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356/VW

FM Former Member
Today was my day to take care of my daughter (5 months old) and generally that means driving around in the truck getting parts and things for my speedster project. She loves visiting the different machine shops and auto part stores.

Anyway, in the search for some temporary 5 bolt rims, I was referred to a VW/Porsche shop in Ballard (Seattle). All the best places are in the industrial areas and generally have lots of old cars tucked behind buildings and in alleys, etc. So, I drive up to this shop and drive down the side alley and low and behold, there sat a 356. I'm still a little fuzzy about models, but this was a hardtop, white. 356A?

So, I talked to the owner about rims and engines and such, and commented on the 356 out back, but it didn't dawn on my until I was on the way home that I should have asked him how much he wanted for it. It did not have an engine, and the interior needed some work, but the body looked pretty good and being in Seattle, a hard top would be pretty nice.

Now, what I was thinking, and this is probably WAYYY against the 356/porsche ethic, was to take the 69 VW/IRS I have been working on, which has disk brakes, adjustable front beam, etc, etc, basically much better suspension and running gear than the origional 356's (right?), and take the body off the 356 I found and put it on the VW pan. Any thoughts? Am I crazy? Should I just "restore" the 356? I have no idea if the 356 is actually for sale, or how much.
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FM Former Member
Today was my day to take care of my daughter (5 months old) and generally that means driving around in the truck getting parts and things for my speedster project. She loves visiting the different machine shops and auto part stores.

Anyway, in the search for some temporary 5 bolt rims, I was referred to a VW/Porsche shop in Ballard (Seattle). All the best places are in the industrial areas and generally have lots of old cars tucked behind buildings and in alleys, etc. So, I drive up to this shop and drive down the side alley and low and behold, there sat a 356. I'm still a little fuzzy about models, but this was a hardtop, white. 356A?

So, I talked to the owner about rims and engines and such, and commented on the 356 out back, but it didn't dawn on my until I was on the way home that I should have asked him how much he wanted for it. It did not have an engine, and the interior needed some work, but the body looked pretty good and being in Seattle, a hard top would be pretty nice.

Now, what I was thinking, and this is probably WAYYY against the 356/porsche ethic, was to take the 69 VW/IRS I have been working on, which has disk brakes, adjustable front beam, etc, etc, basically much better suspension and running gear than the origional 356's (right?), and take the body off the 356 I found and put it on the VW pan. Any thoughts? Am I crazy? Should I just "restore" the 356? I have no idea if the 356 is actually for sale, or how much.
FM Former Member
One thing you must consider when talking about an older Porsche is RUST! Porsches did not have much in the way of rustproofing in the early years. Thus many fine appearing early Porsches are riddled with structural rust. This could be a particular problem in the Seattle area which is rumored to get quite a bit of rain. Beware!
oldyeleroldyeler
A porsche on a bug pan would be different .They are right about the wheel base being shorter and think the front apron the master cylinder mounts, will have to be moved a inch or so ,I would use the type 3 front pan sections and put the deep rear floors in it as well the hand brake will change also.

Take note that IM makes a different rear irs section that moves the engine and tranny forward 3 inches (better handleing) It also has reinforcments to mount type 3 and 4 drive lines, bigger engines.

That's the pan I have seen avalible with fiberglass floors
oldyeleroldyeler
Thanks Charles.
If you need a custom dipstick made from conduit, that will be easy to grab with the lid up in a speedster I kept my patterns. I think you said your doing a type 3. so you should be cool.
I will have to remote my oil cooler though. I don,t like things jambed up together.

As far as what I have learned ,I had a good teacher, He taught me how to research. But alas I am still learing and I guess that will never change.
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