolt in as was a '58 speedster I briefly had my mucky paws on, Bill

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:57 pm

It looks as if the 59 model may have been a cut off when Porsche went from Bolted to Welded

IF (?) they did, it must have been a money saving exercise - obviously it is cheaper to weld and they were certainly building more Pushrods than Carrera`s, so it does make sense

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

LH Rear body brace

LH Rear body brace

Wing Brace

Fender Brace

Rear L/H Wing Brace - Bolted or Welded