Car is Back from Vintage Motorcars

Wow, what a huge improvement! That's one beautiful car.

@Michael Pickett posted:

Wow, what a huge improvement! That's one beautiful car.

Thank you Mike.

Beautiful Robert.

I really like the look of a grey shroud. I wanted to paint  my new Thing shroud grey but convinced myself not to as its not period correct for pre-‘57.  

It looks Great Bob!! I like how you put the speakers down in the footwells Great job!

@Former Member posted:

It looks Great Bob!! I like how you put the speakers down in the footwells Great job!

They sound a WORLD better than when they were in the door. So much tighter in their response and sound. I initially had a separate mid-range speaker and a tweeter but was stressing over how to do the tweeter install with the new interior. I didn't want to cut anything so I was going to buy a large sheet of black ABS and was going to install that under the dash across the width of the car to cover the opening below the dash. I was going to mount the tweeters there but was going to have trouble making them point toward the driver and passenger. I ended up buying a new set of Cerwin-Vega coaxial speakers with built in capacitors. And the sound does not disappoint. Plenty of acoustical separation and the sound of the mid-range and the highs of the tweeters are crisp and very clear.

And I got a new exhaust since the original 356 canister exhaust was damaged. I ended up with an A-1 Vintage Speed Sidewinder exhaust with new heater boxes. My old heater boxes were modified to fit the 356 muffler so they had to be replaced. The car runs better now than it did before because it's a lot more open and has reduced the back pressure. The car scoots like a scalded cat now. I could feel the difference immediately.

@dlearl476 posted:

Beautiful Robert.

I really like the look of a grey shroud. I wanted to paint  my new Thing shroud grey but convinced myself not to as its not period correct for pre-‘57.  

Paint it grey- you know you want to, nobody else will know and we won't tell.  It's not like you're going to lose points with anyone...

@ALB posted:

Paint it grey- you know you want to, nobody else will know and we won't tell.  It's not like you're going to lose points with anyone...

Too late now. It’s installed. I’m on the fence about doing it when I have to tear it down to install my new fan and oil pump.
Actually, “I’ve grown accustomed to its face.” Not to mention there’s so much silver/grey on my car I keep coming up with contrasting colors to highlight it. Like blue license plate frames and red pre-filters.

@Robert M posted:

And I got a new exhaust since the original 356 canister exhaust was damaged. I ended up with an A-1 Vintage Speed Sidewinder exhaust with new heater boxes. My old heater boxes were modified to fit the 356 muffler so they had to be replaced. The car runs better now than it did before because it's a lot more open and has reduced the back pressure. The car scoots like a scalded cat now. I could feel the difference immediately.

I wish everybody who asks about exhausts could be referred back to this post.

The original can looks really good, but there's no comparison between it and a proper 4/1 extractor-style header. It's more than a reduction of backpressure - it's the velocity of the exhaust actually creating a vacuum on each cylinder as its exhaust valve is open. It's actually "extracting" (sucking) exhaust out of the cylinder. It's almost magic.

@Stan Galat posted:

I wish everybody who asks about exhausts could be referred back to this post.

The original can looks really good, but there's no comparison between it and a proper 4/1 extractor-style header. It's more than a reduction of backpressure - it's the velocity of the exhaust actually creating a vacuum on each cylinder as its exhaust valve is open. It's actually "extracting" (sucking) exhaust out of the cylinder. It's almost magic.

Yes, yes it is Stan. It produces so much more power and acceleration. And the exhaust note is quite pleasing.

@Robert M posted:

Yes, yes it is Stan. It produces so much more power and acceleration. And the exhaust note is quite pleasing.

So- do we get to see it?  A pic (or 2) would be nice...

And as @Stan Galat said- what a properly engineered and built exhaust actually does is nothing short of amazing.

@ALB posted:

So- do we get to see it?  A pic (or 2) would be nice...

And as @Stan Galat said- what a properly engineered and built exhaust actually does is nothing short of amazing.

Sweet.  Looks like it didn’t take long to pick a few scrape marks at the end of your exhaust pipe.  Looks familiar.  

Looks really good Robert!  And I'm not surprised at all you're noticing a difference in power.

@Jon T posted:

Sweet.  Looks like it didn’t take long to pick a few scrape marks at the end of your exhaust pipe.  Looks familiar.  

First time I pulled into my driveway. Didn't get enough of an angle while pulling in. I have that all worked out now.

@Robert M LUV the black widow coco mats...they just say PORSCHE....and to all concerned....consider ceramic coating your exhaust system....well worth the $$$$....just IMHO

@jncspyder posted:

@Robert M LUV the black widow coco mats...they just say PORSCHE....and to all concerned....consider ceramic coating your exhaust system....well worth the $$$$....just IMHO

Ceramic coating is worthwhile even if the exhaust is stainless, as the ceramic is an insulator and more heat actually goes out the exhaust instead of being absorbed by the tubing.  The mild steel Sidewinder systems are expensive enough that the ceramic will prolong it's life, if kept in good shape, almost indefinitely.  Expect to have to redo the coating about every 5(?) years.

@ALB you are correct sir on all points....and they cool off much faster and look very slick....my header and muffler and stinger was $300.00  extreme coating in oxnard ca did mine and did a fantastic job    before & after pics