356 engine/VW transaxle combo

Where are you in Florida?

Believe the 6 volt starter is for a flywheel with 109 teeth.  You can laboriously count the teeth on the flywheel. A 12 volt flywheel will have 132 teeth.  Many use a hi-torque starter with the proper drive gear - it does not use a support bearing. Flywheels are typically 180 or 200 mm.

http://willhoit-auto-restorati...rsche-356-all-years/

Mike,

I will probably be a better resource in a couple weeks as I have been waiting forever for a crankshaft for my 356 eng but it finally came in. I had similar questions and through this forum was referred to Kennedy engineering. They seem to be really well informed. Attached you can see my invoice for what they recommended for my 356 sc 1965. Might want to give them a call. I'll let you know how my install goes soon. Hope maybe this is helpfull. Scott

Panhandle, Wolfgang and Scott, thank you for your replies. First Panhandle, I am in Sarasota presently. Wolfgang the detail you have provided are a big help to figuring out what I have and what I will need to replace or upgrade. The starter motor is definitely a Bosch factory rebuild and I can't tell from markings whether it is one of their 6V or 12V conversions but I think it has 9 teeth; I will confirm when the shop opens in the morning.

Scott, thank you for your info. I will contact Kennedy in the morning from the shop when I have the parts in front of me.

For others, if anyone can quote from Harry Pellow's Book in the 356/VW chapter, the compatible components from Porsche and VW, again I'd be grateful. I won't be able to refer directly to his book myself until I get back to Canada next weekend where the book will be. 

I did two of these conversions in the 70's. My 64 bug had a Porsche 1600S. I used the stock Porsche 180mm flywheel, PP and disc. My 62 Ghia had a 912 engine. I used a stock Porsche 200mm  6V flywheel, PP and disc. That's when Porsche clutch parts were relatively cheap. When I converted the Ghia to 12V I just put a 12V solenoid on the 6V starter and drove away. Now a days Porsche clutch parts are expensive. So you can machine the Porsche flywheel to accept a VW transporter PP and disc (different depth)  Dsert Fox...

If you are thinking of using a 12 v starter, the following works and allows you to use the 200mm VW clutch system:

https://aapistons.com/collecti...t-flywheel-200mm-12v

...or if sticking with the 6 volt starter:

https://aapistons.com/collecti...ht-flywheel-180mm-6v

Thanks Dsrtfox and Tony for your recent Posts and updates to the original. At the moment I have a 6 volt starter and I will put a 12 volt solenoid. With the help of members I got the car back together and running well.

Just a word on AA flywheels. When I was building my A coupe (real one) and putting a 912 engine in it I needed a 356 flywheel and I wanted a 200 mm clutch. At the time AA had a SC (64/65 200 mm, 6V Flywheel, 109 tooth). When I got it was a mess but we have a real good flywheel guy here in Phoenix and he corrected the depth for a VW transporter PP and had to straiten the whole thing out, it was really out of wack. It's been in the car for 8 years and is perfect. I hope they come with better machining these days...