356A Coupe restro

[greg356a]

Hi Drew carpet was from Lakewell.

Car delivered at my friends garage a little later than expected. We unloaded straight onto the hoist and fitted the transmission mounts. Guess who forgot to order the clutch release bearing - major embarrassment Spoke with PRS and they had one in stock. Procrastinated about driving 2 hours to get it or have it delivered. Decided to drive despite a hot Friday afternoon. Turns out to have been a good decision as the car must have had a bearing upgrade to the later 356B in its early life, which meant I would have ordered the wrong part. The guys sorted me out with the parts and a quick how to explanation.

Arrived back at 5:10 pm and still got the engine fitted before 6!

Plan to get it started tomorrow - fingers crossed. Really cant wait

[sladey]

Impressive work and car looks very very cool

[roy mawbey]

Gregg,

Well done on the work and your effort. Just a question, my 59 car had the early diaphragm clutch from Hausermann I seem to remember still fitted in it, when I bought the car in the 60's. What a disaster that clutch was, the previous owner had it adjusted so many times at AFN and after I started with simuilar slippage problems I bought a normal spring lever type clutch from Barry Curtis many many years ago which has been perfect ever since.

I know they changed to a different supplier for diaphragm cluches in the 356 b/c cars my 356C clutch worked perfectly.

So Gregg does your have a later type 356B diaphragm clutch and later 356B release bearing? Those early versions in 59 must have caused headaches for many. But back then I assure you there was only the fledging PCGB when I joined it in 69 and really little else like we now have with so many forums to ask questions.

Hope the engine starts well!
Roy

[greg356a]

Hi Roy,
The flywheel was machined to accept the 200 mm vw type 1 diaphragm which works with the 356B release bearing. I previously ran the 180 mm type 1 and got some slip so hopefully this will stop any. It was an old clutch plate so that may have been the real problem.

Ran out of time to get the engine started today. Mounting the full flow oil filter took as lot longer than expected. Fitting the accelerator rod was fiddly especially the little pin cir-clip that stops the ball head popping off. New fuel line front and back. Just a bit of electrical work on Monday and hopefully get started.

[neilbardsley]

That is coming along nicely. Good luck

Sent from my 22011119UY using Tapatalk

[hashman]

Good luck with firing it up Greg, I hope it goes smoothly.
Looking great and amazing progress.

Karl

[Bootsy]

Hope it all goes well


It’s looking wonderful

[roy mawbey]

Thanks Greg for advising you had the flywheel machined out shows you were really getting that job correct. Yes its all the small things that can take the time. Bet you can't wait to hear it start up!

Roy

[greg356a]

Good news and not so good news. Engine wired and fluids topped up. First turn of the key - nothing, completely dead!
Checked the battery, starter connection and earths. Turns out to be a faulty ignition switch . Hot wire with a screw driver and the engine burst into life. Sounds very loud but wonderful, really revs.
Looking to add a toggle switch across the switch today.

[hashman]

WOOHOO....good news

Karl

[roy mawbey]

Well done Greg !!
Roy

[greg356a]

After a very slow progress day yesterday with multiple electrical faults, I really did think CLM was going to be 50/50 chance of going.
Today was a very good day. With the exception of the gauges all electrical faults have been fixed.
Still loads of adjusting work but convinced will make it!

1st drive in many years, certainly over a decade since the original engine was running. What a great feeling to even drive up the farm track and back

07562780-0157-44d5-ad72-504cf6271b06 (1)

Adjustments - clutch, accelerator cable and spring return, engine tune, wiring needs tidying, seat positions, numerous parts to attached.

Its running!

[Nine One One]

Sounds and looks excellent!

[sladey]

Fantastic!!

[greg356a]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Still working long hours get to the car finished enough to go to CLM. We had problems with the new weber 40 carbs. One side just did not work. Mixing and matching left and right parts and finally running on all four. However, when pulling into second engine just did not like it, very unhappy. Total hesitation and no pull. Late night trip to pull the carbs off my beetle gave us some options. Changed the main jets and the chokes from 32 to 28 mm. That did the job, engine runs sweet.

In fact you can now tell the clutch is slipping. Run out of time to investigate further last night. Will have a chat with PRS on Monday, am thinking/ hoping its the type 1 clutch disc which might need to be a 912 clutch disc. So looking at another late night on Monday to take the engine out change the clutch and put it back in. That leaves Tuesday/ Wednesday for any more snags.