Rebuilding a 1958 356A

[58A - 71E]

Then the brake lines, hand brake cables, clutch cable, heater cans and the front seat belt mounts in the rear foot well. Bled and adjusted brakes and hand brake and the car was starting to look a bit more complete

[58A - 71E]

And finally it went back onto the floor





Just the rear seat belts and engine left to do

[58A - 71E]

I look forward to seeing it down on the ground.
After a long rebuild with the car on tall stands, that time you drop it to the ground I think is one of the best 'impacts' you get on a build.

Quite right Graham, I can second that
On a different not though, Mrs 58A came out, sat in it and started making engine noises whilst sawing at the wheel - our 2 year old did look a bit nervous about the prospect of Mummy driving her car again

[Gary71]

Truely fantastic James, so good to see it nearly done

[hot66]

And finally it went back onto the floor





Just the rear seat belts and engine left to do

.... been a long time coming , but great to see it back on 4 wheels


how many yeara ago was this ?

[58A - 71E]

how many years ago was this ?

June 2004

It managed 2 more years before the tin worm finally got it

[johnM]

Looking FANTASTIC

[210bhp]

It's a credit to you James. I cannot find words to say how nice a job you are making. I love the car


Regards
Mike

[jury]

Looks stunning! nice work James...

[Nige]

Gorgeous!

[58herbie]

Would you like to come and do mine when your Finished James. Truely great work.

do you have any unused panels etc??

Jon

[roy mawbey]

James,

Terrific job hope the engine job goes well. I just love the front photo and that fantastic gap tolerance you achieved on the bonnet

Roy

[mycar]

I can`t stop looking at those photos, I`ve never seen this car on wheels, she`s a beauty isn`t she.

For once I`m a bit lost for words.... All those hours, the search for knowledge, the grim determination a project like this reqires is mind blowing. To own a car of this caliber and be personally aquainted with literally every nut and bolt, every needle bearing and every electrical connection is a very rare thing.

It must have been quite a moment wheeling her out of service bay 2, damn, I wish I`d been there now.

So then, `Just the engine` and Bob`s yer uncle. Classic Le Mans here we come.

I do hope your good lady wife will let you drive her.

Mike

[58A - 71E]

Thanks chaps, does feel like the end is now in sight

do you have any unused panels etc??

Sorry Jon, none left over

I do hope your good lady wife will let you drive her

Blo*dy better do after all this although she doesnt know where the keys are now

Anyways, got a few bits back from the machine shop this week which meant I could make a start on the engine today

Cases have been checked and cleaned – all true and as they should be

Crank magnaflux crack tested, balanced (with flywheel and clutch) and then polished

Rods new small end bushes fitted and reamed

Rods weighed and balanced to within 0.3g of each other and checked for ovality

Flywheel resurfaced

Oil pump resurfaced and 3rd piece of case had a thou removed due to some slight scores, tach drive rebuilt and wired in again

First off was to replace the bearing, timing gear (old one damaged) and reattach distributor gear and give it a good clean



Incredibly this crank (an original A crank) is still just within standard tolerance on both mains and rods

[58A - 71E]

New rod bearing installed (note these are the early A rods with the tang on the left side, try finding these now in standard size )



And attached to crank



Then thoroughly cleaned the cases, especially the mating surfaces and inserted dowel pins and main bearing halves (and attach other bearings onto crank) and inserted cam followers